Garbage Pail Kids are often gross (and occasionally spooky) so it only makes sense to turn some of them into HALLOWEEN COSTUMES. However, over the past 30 years only two companies have produced such a product: Collegeville and Trick Or Treat Studios. This section provides pictures and information on the variety of costumes available to collect.


COLLEGEVILLE COSTUME DETAILS:

  • MADE BY: The original Garbage Pail Kids Costumes were produced and released by Collegeville
  • MANUFACTURED IN: The Garbage Pail Kids Costumes from Collegeville, were manufactured in Collegeville, PA
  • COPYRIGHT DATE: The copyright date on the Costume box reads 1985
  • PRODUCT DIMENSIONS: Each Costume box measures 9" x 11 1/2" (wxh), and the Costume sizes read "Fits child 53" to 58" tall"
  • COMPLETE SET: It is unknown exactly how many Garbage Pail Kids Costumes were produced by Collegeville

Garbage Pail Kids + Halloween = Easy $...And in 1985, Collegeville worked with Topps, Inc. to take full advantage of the craze surrounding the release of Garbage Pail Kids. In an effort to do just that, they released a collection of Garbage Pail Kid-themed Halloween costumes for children. It is unclear exactly how many costumes make up a complete set, but there have been images of a variety of different characters. Costumes include images from Series 1 and Series 2 Garbage Pail Kids.

Costume Box (front)

Anyone who bought a costume in the mid-80's will no doubt recognize the packaging, as it was fairly standard for kid's costumes at the time. The packaging cosisted of a cardboard box with a see-thru window on the top. The costume details were included on a label located on the end of the box that would enable store-workers to stock the costumes on top of each other. Other than the label, the box was standard for every costume released by Collegeville.

Costume Box (end)
Costume Box (side)

Inside the box, the costume consisted of two pieces: a mask, and a 'shirt'. The mask was made of a thin plastic and secured around a child's head with a thin elastic band. The cape was made of a slick vinyl material that extended past the child's waist. While the mask was made to look like a Garbage Pail Kid character, the shirt was simply the image from the sticker. By current standards, this costume is extremely simple and ineffective; however, as mentioned above, this was an extremely popular costume style in the 80's (and I remember how hard it was to get your hands on these!!)

Costume



TRICK OR TREAT STUDIOS MASK DETAILS:

  • MADE BY: The Garbage Pail Kids Masks were produced and released by Trick Or Treat Studios
  • MANUFACTURED IN: The Garbage Pail Kids Masks from Trick Or Treat Studios, were manufactured in California
  • COPYRIGHT DATE: The Masks were first released in 2015
  • COMPLETE SET: Trick Or Treat Studios released a total of four masks (and one prop*)

In early 2015 a few images were spotted online of an Ali Gator mask. As speculation started to grow it was revealed that Topps was working with Trick Or Treat Studios on a set of Halloween Masks to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of Garbage Pail Kids. Reaction to the masks was mixed as not only were the characters choices odd, but also lacked a real likeness to the sticker images.

Ali Gator
Creepy Carol
Zeke Freak
Bony Tony

*Trick Or Treat also produced a 'prop' that is often confused as a fifth mask. In fact, Glowing Amber (while made of the same material) is intended to sit on a table top and can not be worn on a head.

Glowing Amber Prop