November 1908. "A typical Spinner" at Lancaster Cotton Mills in South Carolina. View full size. Photograph and caption by Lewis Wickes Hine.

The spirits do come back, if you stay for the second show. 1915 poster advertising an appearance by the magician Howard Thurston (1869-1936), the "King of Cards." Strobridge Lithography, Cincinnati & New York. View full size.

November 1908: Gastonia, North Carolina. Lacy, 12 years old, and Savannah, 11. Have worked two years. Father said "The little one is a crackerjack on spinnin', at least so the boss says. She ain't satisfied unless in the mill. The oldest one isn't so good at it. Not as quick." (Note the tense, serious looks on the younger. Older one more like a real girl.) View full size. Photo and caption by Lewis Wickes Hine.

1913 (?) poster advertising a Minneapolis appearance by Claude Alexander, one of the most famous (and wealthy) mentalists of his time. View full size.

March 1942. "George Carell's seven-year-old son George Jr. likes to watch his father produce essential war equipment in his Passaic, New Jersey, home workshop. Mr. Carell belongs to a subcontract pool organized by the Howe Machinery Company." View full size. 5x7 negative by Howard Liberman.

And who turned out the lights? A 1928 poster advertising the "brilliant psychic star" Newmann the Great. View full size. Standard Show Printers of St. Paul.

Way back when, the scariest day of the year was May 14. We're kicking off the Shorpy Halloween party with some of the spookiest posters you've even seen! This one's from 1935. View full size. Triangle Poster & Printing Co., Chicago.