Alan Mays' photos with the keyword: scary

Halloween Jack-o'-Lanterns, White Robes, and a Bla…

01 Nov 2019 2 632
The word "Hallowe'en" in gold letters is barely visible against the dark blue nighttime sky at the top of this postcard. On the ground down below, five young women carrying jack-o'-lanterns and wearing white robes are accompanied by a black cat as they make their way through a scary forest where even the trees and rocks seem to have menacing faces. I'm not sure what to make of this scene. Could these be novice witches on their way to a Halloween initiation where they'll receive their broomsticks and black garments? Or perhaps they're just Halloween partygoers who've gotten lost in an appropriately sinister setting. Unfortunately, the other side of the postcard doesn't provide any clues to explain the illustration. A handwritten message says, "Was at Phila. [Philadelphia] for first time, Oct. 17, 1914, Ida," but otherwise there isn't any address, stamp, or postmark.

A Witch with a Veggie Chauffeur in a Halloween Mel…

24 Oct 2017 3 857
A witch holds her broomstick tightly as she rides in the back seat of a watermelon car driven by a wide-eyed veggie creature. A black cat sits next to her, and a bat flies above. A date of "Oct. 31st, 1908" is written on the other side of this postcard, which was published by the British firm of Raphael Tuck & Sons and issued as part of its popular Halloween series 150 .

Happy Surreal Halloween

29 Oct 2016 4 5 1243
Addressed on the back to Miss Anna Witmer, York , Pa., R.F.D. #12, but there's no stamp or postmark. Message: "From your Aunt Annie." In this surreal scene from a Halloween postcard by publisher Raphael Tuck, a witch, black cat, and some devils fly out of the top of a creepy jack-o'-lantern centerpiece as children cower in the background. See below for some other Tuck Halloween postcards.

This Must Mean 'tis Halloween!

15 Oct 2015 3 1325
"Oh! Goodness! This must mean--'tis Hallowe'en!" Printed on the back of this postcard: "Raphael Tuck & Sons' 'Hallowe'en' Series of Post Cards, No. 188."

May Your Halloween Be Weird and Witchy

15 Oct 2015 4 1295
"May your Hallowe'en be weird and witchy." Printed on the back of this postcard: "Raphael Tuck & Sons' 'Hallowe'en' Series of Post Cards, No. 188."

Milking Rattlesnake, Ross Allen's Reptile Institut…

06 Feb 2015 4 1870
A linen postcard with a close-up of a rattlesnake being "milked," which supplies venom for use in making antivenom . For another view of the procedure, take a look at a slide of a rattlesnake milking demonstration that also took place at Ross Allen's Reptile Institute in Silver Springs, Florida:

A Halloween Wish

23 Oct 2014 3 1 1688
A Hallowe'en Wish. May all the bats and ghosts and frights Bring jolly fun and laughter And fill your day with such delights You'll smile forever after!

Boil and Bubble, Toil and Trouble

25 Oct 2014 3 992
"Halloween Greetings. Boil and bubble, toil and trouble."

Careful with That Axe, Eugene!

02 Dec 2018 3 3 382
A Vintage Photos Theme Park photo for the theme of I Should Have Known Better - people engaged in potentially risky behavior or suffering the aftereffects of a mishap . I think this was intended to be funny, but it seems more scary than amusing.

Just Before the Axe-ident

01 Oct 2013 2 3 1081
A young Lizzie Borden playing with her friends. 8-)

Twin Girls with Bows

10 Jun 2013 3 5 1124
For previous comments about this real photo postcard, see the discussion on Flickr: Two Girls with Bows .