Say cheese(cake): Vintage Halloween pinups are a scream

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During the Golden Age of Hollywood, from the late 1920s to early 1960s, a number of noted actresses got in the festive spirit and posed for Halloween-related pinup photos for the studios they worked for. These are some of our favorites from the era.

Images courtesy of Heritage Auctions.

In this pinup photo for Universal in 1939-1940, the witch-dressed starlet standing on the pumpkin is Helen Parrish. She got her start in movies at age 2 in 1927, playing the daughter of Babe Ruth in Babe Comes Home.

In this pinup photo for Universal in 1939-1940, the witch-dressed starlet standing on the pumpkin is Helen Parrish. She got her start in movies at age 2 in 1927, playing the daughter of Babe Ruth in Babe Comes Home.

Ava Gardner is one of the most attractive witches we’ve ever seen in this vintage photo. Gardner’s breakout role in 1946’s The Killers made her a star. Meow!

Ava Gardner is one of the most attractive witches we’ve ever seen in this vintage photo. Gardner’s breakout role in 1946’s The Killers made her a star. Meow!

Well known for wearing the latest fashions, the always-glamorous Joan Crawford shows a lighter side in this playful publicity shot for MGM Studios in the 1930s. Crawford was one of the biggest movie stars of her time and won an a Best Actress Oscar in 1946 for Mildred Pierce and was a Best Actress nominee for Posessed (1948) and Sudden Fear (1953).

Well known for wearing the latest fashions, the always-glamorous Joan Crawford shows a lighter side in this playful publicity shot for MGM Studios in the 1930s. Crawford was one of the biggest movie stars of her time and won an a Best Actress Oscar in 1946 for Mildred Pierce and was a Best Actress nominee for Posessed (1948) and Sudden Fear (1953).

Actress Ida Lupino appears in this Paramount publicity shot from the 1930s. Lupino was an English-American actress, singer, director and producer. She was one of the only female filmmakers in Hollywood during the 1950s.

Actress Ida Lupino appears in this Paramount publicity shot from the 1930s. Lupino was an English-American actress, singer, director and producer. She was one of the only female filmmakers in Hollywood during the 1950s.

A fun image for Halloween of Audrey Young in a cat suit, taken at Paramount in the 1940s. Young appeared in nearly two dozen films from 1944-49, was also a a big-band singer and was the wife of legendary director Billy Wilder.

A fun image for Halloween of Audrey Young in a cat suit, taken at Paramount in the 1940s. Young appeared in nearly two dozen films from 1944-49, was also a a big-band singer and was the wife of legendary director Billy Wilder.

Although not a typical pinup photo, we think Elsa Lanchester looks beautiful as the bride in The Bride of Frankenstein (Universal, 1935).

Although not a typical pinup photo, we think Elsa Lanchester looks beautiful as the bride in The Bride of Frankenstein (Universal, 1935).

Paulette Goddard, Paramount, 1940s. Goddard was a big star in the 1940s and starred in many movies including the Charlie Chaplin movie, Modern Times.

Paulette Goddard, Paramount, 1940s. Goddard was a big star in the 1940s and starred in many movies including the Charlie Chaplin movie, Modern Times.

A playful pinup of Esther Ralston on a spooky Halloween pumpkin set shot by fashion photographer Eugene Robert Richee, Paramount, c. 1920s. Ralston was a silent-screen actress and vaudeville star who was known for a time as "the American Venus" for her starring role in the 1926 film of that name.

A playful pinup of Esther Ralston on a spooky Halloween pumpkin set shot by fashion photographer Eugene Robert Richee, Paramount, c. 1920s. Ralston was a silent-screen actress and vaudeville star who was known for a time as "the American Venus" for her starring role in the 1926 film of that name.

Anne Nagel in a publicity still for Universal in 1939-1940. Nagel starred in adventures, mysteries, and comedies for twenty-five years, and also appeared in television series in the 1950s, including The Green Hornet.

Anne Nagel in a publicity still for Universal in 1939-1940. Nagel starred in adventures, mysteries, and comedies for twenty-five years, and also appeared in television series in the 1950s, including The Green Hornet.