Halloween pin-up girls: The playful side of wartime cheesecake
The pin-up craze really took off in the 1930s, when illustrations of glamorous women started gracing calendars, magazines and ads. By the 1940s, these depictions were everywhere, with famous faces like Betty Grable and Rita Hayworth becoming iconic pin-up stars.
Halloween, with its playful costumes and chance for women to embrace a more daring look, was a natural fit for the pin-up scene. These “pumpkin cheesecake” images were often a mix of seasonal and seductive, with women posing as playful witches, cute black cats or sultry devils.
Wartime pin-ups held special significance for soldiers stationed far from home, offering a comforting slice of American life during difficult times. Halloween pin-up girls, with their playful seasonal twist, provided a lighthearted escape that reminded servicemen of everyday pleasures and the fun of holidays back home. These images appeared in military barracks and in magazines like Esquire, capturing the spirit of the era and offering a touch of humor and fantasy during an otherwise grim period.
Below, we’ve curated a selection of these classic Halloween pin-up girls from the 1930s through the 1950s. These vintage photos capture the charm and whimsy of Halloween-themed cheesecake art, giving you a peek into the playful side of wartime culture.
Actress Debbie Reynolds hugging a huge jack-o’lantern (1953)
1940s classic Halloween pin up girl shushing a black cat
Vintage actress and Halloween pin up girl Nancy Gates
Silent film actress Clara Bow posing for for Halloween
Retro Halloween pin-up model
Vintage Halloween pin-up girl in a swimsuit coming out of a pumpkin house
Vintage Halloween pin-up model in a cat costume
Vintage actress Cyd Charisse dressed up for Halloween
Retro Halloween pin up girl surrounded by creepy carved pumpkins
Vintage actress Lillian Wells – Halloween pin up girl
Add pin-up models to your scrapbooks for the boys over there
The Times (San Mateo, California) October 26, 1943
Pin-up girls have proved their worth in keeping warm the cold and often barren temporary quarters of many boys in service. They a certain “something” essentially “American.”
Scrapbooks made under sponsorship of the USO are now including fresh “pin-ups.” Makers of scrapbooks are advised to use either gummed tape or adhesive tape so that when the picture is removed, as it always is, the book will remain complete for other readers.
Vintage actress Veronica Lake dressed as a witch on a broom
Vintage Halloween pin up girl with “Halloween and Spook Stories” book
Gloria Dickson – vintage Halloween pin up girls
Vintage Halloween pin-up girl with pumpkin and jack o’lantern shadow
Lona Andre – Vintage Halloween pinup girl from the 1930s
Teen boys reveal ideal of pin-ups
The Ogden Standard-Examiner (Ogden, Utah) October 22, 1944
South Washington school pupils in this year of 1944 find all about those bevies of pin-up girls. Pin-up girls have become idealized by the men in our armed services. In barracks all over the world, the walls are plastered with pictures.
The boys of Washington High [in Ogden, Utah] have selected their own imaginary pin-up girl. Questions concerning the color of eyes and hair and height were put to the seventh, eighth, ninth and tenth grade boys.
The average of the opinions was summed up by the committee. The preferred girl would have azure blue eyes, long flowing brunette hair, and be about five feet two inches in height.
A pleasing personality is a necessity for any ideal pin-up girl. The boys of Washington are especially fussy about a girl’s personality.
She must like some sports, dances, school activities, and all social events. She must be neat in appearance, and any boy likes a good figure.
Anne Gwynne – Vintage Halloween pin-up girl
A vintage actress with a Halloween mask
Ava Gardner – Vintage pinup girl for Halloween
2 Responses
The Veronica Lake photo was a promo for her 1942 movie “I Married A Witch.” It is well worth your time and is often aired on TCM.
The photo with the girl posed with skeletons hanging in the background (4th from the end) is Janet Leigh.
The most famous “pinup girl” was Betty Grable…..Need a pic!