Having grown up in the 1970s into the 80s I’ve had a lifelong affinity for the vacuform masks and vinyl costumes that just about every kid wore on Halloween, but this project came about by accident.
My nostalgia started me researching Ben Cooper Inc. online looking for facts and figures as to how many different costumes they made over the years. I couldn’t find an answer (apparently their records were destroyed in a 1989 fire), but while searching I noticed the multitude of boxes their costumes came in. It gradually became the focus of my efforts. The more I looked, the more boxes I found – so many that it seemed excessive, even a little erratic. I was fascinated.
I began cataloging them and trying to determine their chronology. The artwork on the boxes held certain clues – commonalities, and inconsistencies that revealed their age. Frustrated with the quality of the images I was finding online, and without access to the boxes themselves, I started recreating the designs. It became a study in graphic design over four decades. I learned a lot in the process.
A website seemed like the best way to share it all, a tribute to Ben Cooper, Frank Romano, and the other artists who designed for the company.
Most of the images on this site are reproductions. All rights to the trademarks, logos, and original designs belong to their respective owners.
There are sure to be gaps and errors in my research so please help improve this project by leaving comments and contact me with any corrections or additional information you have.
Site Updates:
7.22.23: Updated Design Notes for Comic/Cartoon Heroes box page.
7.21.23: Updated Design Notes for Marvel Comics, and Micronauts box pages.
7.8.23: Added 360 Video and side panel illustration to Tiny Tot Beeper Squeeker box page. All boxes now have videos!
7.6.23: Added DC Comics Super Hero, and Micronauts box art reproductions. All box designs have now been reproduced!
7.3.23: Added 360 Video links to Reflect’o Big Eye, Stripes, Spotlite 4/5, and Dukes of Hazzard box pages. Added Western Hero box art reproduction.
6.30.23: Added 360 Video links to Glo Worm, Pound Puppies, Care Bears, Rose-Petal Place, and Popples box pages. Added Science Fiction box art reproduction.
6.29.23: Added 360 Video links to Tiny Tot Checker, Princess of Power, My Little Pony, and Tiny Tot Super Hero box pages. Added Reflect’o Big Eye box art reproduction.
6.28.23: Added 360 Video links to Disney Blue, Looney Tunes, Smurf, Evel Knievel, Centurions, Annie, and Wonderful World of Disney box pages. Added Tiny Tot Super Hero, and My Little Pony box art reproductions.
6.26.23: Added 360 Video links to Funny People, Pac-Man, MASK, and Disney Blue Stars box pages. Added side panel illustration to Funny People box page.
6.25.23: Added 360 Video links to Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi, and Late 80s box pages. Added side panel illustrations to Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi, and Evel Knievel box pages. Added Evel Knievel box art reproduction.
6.23.23: Added 360 Video links to Superheroines, Tiny Tot Pink, Cabbage Patch Kids, and Voltron box pages.
6.22.23: Added 360 Video links to Strawberry Shortcake 1, Strawberry Shortcake 2, Wiggly Boppers, and Barbie box pages. Added Superheroines box art reproduction. Added side panel illustration to Rose Petal Place box page.
6.20.23: Added 360 Video links to Glitter Glo Ovals, Disney World, Star Wars, and Muppet Babies box pages. Added Rose Petal Place, and Wonderful World of Disney box art reproductions.
6.19.23: Added 360 Video links to DC Comics Super Hero, Wizard of Oz, and JEM box pages. Added Voltron box art reproduction.
6.18.23: Added 360 Video links to Concentric Circles, Banners, and Holly Hobbie box pages.
6.17.23: Added 360 Video links to Skull & Devil, Color Brite Cats, Tiny Tot Silhouette, Micronauts, Sesame Street, and Wild, Wild Animal box pages. Added Disney Blue box art reproductions.
6.15.23: Added 360 Video links to Disney Orange, Spook Town Yellow, Owl, and Safety White box pages.
6.14.23: Added 360 Video links to TV Comic Yellow, TV Comic Blue, and Star Trek box pages. Added TV Comic Blue box art reproduction.
6.13.23: Added 360 Video links to TV Star, Dots, and Science Fiction box pages. Added Design Notes to Monster box page. Added Looney Tunes box art reproduction and side panel illustrations.
6.12.23: Added 360 Video links to Disney Black, Western Hero, and Garfield box pages. Added side panel photos to Sesame Street box page.
6.11.23: Added 360 Video links to Woolworths 2, Safety First, and Dino-Rama box pages. Added Disney Black box art reproduction. Added side panel illustrations to Disney World, and Disney Blue Stars box pages.
6.10.23: Added Disney Orange box art reproduction. Updated Disney World box art reproduction for color correction.
6.9.23: Added 360 Video links to Yellow Cat, TV Hero, and GI Joe box pages. Added side panel illustrations to Famous Names, and Woolworths v2 box pages.
6.8.23: Added 360 Video links to Character Costume, Famous Names, Clown, and Shogun Warriors box pages. Added side panel illustrations to Dino-Rama box page.
6.6.23: Added 360 Video links to Glitter Glo Pumpkins, Chattermouth 2, and Marvel Comics box pages, Posted photo in Articles.
6.5.23: Added 360 Video links to Chattermouth 1, Funtastic, and MOTU box pages.
6.3.23: Added 360 Video links to Swirls, Famous Faces, and Groovie Goolies box pages. Added side panel illustrations to Chattermouth 2, and Wild, Wild Animal box pages.
6.1.23: Added 360 Video links to Spotlite Character Costume, SWAT/Rescue Team, and Spider-Man box pages.
5.31.23: Added 360 Video links to Big Super Hero, Hoot N’ Toot, and Hairy & Scary box pages. Updated corrected GI Joe box art reproduction.
5.30.23: Added 360 Video links to Rainbow, and Godzilla box pages. Updated Concentric Circles box art reproduction with more accurate colors.
5.29.23: Added 360 Video links to Magic-Glo, and Americana box pages. Added side panel illustrations and updated design notes for Star Wars box page.
5.27.23: Added 360 Video links to Spook Town Halloween, and Woolworth’s 1 box pages, Updated Groovie Goolies box art reproduction with more accurate colors and added side panel illustrations to the page.
5.26.23: Updated information on Big Super Hero box page, Added 360 Video link to Incredible Hulk box page, Added side panel illustrations to Funtastic box page.
5.25.23: Added 360 Video links to Comic/Cartoon Heroes, and Super Hero Bolts box pages.
5.24.23: Added Comic/Cartoon Heroes box art reproductions and side panel illustrations, Added 360 Video links to Planet of the Apes, and Spotlite box pages.
5.23.23: Added 360 Video links to Disney Yellow, and Spook Town Black box pages.
5.22.23: Added “Slinky Action” end panel stamp to Argyle box page, Added 360 Video link to Monster box page.
5.21.23: Added design notes to Spook Town Black box page and updated box art reproduction with correct typeface, Added 360 Video link to Argyle box page.
5.20.23: Added 360 Video link to Porthole box page, Added side panel illustrations to Americana box page.
5.19.23: Added 360 Video link to Diamond Faces box page, Added side panel illustration to Super Hero Bolts box page.
5.18.23: Added 360 Video link to Flick & Trick box page, Added side panel illustration to S.W.A.T./Rescue Team box page.
5.17.23: Posted 360 Video announcement in Articles, Added S.W.A.T./Rescue Team box art reproductions, Added 360 Video link and side panel art to Creature People box page.
5.16.23: Edited design notes, and added 360 Video link to Spook Town Tree box page.
5.15.23: Added 360 Video link to Pumpkin box page.
5.11.23: Added side panel illustrations to Monster box page.
5.8.23: Added Jem, Popples, Sesame Street, and Smurf box art reproductions, Updated design notes for Sesame Street box page.
5.7.23: Added Strawberry Shortcake 1, Strawberry Shortcake 2, and TV Comic Yellow box art reproductions.
5.6.23: Changed Box Art Library page so links no longer open a new tab/window, Added videos to Super Hero Bolts, TV Comic Yellow, SWAT/Rescue Team, Star Trek, Star Wars, Woolworths v2, Holly Hobbie, and King Kong box pages.
5.5.23: Added Holly Hobbie, and Tiny Tot Pink box art reproductions, Updated design notes for Tiny Tot Beeper Squeeker, Tiny Tot Super Hero, DC Super Hero, Superheroines, and Garfield box pages.
5.4.23: Added Care Bears box art reproduction, Updated design notes for Famous Faces, and Shogun Warriors box pages, Optimized image files for My Little Pony, Rose Petal Place, Strawberry Shortcake 1, Tiny Tot Checker, TV Comic Blue, and Voltron boxes to improve load times.
5.3.23: Website launch! Added King Kong, Princess of Power and Centurions box art reproductions.
7.21.23: Updated Design Notes for Marvel Comics, and Micronauts box pages.
7.8.23: Added 360 Video and side panel illustration to Tiny Tot Beeper Squeeker box page. All boxes now have videos!
7.6.23: Added DC Comics Super Hero, and Micronauts box art reproductions. All box designs have now been reproduced!
7.3.23: Added 360 Video links to Reflect’o Big Eye, Stripes, Spotlite 4/5, and Dukes of Hazzard box pages. Added Western Hero box art reproduction.
6.30.23: Added 360 Video links to Glo Worm, Pound Puppies, Care Bears, Rose-Petal Place, and Popples box pages. Added Science Fiction box art reproduction.
6.29.23: Added 360 Video links to Tiny Tot Checker, Princess of Power, My Little Pony, and Tiny Tot Super Hero box pages. Added Reflect’o Big Eye box art reproduction.
6.28.23: Added 360 Video links to Disney Blue, Looney Tunes, Smurf, Evel Knievel, Centurions, Annie, and Wonderful World of Disney box pages. Added Tiny Tot Super Hero, and My Little Pony box art reproductions.
6.26.23: Added 360 Video links to Funny People, Pac-Man, MASK, and Disney Blue Stars box pages. Added side panel illustration to Funny People box page.
6.25.23: Added 360 Video links to Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi, and Late 80s box pages. Added side panel illustrations to Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi, and Evel Knievel box pages. Added Evel Knievel box art reproduction.
6.23.23: Added 360 Video links to Superheroines, Tiny Tot Pink, Cabbage Patch Kids, and Voltron box pages.
6.22.23: Added 360 Video links to Strawberry Shortcake 1, Strawberry Shortcake 2, Wiggly Boppers, and Barbie box pages. Added Superheroines box art reproduction. Added side panel illustration to Rose Petal Place box page.
6.20.23: Added 360 Video links to Glitter Glo Ovals, Disney World, Star Wars, and Muppet Babies box pages. Added Rose Petal Place, and Wonderful World of Disney box art reproductions.
6.19.23: Added 360 Video links to DC Comics Super Hero, Wizard of Oz, and JEM box pages. Added Voltron box art reproduction.
6.18.23: Added 360 Video links to Concentric Circles, Banners, and Holly Hobbie box pages.
6.17.23: Added 360 Video links to Skull & Devil, Color Brite Cats, Tiny Tot Silhouette, Micronauts, Sesame Street, and Wild, Wild Animal box pages. Added Disney Blue box art reproductions.
6.15.23: Added 360 Video links to Disney Orange, Spook Town Yellow, Owl, and Safety White box pages.
6.14.23: Added 360 Video links to TV Comic Yellow, TV Comic Blue, and Star Trek box pages. Added TV Comic Blue box art reproduction.
6.13.23: Added 360 Video links to TV Star, Dots, and Science Fiction box pages. Added Design Notes to Monster box page. Added Looney Tunes box art reproduction and side panel illustrations.
6.12.23: Added 360 Video links to Disney Black, Western Hero, and Garfield box pages. Added side panel photos to Sesame Street box page.
6.11.23: Added 360 Video links to Woolworths 2, Safety First, and Dino-Rama box pages. Added Disney Black box art reproduction. Added side panel illustrations to Disney World, and Disney Blue Stars box pages.
6.10.23: Added Disney Orange box art reproduction. Updated Disney World box art reproduction for color correction.
6.9.23: Added 360 Video links to Yellow Cat, TV Hero, and GI Joe box pages. Added side panel illustrations to Famous Names, and Woolworths v2 box pages.
6.8.23: Added 360 Video links to Character Costume, Famous Names, Clown, and Shogun Warriors box pages. Added side panel illustrations to Dino-Rama box page.
6.6.23: Added 360 Video links to Glitter Glo Pumpkins, Chattermouth 2, and Marvel Comics box pages, Posted photo in Articles.
6.5.23: Added 360 Video links to Chattermouth 1, Funtastic, and MOTU box pages.
6.3.23: Added 360 Video links to Swirls, Famous Faces, and Groovie Goolies box pages. Added side panel illustrations to Chattermouth 2, and Wild, Wild Animal box pages.
6.1.23: Added 360 Video links to Spotlite Character Costume, SWAT/Rescue Team, and Spider-Man box pages.
5.31.23: Added 360 Video links to Big Super Hero, Hoot N’ Toot, and Hairy & Scary box pages. Updated corrected GI Joe box art reproduction.
5.30.23: Added 360 Video links to Rainbow, and Godzilla box pages. Updated Concentric Circles box art reproduction with more accurate colors.
5.29.23: Added 360 Video links to Magic-Glo, and Americana box pages. Added side panel illustrations and updated design notes for Star Wars box page.
5.27.23: Added 360 Video links to Spook Town Halloween, and Woolworth’s 1 box pages, Updated Groovie Goolies box art reproduction with more accurate colors and added side panel illustrations to the page.
5.26.23: Updated information on Big Super Hero box page, Added 360 Video link to Incredible Hulk box page, Added side panel illustrations to Funtastic box page.
5.25.23: Added 360 Video links to Comic/Cartoon Heroes, and Super Hero Bolts box pages.
5.24.23: Added Comic/Cartoon Heroes box art reproductions and side panel illustrations, Added 360 Video links to Planet of the Apes, and Spotlite box pages.
5.23.23: Added 360 Video links to Disney Yellow, and Spook Town Black box pages.
5.22.23: Added “Slinky Action” end panel stamp to Argyle box page, Added 360 Video link to Monster box page.
5.21.23: Added design notes to Spook Town Black box page and updated box art reproduction with correct typeface, Added 360 Video link to Argyle box page.
5.20.23: Added 360 Video link to Porthole box page, Added side panel illustrations to Americana box page.
5.19.23: Added 360 Video link to Diamond Faces box page, Added side panel illustration to Super Hero Bolts box page.
5.18.23: Added 360 Video link to Flick & Trick box page, Added side panel illustration to S.W.A.T./Rescue Team box page.
5.17.23: Posted 360 Video announcement in Articles, Added S.W.A.T./Rescue Team box art reproductions, Added 360 Video link and side panel art to Creature People box page.
5.16.23: Edited design notes, and added 360 Video link to Spook Town Tree box page.
5.15.23: Added 360 Video link to Pumpkin box page.
5.11.23: Added side panel illustrations to Monster box page.
5.8.23: Added Jem, Popples, Sesame Street, and Smurf box art reproductions, Updated design notes for Sesame Street box page.
5.7.23: Added Strawberry Shortcake 1, Strawberry Shortcake 2, and TV Comic Yellow box art reproductions.
5.6.23: Changed Box Art Library page so links no longer open a new tab/window, Added videos to Super Hero Bolts, TV Comic Yellow, SWAT/Rescue Team, Star Trek, Star Wars, Woolworths v2, Holly Hobbie, and King Kong box pages.
5.5.23: Added Holly Hobbie, and Tiny Tot Pink box art reproductions, Updated design notes for Tiny Tot Beeper Squeeker, Tiny Tot Super Hero, DC Super Hero, Superheroines, and Garfield box pages.
5.4.23: Added Care Bears box art reproduction, Updated design notes for Famous Faces, and Shogun Warriors box pages, Optimized image files for My Little Pony, Rose Petal Place, Strawberry Shortcake 1, Tiny Tot Checker, TV Comic Blue, and Voltron boxes to improve load times.
5.3.23: Website launch! Added King Kong, Princess of Power and Centurions box art reproductions.
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