The 2015 Edition!
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Like rumors of razor blades in apples, there are few things that say post-Baby Boomer Halloween like cheesy, allegedly flame-retardant, Ben Cooper costumes.
These hilariously off-model alter egos and their sweaty plastic face masks were a staple of ’60s and ’70s trick-or-treating, as important as candy corn, stale Milk Duds and dreaded pennies.
And so it is our honor — nay, duty — to present our 3rd annual round-up of the 13 Best (and Worst) Ben Cooper Costumes on eBay.
Now, I make no guarantees that these costumes will be available when you read this. I am here not to shill for those stalwarts who saved their boxed, mass-market memories, but rather to entertain.
Let’s press on, shall we?
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I like knowing there was once a world idealistic enough where something like this could exist. And unlike so many other times, Ben Cooper resisted the urge to have a big, red-and-yellow face splashed across the front screaming PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY!
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This is pretty much the Platonic ideal of what a mass-market kids’ costume should be. That is about as good as it gets for Ben Cooper.
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On the other hand, this is pretty much the Platonic ideal of what a Ben Cooper costume actually was: Take a beautifully simplistic and recognizable design — and completely destroy it with an UNNECESSARY ALL-CAP WORD ON THE FRONT. And what’s with the pants??
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My sister loved I Dream of Jeannie. I think she went as Jeannie for Halloween one year, even. This outfit looks nothing like Jeannie. Also: Um, what exactly is “Hard Play,” master?
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This is legitimately scary.
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And this is legitimately a horror show. This is one of the worst Ben Cooper costumes ever — which means it’s also one of the best Ben Cooper costumes ever.
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They almost had it. But then they went all Ben Cooper on us.
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Tinkerbell would never wear this.
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This is so great. So, so great.
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Such an illogical design.
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Yeah, yeah, yeah! No, NO, NO!!! Oh, poor Ringo …
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This is indeed a design from the Dark Side. The crazy thing is they took such care on the mask while completely, thoroughly, insanely botching the suit itself. Ben Cooper, ladies and Hutts …
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The flip side to President Kennedy. Ben Cooper took one of the most recognizable personas of the 20th century — and not only put a name tag on him, they put his full image right on the front!
Until next year …
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