Freddie Krueger, Batman Hold Halloween Edge

Hollywood continues to dominate the field in Halloween costumes, with Freddie Krueger and Batman characters as the top runners in this year’s costume race.

The entertainment industry almost has a total hold on the costume choices of children and grown-ups alike this year.

Costume shop managers estimate that the biggest sellers for the younger set this season will be Teen-age Mutant Ninja Turtles.

John Tolson of Magic World, the San Fernando Valley’s largest source of weird and wild get-ups, has a solid inventory of Ninja Turtle outfits ranging from $9.95 for a single mask to $19.95 to $28.97 for a complete outfit.

Magic World, 10122 Topanga Canyon Blvd., Chatsworth, (818-700-8100) is predicting that the cartoon Simpsons will run a close second. Bart, Homer and Marge latex heads cost $35, which may seem high, but since the costume is completed with everyday attire, the head is all that’s needed to play the role.

For adults, Magic World has a good quality Dick Tracy hat and coat, which rent for $45; if you want to add shoes, pants, tie, etc., the ensemble is $85.

The gory look is always hot on Halloween night. Heads of Freddie Krueger--from the “Nightmare on Elm Street” films--are $12.95, and a new entry, a latex head of Michael Myers--from the “Halloween” films--is $39.95.

Little girls still like to look pretty, and so the Little Mermaid costumes are expected to be big sellers this year. Magic World has one for $44.95, complete with fins and shells, on top of a leotard. Clever mothers can probably come up with a good facsimile. A wig is an extra $12.95.

Robinson’s Beautilities in West Los Angeles has a wide range of costumes at good prices. The complete Little Mermaid costume here starts at $22.95, and the bright red wig sells for $12 to $25. The owner, Belle Fisher, says Batman is still in demand (at $14.50) and Superman (at $16.95) still captures the imaginations of the little ones.

Robinson’s has the Dick Tracy outfits plus the latex heads of all the Tracy gang--Mumbles, Pruneface, Flattop, etc.--for $45. Robinson’s Beautilities has a good supply of costume makeup on sale right now from 50 cents to $2.95. Robinson’s is at 12320 Venice Blvd., West Los Angeles; (213) 398-5757.

For grown-ups who are still in the Halloween swing, the Center Theatre Group Costume Shop offers rental costumes from productions staged at the Music Center theaters.

High on the list of requests certainly will be the Phantom of the Opera costumes. The masks are for sale at $6, and if your closet holds a cape and hat, you’ve got a deal. If not, you can rent the cape and hat for $50 and the whole suit for $75. Almost all the costumes from Shelley Duval’s “Faerie Tale Theatre” productions are available for rent for that special party, for $40 to $150. Nothing for the small fry here, but what a place to get in the dress-up mood! The address is 3301 E. 14th St., Los Angeles; (213) 267-1230.