Friday, December 31, 2010
Happy New Year!
Sunday, December 12, 2010
An Early Christmas Gift to my Followers
Dark Christmas Radio
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Blogger Zombie Walk!
Ghost Hunting Theories http://autumnforestghosthunter.blogspot.com
Gnostalgia http://gnostalgia.wordpress.com/
The Caffeinated Zombie http://zombiesandcoffee.blogspot.com/
Improbable Frontiers http://improbablefrontiers.wordpress.com
Anything Horror http://anythinghorror.com/
Above-The-Norm: Bizarre Arizona http://above-the-norm.blogspot.com/
The Digital Looking Glass http://thedigitallookingglass.blogspot.com/
Monkey Man http://petzoldspracticalprose.blogspot.com/
Strange State http://strangestate.blogspot.com/
Hayes Hudson’s House of Horror http://hayeshudsonshouseofhorror.blogspot.com/
Echoes In the Abyss http://echoesintheabyss-spectre.blogspot.com/
Not Worth Mentioning http://jesseacohen.blogspot.com/
Haunt Jaunts http://hauntjaunts.net/blog/
LeoGodin http://leogodin.net/Holly’s Horrorland http://hollyshorrorland.blogspot.com/
And finally, here's my little contribution; but just listen to, don't watch, this song I found on YouTube:Happy Zombie Blogger Day!
Sunday, December 5, 2010
A Christmas Spook Tale
Friday, November 26, 2010
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Is it a Tom or Hen?
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Halloween 2010
This year was actually a pretty good one. Not great, but still a lot of fun. There were some ups and there were downs, but the good outweighed the bad and All Hallow's Eve did commence. I've made a few notes about the good and bad so I think I'll share 'em!
Good:
1) The lighting was a hell of a lot better this year. We used some colored florescent bulbs and the really added some color where needed.
2) My brother as our resident scarecrow managed to scare the ever living crap out of just about everyone.
3) The Graveyard was much bigger this year, with green witch jars, Blaircrows, and even a false grave.
4) My Death Studios witch mask arrived just in time.
5) A VERY unnerving and Michael Myers-ish incident that I'll post about later.
Bad:
1) NEVER, EVER wait until the last minute to make your costume. It will look hasty, and the audience will know it.
2) I've got to learn how to take better pictures of my haunt.
3) Remember to take some video next year.
4) Wear make-up instead of a mask, so you don't wind up dripping buckets of sweat off your head!
I'm waiting for my mom to e-mail the pics to me, and hope you guys will like our handiwork this year. It's interesting - this is the first year in a long time where I don't fin myself suffering from post-Halloween depression. Probably because I looking forward to next year's haunt, with a new location (more on 2011 later).
Just a few last minute updates: I've won some Day of the Dead awesomeness from Autumnforest at her blog, and I'd like to welcome my new follower Spookworks. So until next time, Stay Scary!
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Last October Blog Post
Thursday - Drive into Mom's house in PA after school
Friday - Last minute prop building (day off from school)
Saturday - Begin setup, visit Terror Syndicate's Dark Works Home Haunt (REALLY COOL)
Sunday - the Nightmare begins.....
And so to you all, every last one of my followers, have a Haunted Halloween!
Sunday, October 24, 2010
My First Halloween Party
Oh, and how could forget the decor!?! It was as elaborate as many of my haunts, if not more so! I made guests walk around the side of my house through some gravestones, cornstalks, and luminaries to get to my back door, where I had a strobe light. Sadly, my fog machine went bust, so I wasn't able to show off my laser vortex. But the real treat was inside the house. Candles galore, and masks, static Trick-or-Treater props, severed fingers and rubber roaches floating in the soda barrel, green and blue LEDs illuminating things, and the spider's lair-themed foyer. Peoples jaws hit the floor. There was plenty of food, and we all had a good time. It was fun showing my friends Trick 'r Treat for the first time, and watching them scream and jump. After Trick 'r Treat, we watched The Hangover, and listened to more music.
One of the best things to come from the evening was that I may have a future assistant haunter for next year. I'm considering moving the haunt back here to my dad's house in Ohio, and going the extra mile for a really special something. One of my friends, named Grace, expressed interest in helping out next year with props and costumes. Personally, I can't wait. She seems to really enjoy Halloween, and has a lot of potential. Well, folks this is HalloweeNut saying Stay Scary!!!
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Halloween Double Feature!
Mind you, this isn't a particularly *great* movie, but it's alright. Visually, it's wonderfully spooky, but the plot is pretty hokey towards the end. But hey, it's a live-action flick with a kick-ass Headless Horseman, and some pretty iconic imagery. It's worth a see. Next up is one of my all time favorite movies, Trick 'r Treat.
If you haven't seen the movie, that tribute video I found should give you a nice bloody taste of what this awesome horror anthology is. Nothing much too say, just WATCH IT!!!
Now, I'm off to make some popcorn and grab a glass of apple cider, then dream some Halloween dreams. We're almost there people. Just carve yer pumpkins, pour a glass of cider and say your prayers!
PS: With any luck, I'll be visiting Cleveland's own Carnival of Horrors haunted attraction on Thursday. Sounds fun!
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Haunt Review: THE SCAREHOUSE
It all started yesterday, on the way in to visit my mom at for the weekend in Pittsburgh, PA. My dad and I left early, but he didn't say why...when I saw my mom, she told me why - we had gotten VIP tickets to Pittsburgh's biggest and baddest haunted attraction - THE SCAREHOUSE!!!!!!!!
After washing down my excitement with a bottle of blue Mountain Dew (drink of the gods), We drove to Etna, PA, home of Scarehouse. The building was something to be seen: a tall, Greco-Roman style building lit with purple and green lights. We wound our way around the block to the back of the building to the entrance, were entertained by the crazy actor dressed as Steampunk transvestite (a very fun concept for a haunt actor) and got to the front of the line (a perk of getting VIP tickets), and after watching old '70's horror and exploitation movie trailers playing for the queue line, we entered the Mouth of Hell!
The first haunt was more of a creepy, subtler haunt, with no consistent theme called "The Forsaken" (my favorite haunt of the evening); each scene was different there was a dark carnival, a ruined church, a swamp, backwoods butcher shop, and a haunted mansion.
Next up was the wacky "Delirium 3D". For those who don't know, a 3D haunt is where they put blacklight paint of the wall, and you wear special glasses to the paint look like it's coming off the walls. Unlike your typical 3D haunt, which is clown themed, "Delirium" had a insane nightclub theme, with some of the best SFX I saw all night.
Finally, there was the gory, Steampunk-themed "RAMPAGE"! We found ourselves plunged head first into a futuristic totalitarian society during a rebellion. The rebel soldiers kept trying to recruit us to join the fight against the "DieRector" and the gun-totting, gas mask-wearing "Daphne". The final scene of RAMPAGE (and the whole attraction) was pure insanity. There were machine guns, chainsaws, robots, cannons, mutants, and lots of strobe lights! Finally, we were spat out back onto the street and into relative saftey. We picked up some souvenirs, and headed home.
Now, I have to say something - I LOVE SCAREHOUSE!!!!!! This place rocks, and generally kicks ass. If your are in the Western PA area in October, you've GOT to check out Scarehouse! As for souvenirs, I got a killer rabbit t-shirt, and the official soundtrack (yes, the haunt actually write their own music!) and it has some cool industrial/dance tunes that I'm gonna use for my party. Overall, great haunt, great actors, and very nice staff. Kudos to you, ScareHouse!
Oh, and those pictures above are cell phone pics of me and my mom with killer rabbit and the Steampunk transvestite.
Scarehouse Official site
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Halloween Stores
Well, I made my first trip to a Spirit Halloween store today. A great start to the season! This particular store was AMAZING! Normally, I don't really like Spirit stores, but this place was so spectacularly decorated, with an insane circus theme. Being the bad haunter I am, I forgot my camera. But I did pick up some neat stuff for my haunt and party. This browsing of the store reminded me of the photos I saw of Roger's Garden store in California. I first saw this incredible take on the seasonal store via Pumpkinrot's blog. They even go so far as to theme the store's displays! I've included some pics of it to give you an idea of what I mean by incredible! Here's the site. Enjoy your Halloween shopping, everyone!
Friday, October 1, 2010
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Life Lessons in Haunting
Oh, and a hat tip to new follower KK. And an extra special greeting to AutumnForest, of Ghost Hunting Theories, a fun paranormal/horror blog, and whose truly a kind person. Seriously, go check out her blog now!
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Northern Ohio Haunter's Make-n-Take Today
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Urban Legends: House of Horrors
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Useless Post
Second, I've just gotten a great new source for lighting. there basically LED mini-spotlights, from a site called Jack's Tool Shed. I'll be using these babies for my Halloween party and haunt for sure! I've included a link to the site (beware - shipping is pricey!!) and here's a link to Pumpkinrot's blog, where I learned about this little beauties! I'll post some pictures after Labor Day to show them off! Definitely get 'em for your haunt or party - you won't regret it!
Finally, looks like I'll be attending my first make 'n' take here in Ohio. It'll be at a home haunt called the Haunted Cauldron, hosted by WitchOtastic from GOE, and will include a Show 'n' Tell, skull plaster casting demo, and a laser vortex make 'n' take. It sounds completely awesome. I'll try and snag some video! Thanks to Rev at Hauntcast for the tip-off!
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Back to Work
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Shopping at Michael's!
Hey, everyone! Just got back from a trip to Michael's looking for some stuff to use in the haunt. Ended up getting some really neat stuff for the party and the sideshow haunt at my mom's house!
Some of the stuff I got included an orange candle, and a black candle (they smell like candy corn and black licorice, respectively). Also got a mini foam skull, pack of pumpkin treat holders that I'll put lights in, and a changing portrait! It changes from a medieval noble to a Grim Reaper. Some of the props are going to be working over time, at both the party and the sideshow. I'm gonna turn the mini skull into a paper-mache shrunken head, currently in progress, and I'll display the portrait as a "Demonically-possessed Painting" in the sideshow, and at the party he'll just be another decoration. I've included some pics (sorry if there not great quality, they were taken on a cell phone).
Oh, before I go, I'd like to give a scream-out to my two new followers, Shawn, and Dio. Glad to have you both aboard this terror train!
Next post: a scream-out to Shellhawk, and some photos of the wicked-cool stuff I won from her!
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Step Right Up (or, A Really Long Post)
This sideshow has a long and interesting history. It's run out of Toronto Canada, by owner Scott McCelland, AKA "Nikolia Diablo" who performs as head freak and Ringmonster of the show. It originally opened as a tourist attraction in Calgary, but became so popular it took to the road. Scott apparently got his inspiration from his grandfather, who owned Canada's largest traveling carnival, which ran from 1920 through 1968. This sideshow is different from the usual fare because it takes a theatrical approach to sideshow, instead the more common "Hey-look-what-I-can-do" approach. Also, it doesn't hurt that the whole show is done in the style of old fashioned horror movies. To give you an idea of the show, There's a video of the show below, but be warned: the video contains "Graphic and Unusual Performances" and keep in mind, NO SPECIAL EFFECTS HERE! It's all real. So please, don't little any little kids be watching this. It's, well, freaky:
Now for some more lighthearted fare: Scott also owns a traveling museum, called the Carnival Diablo World of Wonders. Here's a video of Scott, in character as "Nikolai" performing as the barker. Don't worry - this one is kid-friendly:
Both barker's spiels in the videos have given me inspiration, as I'll be playing the barker at my haunt. Well, gotta run. For those interested, here's the Carnival Diablo website:
CarnivalDiablo.com
Monday, July 26, 2010
I WON!!!
ShellHawk's Nest:
Next Post (hopefully): I'll try and post about a rather unusual form of entertainment that has had a rather large influence over the exact style of my haunt. I guess it can't hurt to reveal the name of this creepy bit theater: Carnival Diablo Circus Sideshow!
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Yes, I know...
Party:
This is my first Halloween party. I mean, EVER. So, I'm gonna keep it simple - no theme, Pizza, chips 'n' dip, music, scary movie. I figure I kinda have to show a scary movie that most people probably won't have seen, but still ties into the season. So I'm gonna show one of my all time favorites: TRICK 'R TREAT! The music will be a mix of Scary Rock/Metal (Rob Zombie, Creature Feature, Powerman 5000) and dark ambient (Midnight Syndicate, Nox Arcana). I've got all kinds of cool of ideas for decorations, and my costume will be the same costume for my haunt. Which leads me to announce the actual theme of my haunt this year....
Haunt:
Well, I've truly come full circle with this year's theme. I've gone from carnival to taking a year off, and I decided to buckle my @$$ down and choose a theme, and start building! So I'm going to go with original theme - Troupe Macabre Haunted Sideshow. I'm changing it from a "carnival" theme to a "sideshow" theme. The front porch will be transformed into a Freak Museum, and the front sidewalk will be the "Midway". Once again, plenty of cool ideas, but there's a lot hard work ahead. But I'll try to take some time to blog. I've got tons of cool circus/sideshow stuff to show you all. But that will have to wait; I've got props to build. Stay Scary!
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Happy Fourth!
Hope you all have a Happy Fourth of July, and Stay Freaky!!!
PS: the above Photoshop'ed masterpiece is not my work. I wish I knew who's it was, 'cause it's great!
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
OK, for those that didn't know already...
PS: the above image is one of many cool pics from the Love Manor Flickr page
Saturday, May 29, 2010
WARNING: Long Post!
Well, I've got some good news, some and bad news, and a haunt review! First the bad news: I won't be going to the Great Lakes FrightFest this year. Suffice to say, things just didn't work out. This is a pretty big bummer for me, as I was really hoping to go see the entire event this year. Oh well.
Good news (though some might consider this bad news): Remember how I said that for 2010 I was going to do a atmosphere-based haunt, themed to the "creepy house on the corner"? Well, to help me focus my energy and what little money I have on the 13th Street Morgue walk-thru for 2011, my step-dad Ben volunteered to take the reigns of the haunt in Pennsylvania for 2010. I consider this good news because it takes some weight of my shoulders. I guess I'll to put the "creepy house" theme in the recesses of me fiendish noggin for another time.
Haunt review: The Radley Haunted House (pictures above). I recently discovered this ultra-creepy haunt via another haunter's channel on YouTube. This is an INCREDIBLE home haunt, the likes of which I've never seen before. This sets look REAL, the soundscape gives you the chills, and the atmosphere is dead on! I've done some digging and found some stuff out about this haunt; It's in St. Petersburg Florida, and was orginally themed as a tribute to Disney's haunted mansion, but the year after became the haunt it is today. I highly recamend you check out this guy's Youtube channel - you won't be disappointed.
MstGracey's Channel
Well, that's all I've got! But to work, you freaks! ;)
Sunday, May 2, 2010
BIG Haunt Changes!
I've always wanted to do a walk-thru haunt. And after seeing Steve Hickman's Dark Works last year, the urge has been even stronger. Well, I recently ordered the Terror Syndicate Homer Haunter's Prop Building Videos vol. 4 (man that's mouth full), which focuses on building a free-standing walk-thru. Another thing I had wanted to do was host a "party haunt", or a haunt where you open it both for a party as well as to the public on Halloween.
I've made a decision: I'm canceling "Troupe Macabre" this year, to focus on creating a highly elaborate (and probably expensive) walk-thru party haunt for 2011. As for this year, I'm going to experiment with a more atmosphere-based haunt that is less prop oriented. The theme will be an old, decrepit house, the kind every neighborhood in America used to have; the ones kids would call the "haunted house". But that's something for another time. I'm probably going to be doing some postings on HauntForum about this, so if anyone has any questions, just shoot me a note there.
Well, I guess it can't hurt to reveal the party haunt's name:
1) go over to Pumpkin Knight's blog, The Land of Always October - he has some very cool news :)
2) Another shout-out to me first British Follower, Ali. Thanks for joining - now I'm boring on an international level!
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Season of Shadows Giveaway!
I'm gonna be brief: John at Season of Shadows is giving away four FREE CDs of Nox Arcana's Transylvania album. You have to leave a comment on the contest blog post, and then recommend the post on your own blog. But don't bother, 'cause I'M GONNA WIN!!!!! >:) Anyways, just wanted to recommend the contest to anyone interested.
Season of Shadows contest:
PS: Big shout out to Pumpkin Knight for joining the blog. You have a very cool blog yourself, and I feel it's destined for great things!
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Another Freak-edelic Year!!!!
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Carnival Haunt & Prop favorites
#1: the Pivnik Haunt 2009:
OK, so this is another haunt that isn't the world's greatest. But I like how they avoided cliched "evil clowns" for the most part. They used some cool effects to provide a Carnival-type atmosphere, instead of doing a stupid "Funhouse of Fear" theme, where they just painted striped walls and had guys in clown masks jumping around corners. They set design isn't the best, nor is it ultra-scary, but it looks fun and very much what I hope to achieve. Here's a link:
the Pivnik Haunt 2009 YouTube
#2: Oszlar the Magnificent prop:
this is an awesome high-tech prop, and cool variation on your average "Fortune Teller" I found this just after joining the GOE Network, and I love it! It's given me a real kick in the @$$ to improve my witch and turn her into a skull-faced Fortune Teller, like in the movie Big. Definitely check this out:
Oszlar the Magnificent on GOE Network
Well, I hope this is inspiring to readers who hope to do a carnival theme one day. As for me, it's back to work!
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Old-School Haunting
#1: the Bloodshed Brothers Haunted House!
This is isn't the greatest haunted house in the universe, but it has a charm to it. It feels like the Haunted Houses of the old days, minus the peeled grapes/eyeballs. It's put together by two young guys on a very tiny budget, so please, be kind go check out this neat little haunt (you'll LOVE the final gag in the video)!
Bloodshed Brothers Haunted House video:
#2: Katzper's Haunt!
Katzper's captures the feeling of old school haunting best, methinks, with it's cemetery/cornfield and haunted basement. Pumpkinrot is a big fan of this guy's work, so you KNOW it'll be good. Here's a YouTube link!
Katzper's Haunt:
#3: Brandywine Cemetery!
This is a high-tech version of the walk-thru's of yester-Halloween. The owner, Robert Beech, does a great job, and has an amazing Haunt. This is a great behind-the-scenes look at one of America's better Haunts.
Brandywine Cemetery Daylight Tour:
Well, that's all for now. I hope you've enjoyed this trip down memory lane. Next Post -- Halloween Double Feature: Trick 'r Treat and Halloween!
Friday, March 5, 2010
GLFF 2010!!!
Since I hope your all clear on the 2010 theme for my haunt (twisted carnival), I decided to move on to something else: the Great Lakes FrightFest 2010! I went for a day-trip last year and had a great time. It's really a great place for home haunters to get some creative ideas for their new haunts. They have some really cool events at the Fest, including a potluck, seminars, "Fog-Off", and a charity haunted house, plus more! What's even cooler, is that anyone who stays at the campsite where GLFF is held, gets to decorate their campsite. Lemme tell ya: I saw some really cool ones last year, including one tent made-up as a pirate ship; another one as an old west cemetery, complete with outhouse! LOL There are TONS of whacked-out hearses everywhere, even people in costume! This is a fantastic little event, which I highly recommend. To get you all interested, I found this great vid on YouTube, from user TwistedDementiaCOM, of the GLFF haunted house. Enjoy!
Great Lakes FrightFest 2007 Haunted House
PS: next time, I'll try to post my review of a movie I'll just got to see: Trick 'r Treat!!!
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Friday, February 26, 2010
Halloween 2010
I'm hear to give you all a little clue about my Haunt theme this Halloween. Last year's haunt was great, but I'm going to try and make this year's haunt even better. I've been looking into all sorts of atmosphere effects, such as new lighting, fog FX, and even spooky scents. All to help set a mood. I'm hoping this year will provide a break from my typical Gothic or "Classic Hallowe'en" themes. It's a popular theme I'm doing this year, but I'm doing MY way, which will hopefully be very different from your typical version of this theme. I'll make it gritty and disturbing, with a very angry vibe. I'll create an atmosphere that is haunting and mysterious, yet feeling like something very, very bad is about to happen. The kind of feeling that keeps you looking over your shoulder, looking for that potential attacker. In the backstory I'm working on, the characters from the Haunt are seeking a bloody revenge.....on you! I'm working on a video to annoucne the theme this year; the picture above is a little hint at things to come...
Well, back to work. Scare ya later, kiddies!