|
Thanks to our Sponsors:
http://www.Haunt.Info
http://www.HauntIdeaKit.com
http://www.HauntedHouse.info
http://www.HauntMarketing.com
Friday,
October 3,
2003
Issue: e23
Subscribers:
4,911
Thank you for subscribing to
Haunting News.
This is NOT spam. You subscribed
to our
email subscriber newsletter at
one of the
sites above.
Our subscription list is NEVER
made available for
public distribution. We value our
subscribers and
respect your privacy.
Please FORWARD a copy to a
friend!
http://www.HauntingNews.com
See Subscription Info at the end
of our email newsletter.
==========================================
IN THIS
ISSUE
==========================================
A.Delightful Horror
B New Convention Dates
C. Haunt.Info Bookstore
D. Interactive Classifieds
==========================================
EDITOR'S
CORNER
==========================================
Greetings!
Halloween is just around the
corner, and for those still
scrambling for last minute ideas
or input, we've put together
a few items for inspiration.
Costuming is frequently an
overlooked or oversimplified
aspect of haunting. Want to get
away from black robes?
We have some thoughts on that.
And Stu McIntyre, a
Maryland home haunter and
co-owner of
http://www.scaryguys.com, offers
up a Top Ten List of
ideas guaranteed to send your
neighborhood's kids into
fits of fright.
With Halloween on a Friday night,
2003 promises to be
a stellar year. If you stay open
for November 1st, we'd
love to hear how that works out
for you
- please drop us a note to let us
know!
Stay safe. Be horrifying.
Bugs and hisses,
- Dusti
Dusti@hauntingnews.com
==========================================
INDUSTRY
NEWS
==========================================
• Rocky Point Haunted House
Horror Nights, a two-day
on-site workshop geared towards
haunt operators,
constructors and actors, will be
held October 6th and
7th in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Limited availability.
Go to
http://www.rockypointhauntedhouse.com/frightnights/
for more details!
• There's still time for
exhibitors to register for
space at IAAPA 2003! It is the
ultimate opportunity
for facility owners and managers
to discover new
products, advances in technology,
and ways to increase
customer satisfaction and enhance
their business for
2004 and beyond. The IAAPA
Orlando 2003 Show is a great
opportunity to showcase suppliers
and manufacturers
newest products to interested
facility owners and
operators. Interested in
Exhibiting? Go to
http://www.iaapaorlando.com/forexhibitors.html
• A new Halloween-themed
soundtrack hits the market
October 7th. "Van Helsing's
Curse," featuring new
interpretations of classical
music performed by an
18-piece orchestra, includes
dialogue performed by Dee
Snider of Twisted Sister. For
more information, visit
http://www.vanhelsingscurse.com.
• Scared Stiff, the only
magazine dedicated to the
needs, concerns, and education of
haunted attraction
actors, has published its last
issue. Editor-in-Chief
Jeff Glatzer, however, intends to
continue to be
involved with actor education via
demonstrations and
lectures. Thank you, Jeff, for
your enthusiasm and
support of what is very often a
neglected aspect of
the dark amusement industry.
• Tayman Manor, a haunted
attraction in Midlothian,
Texas, has reportedly burnt down
off-season. More
information as we get it..
================================
IAHA
NEWS & UPDATES
================================
Don't Miss IAHA's Special Evening
of Terror at
Disney-MGM Studios on Wednesday,
November 19, 2003
An exclusive evening of elegant
"terror" has been
planned for IAHA. Our tour begins
backstage at
Disney-MGM Studios promptly at
8:00pm on the evening
of Wednesday, November 19th.
Event guides will escort
us around the corner and through
a time warp right out
of "The Twilight Zone"â
where the famous Hollywood
Tower Hotel, a.k.a "The Twilight
Zone Tower of Terror"
ä is still open despite an
unfortunate lightning
strike.
This ominous hotel has been
abandoned since 1939 and
is waiting for us to "check-in".
The Bell Captains
will take us on a VIP tour of the
elegant resort. Our
path will take us through the
exquisite gardens, the
lobby and finally into the
library where the lights
"unexpectedly" go dark. Rod
Serling will appear on the
screen and invite us to step into
the service
elevator. On this special night,
we are the stars as
this elevator we enter into.."The
Twilight Zone".
On IAHA's exclusive "Lights On"
tour of The Twilight
Zone Tower of Terrorä we
will learn the detail and
history behind the attraction,
ride the attraction
with the lights on, tour the
maintenance bay and have
a look at a vehicle before we
take a walk through the
5th dimension. Our hotel
concierge, L.E.Vator will
escort us to the Tower courtyard.
Here you'll be
served an elegant, multiple
course candlelight dinner.
Accompanied by your choice of any
call brand
beverages, beer, wine, soda, tea,
coffee or water. Our
evening of terror will commence
around 11:30p
Limited seating of 65 , email
LforaL@novia.net for
your reservation.
=====================================
HAUNTING
AMERICA
© 2003 Stu McIntire,
Reprinted by
Permission
====================================
For a majority of families that
celebrate Halloween, just getting
the kids
to eat dinner, into their
costumes, and out the door for
trick-or-treating
is a major operation worthy of
General Eisenhower on his finest
day. So how
do some families find the time
and energy to make a grand show
for the kids
by decorating their yards with
tombstones, cobwebs, and
scarecrows? Perhaps
the more appropriate question is
why do they do it? In my case,
the reason
was a desire to entertain the
kids - a repayment, if you will,
for the
years a family down the street
entertained me every Halloween
night.
My first "gig" took place almost
thirty years ago. Armed with a
Dracula
poster, skull candle, and a
colored light bulb, I was sure my
house was the
spookiest on the block. It
wasn't, but I managed to scare
two or three kids
regardless. I was hooked. From
there, I added and changed every
year. I
never duplicated the same scene
and have always strived to be as
original
as possible. Even today I always
give the kids a little something
on
Halloween night despite the fact
that I am involved with some
fundraising
haunt or another. My neighbors
often give me funny looks, but
their kids
can't wait to get to "the
McIntire house." Is it worth it?
You bet!
So what ideas work best for front
yard haunts on Halloween night?
You will
meet with varying degrees of
success, but the following is a
"Top Ten" list
of time proven tips, tricks, and
ideas for making your house The
Place to
Be every October thirty-first. In
reverse order and determined
solely by my
own whims, I humbly offer:
Evil Doc Stu's Top Ten List of
Halloween Frights &
Delights
#10 Theme:
The Witch's Curse
The mean witch in the pointed hat
is classic Halloween imagery.
Here,
"makeup makes the witch." Buy a
simple makeup kit and follow
the
instructions that are found in
most kid's Halloween makeup
books. If you
need an inspiration, use the
Wicked Witch of the West from the
Wizard of
Oz.
There are many good sound effects
tapes and CDs that include cat
screeches,
bubbling cauldrons, owl hoots,
etc. Make good use of the
soundsor make your
own. Create your bubbling
cauldron sounds by blowing air
through a straw
into a glass of water.
For the bubbling cauldron, use
dry ice in water to create the
"steaming
witch's brew." You can even drink
the potion that's been chilled by
the dry
ice (frozen carbon dioxide), but
be careful of any chips that may
end up in
your drink. Dry ice can give you
nasty burns. For that reason,
avoid
prolonged contact with exposed
skin. Depending on your traffic
on
Halloween, you may need several
pounds of dry ice to maintain the
illusion
of the bubbling brew. A tip
heredrop the dry ice into hot
water to achieve
the maximum effect. Hot water
will keep the dry ice dissipating
and keep
the water (or other liquid) from
chilling too much. You want to
avoid the
dry ice from developing a frozen
water shell around it. Once that
happens,
your brew will stop bubbling and
the "steam" will disappear.
Increase the
temperature of the water to melt
the coating. If it's a large
chunk, you
can break it into smaller
pieces.
#9 Theme:
Maniacal Killer
Some of the most recognized
horror icons of today are Freddy
(Nightmare on
Elm Street), Jason (Friday the
13th), Michael Myers (Halloween),
and
Leatherface (Texas Chainsaw
Massacre). It isn't all that
difficult to make
or buy the costumes. I don't use
these characters (except perhaps
for names
on tombstones), but if I did, I'd
go with Leatherface. The chain
saw is a
tried and true Halloween scare
tactic. Remove the blade before
the
trick-or-treaters come. There's
no sense in creating any safety
hazards.
#8 Theme:
Aliens Among Us
I'm not sure when UFO themes
became a part of the Halloween
culture, but
who's quibbling? Whether you
stage a crashed spaceship, alien
invasion, or
alien autopsy scene, you can
invent any type of
extraterrestrial you wish!
Alien machinery can be invented
from all sorts of scrap
materials, painted
and adorned with blinking
Christmas lights for the control
panels. You can
build entire wall sections of the
machinery using cheap paneling
for the
substructure and attach hoses,
pipes, dials, and knobs in
countless
configurations.
#7 Theme:
the Wild, Wild West
There are plenty of source
materials to work from and a
plethora of
possible setups for a Western
theme. Cattle skulls, snakes, and
six-guns.
Who could ask for better
inspiration?
#6 Theme:
Pilfering Pirates
The Halloween stores sell
those plastic skeletons which get
cheaper and
cheaper every year. Why not
invest in a dozen (or more) and
build your own
Skeleton Crew? A well-placed eye
patch, peg leg, scabbard, pistol,
and hat
make your pirate dressed for
success!
The truly ambitious could even
replicate the remains of a
galleon ship,
emerging from a sand duneor even
from the water. The mast could be
the
largest PVC pipe you can find at
your local hardware store (PVC is
easy to
work with). Add a little cargo
netting, "seaweed," and a
tattered Jolly
Roger.
Watery reflections are an easy
effect to make. Submerge a mirror
or
crumpled reflective mylar in a
shallow pan of water. Aim a light
source
towards the pan for the
reflections. Now point a fan (a
small oscillating
one will do) at the water. Voila!
A watery grave that will be sure
to
attract a larger crowd of
onlookers!
#5 Theme:
the Egyptian Tomb
Here's an opportunity to make the
trick-or-treaters a part of the
action.
Buy a bunch of Styrofoam pith
helmets for the kids to wear and
invite them
to an exploration of an Egyptian
tomb. Give them a brief
description of the
fate that befalls the defiler of
the tomb, but offer them the
chance to be
protected by rubbing some idol
and chanting an ancient Egyptian
spell
("Oh-wah, Tawgu, Sy-Am" always
works for me).
You'll want the requisite mummy,
of course, but be sure to add as
many
extra details as possible.
Hieroglyphics, flickering torches
(electric
bulbs), incense, and statues are
must-havesdon't forget the
tarantula scene
from Raiders of the Lost Ark
either!
#4 Theme:
the Vampire's Lair
When designing this set, use
Gothic architectural styles (such
as high
pointed arched doorways). For the
makeup and costume, Bela Lugosi's
Dracula
is the perfect look that is most
recognized as the vampire, so
follow his
example. Classical music in the
background (particularly certain
passages
from Swan Lake) helps set the
right mood. Include a casket -
empty if the
vampire is on the loose; with
someone in it as the sleeping
vampire if you
want to go for a sudden
scare.
For that sudden scare, the
"sleeping" vampire lies perfectly
motionless,
waiting for just the right moment
to spring forth upon the
hapless
victim(s). For a buildup to the
scare, someone can play a vampire
hunter,
with stake and mallet in hand -
cajoling the trick-or-treaters to
step ever
closer to the casket. There will
always be one or more kids who
will be
brave enough to get
>thisclose< to the casket,
only to jump a foot in the
air when the vampire rises.
#3 Theme:
the Mad Scientist
What would Halloween be without a
mad scientist? In much the same
way you
would construct the alien
machinery walls, you can
construct the equipment
one might expect in a mad
scientist's lab. Plenty of
blinking lights, shiny
metal surfaces, test tubes,
beakers, widgets, gizmos, and
gadgets are what
you want to "invent." You can
find so many objects at yard
sales and flea
markets that are truly junk to
create your lab for a paltry sum.
Make sure
to include sound effects of live
electrical wires, machine hums,
gears
turning, etc. Many Halloween
stores now carry various "body
parts in a
jar." Buy (or make) your own! If
you want an Igor-type assistant,
there are
many latex prosthetic makeup
appliances on the store shelves
which make for
odd/creepy/deformed/demented
Right Hand Man. They are
somewhat
easy to apply and comfortable to
wear. If you so choose, your
centerpiece
can be a Frankenstein's Monster
sort of body which you are
attempting to
bring to life.
#2 Theme:
the Moonlit Graveyard
This scene doesn't really require
that much in the way of set up.
Lots and
lots of tombstones of various
shapes and sizes will be the bulk
of what you
need. There are as many ways to
construct your tombstones as
there are
styles to choose from. I've used
plywood cutouts in the past; I
know others
who have used poured concrete.
Many people use their graveyards
to
highlight bits and pieces of
morbid humor. They will put
friend's,
relative's, and neighbor's names
on the tombstones. They will
write amusing
epitaphs ("Here Lies the
Pillsbury Doughboy. He Will Rise
Again!"). Some
will go for the authentic look as
added detail to a Bigger and
Better
Scene. Whichever way you choose,
you will have a great time adding
new
tombstones from year to year. As
for the sound effects, you will
probably
find more for your graveyard than
for any other theme.
Wolvesowlsbatsfootstepswindscreamsthunderthe
sound of digging shovels will
all add to the effect. If you
have the space and ability, dig a
few fresh
graves. You can even have a few
actors trying to claw their way
out of the
ground - a stunt I first
witnessed in a church-sponsored
haunt. If you
choose to create your own thunder
and lightning, you may wish to
follow the
advice I received from a good
friend and haunt supplier to the
masses.
Everyone wants to use strobe
lights for their lightning
flashes. For a more
natural look, try floodlights
instead. Unless you are trying
for the
simultaneous flash and
thunderclap, you don't even have
to sync the sound
effect to the light flash. For
the thunder, look for recorded
thunderclaps
that are NOT accompanied by rain
(unless you have the wherewithal
to set up
an elaborate overhead sprinkler
system on your property).
#1
Theme: the Monster in the
Cage
Face it. No matter what
you put into your haunted yard be
it money, blood,
sweat, and/or tears, some of the
simplest scare tactics are the
easiest to
make at the lowest cost. This is
a truism that has befuddled
professional
haunt operators for years.
The Monster in the Cage is an
effect that anyone with a saw,
drill, wood,
paint, _" diameter PVC pipes, and
maybe a few shims can build. The
steps
are as follows:
Measure the width of your
front doorway. Cut two lengths of
2X4"
lumber that are just shy of
the doorway width - just enough
to ensure a
snug fit.
With the 2X4s laid flat,
strike a line down the center
(lengthwise)
of each board.
Drill holes along this
line, approximately _" deep, 8"
on center each
from the next. The holes
should be barely larger than _"
in diameter.
The ends of the PVC pipes will
fit into these holes and you want
the
tightest fit possible. One
piece of 2X4 will lay in the
bottom of the
doorway (holes up); the other
in the top of the doorway
(holes
down).
Measure the height of your
doorway. You will need to cut the
PVC
pipes to the proper length. If
you drilled the holes in the 2X4s
about
halfway through, you will need
to subtract approximately 1 _
to
2"off the height of the
doorway and cut your PVC pipes to
that length.
If you cut the pipes too long,
you will find that the PVC will
have
a noticeable bend to it when
inserted in your wood frame - and
the frame
into the doorway. If you cut
the pipes too short, the PVC will
not
stay in place when the cage is
put to use. Better to cut too
long and
make any re-cuts as
necessary.
Test the fit of your cage
frame in the doorway. Insert the
PVC pipe
ends into the holes in the 2X4s,
both top and bottom. Wedge the
frame
into your doorway using the
shims to tighten the fit if
necessary. Give each of the
bars a vigorous shake to make
sure they will
not slip out of place. When
you are satisfied you have the
proper
fit, remove the cage frame
from the doorway.
Paint your cage frame, bars
and all. The color isn't
important. A
metal shade, gray, or black
are all acceptable. Once painted
and dry,
the cage will be ready to
install.
The gag here is that the
character behind the bars is
shackled to prevent
escape. He may make all sorts of
threatening gestures and noises,
but all
appears well. The chains will
holdor will they? The normal
reaction is for
the ten to twelve year olds to
taunt the beast and make general
comments
about the scene being lame. They
may even increase their criticism
when the
actor breaks free of the chains
and rattles the bars in
frustrated rage.
What the kids don't know is that
_" PVC pipe in seven to eight
foot lengths
is very flexible. Enough so, that
an adult of average to above
average
build can spread two of the bars
far enough apart to exit the
cage! We used
this in a fundraising haunt one
year and it still remains one of
our
all-time kid
scattering/high-pitched scream
generating effects we've ever
used. Of course, the more
effectively you build up to this
scare, the
greater the payoff. We used a
strobe to backlight our monster
as well as a
fog machine for atmosphere. As
many hours as we've spent
designing more
elaborate and technical effects,
this simple one is still
remembered and
talked about. Go figure!
In Closing...
In looking over my Top Ten,
you will notice that not every
idea is the
panic-creating haunt that
everyone is looking to build.
Keep in mind that
these are scenes designed for the
very youngest to oldest
trick-or-treaters
(generally four years to twelve
years old). You will not want to
terrorize
every kid that approaches your
door. You're liable to anger
certain
neighbors if you do. Gauge the
ability of the approaching
trick-or-treater(s) to handle
your setup if you can and try to
take it easy
on the younger ones. Entertain in
the best way you can each and
every
visitor. On Halloween night, I'd
choose to create a sense of awe
and
excitement for the kids over
scaring the cr*p out of them
every time.
That is, after all, why I dress
up my yard the way I do once
a
year - hopefully, you will too.
Now on to the business of
Haunting
America!
==========================================
ANNUNCIATE,
ANIMATE & ILLUMINATE
==========================================
ACS, a leading supplier of
animation controls, is now
offering
their products to the Halloween
industry. Items of
special interest to
haunters are the
CFSound Digital audio
repeater, the USB Servo
Controller, and the Full
Color and Single Color
LEDTRACK.
The CFSound
Digital audio repeater
features compact flash card
storage is easy to set up
(. wav files are
named the way the user
wants them to play) and
expandable, with up to 24
input triggers
and 8 output
contacts available. Stereo
quality audio can be enhanced
with an optional built-in
20 watt amplifier, and
a servo control
expansion module with timeline
editing software will
be released soon.
The USB
Servo Controller features
"plug and play" HID
compliant
sample source code (for Visual
Basic and Visual 'C'), 8 input
triggers
and 8 open collector
outputs, as well
as input for an external
servo
power supply. Timeline editing
software is being developed that
will
allow you to animate synchronous
to audio .wav files.
The Full Color and Single Color
LEDTRACK is pluggable
"end
to end" to
allow the electronic
creation of endless shapes,
patterns,
and effects. The tracks come in
straight and curve tracks, as
well
as left, right and U turn boards.
They feature "stand alone"
operation using LEDTRACK with 8
input triggers to start
triggered patterns, or they can
be controlled via a
RS-232.
For further information, please
contact Scott
Ackerman at
scott@acscontrol.com or go to the
ACS
web site
==========================================
ESCAPE
FROM THE HOOD
Costuming The Goes the Extra
Step
By
Dusti
Lewars-Poole
==========================================
Anonymous denizens, draped in
black hooded cloaks, disguised
behind skull
masks, are a ghoulish sight in
haunted houses. These costumes
are
certainly creepy, and easy to
maintain. They're also very
generic. As
any haunt afficianado can attest,
spectres such as these are all
too
common in dark attractions.
So shake things up a little!
When Joe Public can walk into any
Wal-Mart, mall or supermarket and
pick
up fog machines, makeup
prosthetics, and more, one has to
rely less on
retail and more on creativity to
come up with a terrifying show.
Avoid
expensive store-bought costumes.
Hit the thrift stores instead.
Clothing
with tears and stains, out-dated
styles and fabric patterns,
dresses with
broken zippers - these are
perfect for haunt actors. Not
every zombie in
a graveyard should be wearing the
same era of clothing (unless, of
course,
it fits the theme of your show).
A dress that uses velcro instead
of a
zipper is a dress that's less
likely to be torn apart by an
actor that
just wants to get out of costume
and home to bed. If you shop
wisely,
you can get a full wardrobe of
costumes in various sizes and
styles for a
surprisingly small amount of
money.
(Note: Be careful about the type
of fabric you select.
Polyesters and
silks may be overly warm.
Dry-clean-only outfits may not be
as
cost-effective as you'd like.
Purchase for comfort,
practicality, and
flexibility as well as for
look.)
If period-specific detail is what
you're looking for, try
approaching
theatre groups in your area -
high schools, colleges,
professional
companies, etc. Ask if they have
old costumes they no longer
need.
Theatrical-quality costuming is
made to hold up - much more so
than a
store-bought item. If the
theatre isn't interested in
donating costumes,
perhaps you can work out a
sponsorship deal with your
contact person, or a
low-cost purchase can be worked
out. If your contact person has
one or
two really good costumes that
could work as unique-looking
centerpiece
characters in your haunt, buying
those costumes may be one of the
best
purchases you could make all
season.
Another option is to go to rental
costume shops or off-season
"Victorian
Photograph" tourist attractions
and inquire about costuming they
can no
longer use due to damage done by
careless patrons. Remember:
tears and
stains are a GOOD thing when it
comes to haunting!
Go online and check out
costumers. Perhaps the two best
in the haunted
attraction industry are Castle
Blood and Rozzy Alexander.
Castle Blood
(http://www.castleblood.com)
offers a full selection of
mix-and-match
high-quality costuming at very
reasonable prices, allowing for
the
possibility of a haunt owner
outfitting an entire show with
these stylish
costumes. Rozzy Alexander
(http://www.rozzyalexander.com)
creates
elaborate, unique designs that
work very well for centerpiece
characters.
Rest assured, Joe Public will not
have seen anything on par with
what
these two hallmark vendors offer.
Purchases from vendors such as
these
are a long-term investment in
your show.
But perhaps your show's theme
really does call for dark-hooded
spectres,
and you don't have time or
interest in altering your
costuming needs.
Consider, then, that it's very
easy to make these kinds of
cloaks. Pick
up bolts of cloth that have
varied textures. With little
effort, you can
create an assortment of costumes
that are personalized, look
unique,
breathe better than most
store-bought capes, and allow for
a variety of
actor sizes and shapes.
What you put on your actors is
just as important as what you put
on your
haunt walls. Have fun with it!
Be creative! And leave the
plain
polyester cloaks behind.
==========================================
CLASSIFIED
ADS
==========================================
VERY IMPORTANT: If you wish to
contact the following
businesses, please reach them
directly at the email
internet address indicated, phone
number or visit
their web site.
AD DEADLINE for the next issue is
September 25, 2003.
For ad info: http://www.HauntingNews.com/advertise/
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GETCHA
SOME GORE
Gore Galore manufactures ultimate
quality props at a
reasonable price. Ultimate
Warrior Body suits, Costumes,
Creepy and Giant Puppets,
Corpses, Severed Heads,
Skulls, posable Body Form, and
more....
http://www.Gore-Galore.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
PICKEL
ROOM DESIGN BOOKS
Hauntrepreneur Leonard Pickel
offers a variety of haunt
design books. Each book contains
a minimum of 20 room
designing including illustration
on how each design operates.
http://www.Haunt.Info/books
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GET
INTO THE MOOD
Quality CD selection for haunting
your show.
One of the largest selections
available.
http://www.Haunt.Info/sounds/
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
==========================================
STUFF
==========================================
While Haunting News uses
reasonable efforts to include
accurate and up-to-date
information. It makes no
representations
as to the accuracy, timeliness or
completeness of such
information.
http://www.Haunt.Info
http://www.HauntIdeaKit.com
http://www.HauntedHouse.info
http://www.HauntMarketing.com
|
