Say Cheese(cake): Vintage Halloween Pinups a Seasonal Scream

Betty Grable reads some frightening tales in this photo taken in 1938, several years before her rise to super stardom.

Legendary singer and dancer Ann Miller poses with some great pumpkin candy containers in this circa 1955 pinup. One Hollywood’s great musical actresses during its Golden Age, Miller was a popular pinup during World War II.

After reading the cards, actress Myrna Loy, who was named Queen of the Movies in a 1936 poll, is foretelling that we will all have a frightfully fun Halloween.

Fun fact: Beloved actress and singer Debbie Reynolds never had to carve a pumpkin – she would just hug it and a big smile would appear. The fact that she’s wearing a French maid’s outfit in this 1953 publicity photo probably helps a little.

Model and pinup girl Lillian Wells, 1940s. Wells later got into acting and is known for “Dead Reckoning,” “Down to Earth” and “Framed,” all from 1947.

One of the biggest movie stars of her time, the always-glamorous Joan Crawford shows a lighter side in this playful publicity shot for MGM Studios in the 1930s.

Iconic 1940s actress Ava Gardner is one of the most beautiful witches we’ve ever seen. Even the moon looks to be under her spell.

Peek-a-boo pinup girl and 1940s’ actress Veronica Lake, best known for her femme fatale roles, also makes a fetching witch.

Actress, artist, and singer Ethel Merman, known primarily for her distinctive, powerful voice, is a sparkling, leggy devil in 1935.

This promo shot of Eartha Kitt for her 1954 single, “I Want To Be Evil,” is the cat’s meow.

Actress and World War II pinup girl Dusty Anderson dresses the part of a mischievous feline in this 1940s’ photo.

Popping out of cakes is so cliche. Popping out of pumpkins is the new it thing. Here Hollywood icon and horror queen Janet Leigh, who would go on to take the most famous shower in movie history in 1960’s “Psycho,” sets the new trend in this 1940s’ photo.

Swimming champion turned actress Esther Williams dons her best Halloween suit in this 1940s’ cheesecake photo.

Famous for her betrayal of vampire Lily Munster, actress Yvonne De Carlo perches on top of a giant pumpkin as another mischievous feline.