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Announcements
Blast from the Past: Jasons' Woods |
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Posted by: John on 06/26/2009 12:39 PM
(Read: 40)
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The following appeared in an early issue of Haunted Attraction Magazine.
Jason's Woods by David Stewart
Unknown to farmers above, beneath the loamy soil of Lancaster County, an ancient demon with the power of shape-shifting has lay dormant for centuries. But no longer! Tired of the mockery made of his legend and the cacophony of noise that fills Jason's Woods every October, Zebadias has broken free from the soil intent on wreaking havoc upon all trespassers. Anyone brave enough to enter Jason's Woods will find themselves in some way affected by the shadow of this ancient evil. Be it spectacular displays of power or a sibilant whisper in the ear, all visitors are touched by the hand of Zebadias.
Hit Read More below |
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Issue #2: SpookyWorld |
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Posted by: John on 06/11/2009 09:13 AM
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Here's another blast from the past. In 1995, the second issue of Haunted Attraction did a story on SpookyWorld.
SpookyWorld, America's Horror Theme Park, is 'the ultimate horror venue in the United States', says David Bertolino, President of SpookyWorld Inc. He acknowledges that in the early days, such statements were mere hype. Now he insists they're true! In May of 1991, Bertolino bought the farm, so to speak. He purchased the 23acre farm in Berlin, Massachusetts, with the idea of operating spooky hayrides. As a representative of Rubie's costumes and having a familiarity with prop and set design, he decided he was ready to produce his own show. 'I was expecting 10,000 or 20,000 people to come on a really neat hayride. We had 60,000' says Bertolino of that first October. An avid horror film buff, Bertolino, 41, describes himself as a kid who never grew out of a love for trick-or-treating. His wife Linda, also shares the common interest- (they reportedly met at a Halloween convention!)
The attraction features The Nightmare Gift Shop and the Spooky World Hayride Tour, which takes visitors riding across acres of haunted terrain, past more than 20 stage sets with live performers. The American Horror Museum displays artifacts from classic to contemporary TV and horror films. In addition, Tom Savini's Haunted House offers viewers frightening special effects and animatronics. Savini is known for his gruesome effects in films such as 'Friday the 13th' and 'Dawn of the Dead/ Savini and other celebrities will appear throughout October, including Elvira, 'Mistress of the Dark', Carel 'Lurch' Struycken from The Addams Family movies, and Linda Blair, among others.
This year, Bertolino, with his Minneapolis partner, Barry Zelickson, will open a second SpookyWorld location in Minnesota. The new park will be on the site of the living history museum, Murphy's Landing. Located along the Minnesota River in Shakopee, southwest of the Twin Cities, it will offer 'the same spooky experiences' as the first.
Also new for SpookyWorld '95 is the introduction of 'Aliens: The Ride at the Speed of Fright.' The motion simulation ride is based on the movie 'Aliens', and is the first interactive virtual reality attraction to be developed from a motion picture.
With reported sales for 1994 being $2.5 million, Bertolino emphasizes the importance of reinvesting profits into the business each season. 'It's very labor-intensive. At any given time, there are 350 people on the time clock,' Bertolino states. The park requires ushers, ticket takers, security personnel, parking crews and curators for the horror museum. The place requires a top-notch heating and electrical system to keep the special effects and other systems running smoothly. 'For every fog machine, there's a backup fog machine,' and with 20 bathrooms, 'someone has to order 10,000 rolls of toilet paper!/ says Bertolino. SpookyWorld will open at 7pm every night, September 29th through October 31st. All proceeds from Friday, opening night, will benefit Boston's Children's Hospital. Combined contributions from 1993 and 1994 reached nearly $100,000. The 1995 projected attendance is 225,000 people and the sales projections are estimated to reach $4 million.
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NEWS FLASH: Power Out After MHC Party |
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Posted by: John on 06/07/2009 12:54 PM
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Columbus, Ohio. With the Masquerade Party at the Midwest Haunters Convention in full swing and the party moving into the bar and other hotel areas, the power to Hyatt Regency was suddenly and mysteriously lost. The power went out at approximately 1:30am (reports vary as to the exact time since no one was actually sober at the time).
When the lights went out, haunters weren’t sure what was happening. The immediate reaction from most haunters was to order another beer. One haunter from Pennsylvania said “I thought that it was some kind of massive Last Call, I wanted to make sure I got a drink before it was too late.”
Some haunters were even stuck in the elevators for up to 20 minutes and the tight spaces affected people differently. While some were claustrophobic, others saw the silver lining. Paul Emerson of Haunted Terror Haunted House said, “I thought it was pretty awesome. I usually wouldn’t get the chance to stand that close for that long to the half-naked succubus from the body paint competition.”
Unfortunately, attendees for the Columbus Halo 3 Live Competition (a gaming event running at an adjacent exhibit hall this weekend) weren’t as positive about the incident. Blake “SniperGuy69” Lane was very upset by the power outage. “I was just about to own UrDead23 and blow his ass up with my plasma rifle when the power went off. That F@#$ing lame ass had been ganking other players all night and he deserved to go down.” Sinperguy continued, “At home, all my game systems are on power backup systems but I didn’t bother bringing the UPS (uninterruptable power supply) with me to the hotel. Oh well, I guess I know what I need to do next year.” When asked for comment, UrDead23 simply said SniperGuy was a whiney b*tch.
The only major injury occurred when a haunter’s head exploded on the 14th floor. The haunter had walked up the stairs from the 3rd floor to get more beer, but was left dazed and confused by the lack of a 13th floor. One witness said the troubled man kept yelling, “How can I be on 14? Where did they put 13? Dude, where’s the 13th floor?” At that point, his brain simply exploded from the confusion.
The cause of the power outage is still unknown. The rumor that haunters from North Carolina hacked into the power system in an attempt recreate the Tower of Terror experience have been proven untrue. Authorities continue to investigate.
Regardless of the power outage, the Party was a blast. I had a great time at the Party and I know everyone else did too.
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Midwest Haunters Convention Haunted Attraction Bus Tour |
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Posted by: John on 06/05/2009 07:22 PM
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The Midwest Haunters Convention Haunted Attraction Bus Tour was a great time. We got to see some good haunts, some great haunts and some amazing scenes. Wells Township Haunted House, Demon House and Hundred Acres Manor on Day one gave everyone a great show. Day two we went to Kennywood Amusement Park to get a behind the scenes tour of their Dark Ride Ghostwood Estate.
Halloween Productions helped build and install this ride and it really looks fantastic (nice job Larry!). My only complaint with the ride was that I was so busy trying to shoot stuff, I couldn't enjoy all the great sets. Thanks to the behind the scenes walkthru, I was able to take my time and see everything at my pace. And for the record, everyone in the Ben Armstrong family beat my score I think...
Last night we went to West Virginia State Penitentiary. We got a tour through the facility and then got to go through their haunt. It was very fun throughout, but my favorite part was the beginning and especially the delivery method to take visitors to the heart of the haunt. I don't want to give it away but I really like it. Great job guys!
I'd like to thank everyone and every haunted house and attraction who helped make the trip a success. Crazy Bob Turner of Haunted Hydro was our bus captain and kept the energy level up - THANKS BOB! And the folks at MHC had things organized (love the staggered bus setup).
Looking forward to next year!
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Great Time at Great Lakes Fright Fest |
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Posted by: John on 06/02/2009 09:44 AM
(Read: 181)
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This past weekend (May 29th to May 31st) was the Great Lakes Fright Fest in Petersburg, MI. What a fantastic event this was. It was my first time to this event and I am looking forward to next year's get together - I just to have to remember bring my kids - they would have had a blast.
Click the Read More link below to see more pics!
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Spotlight: Terror on Church Street |
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Posted by: John on 05/24/2009 10:27 AM
(Read: 209)
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Join me as I hop into the WayBack machine and peek at issue #1. Published in the Summer of 1995, the first Haunt Spotlight was Terror on Church Street. The black & white photo was also the first one to appear and was in fact the only actual photograph in that issue.
Click the Read More link below to...er, um...well read more |
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Change on the Horizon |
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Posted by: John on 05/21/2009 02:56 PM
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In the coming months you will begin to see some changes in Haunted Attraction - both in the print version and here on the website. Stay tuned to this spot to get the latest breaking news on the changes that are coming.
Click Read More below for more... |
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HAuNTcon Photos |
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Posted by: John on 05/16/2009 08:42 PM
(Read: 355)
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Hey, I finally got some HAuNTcon photos up...chek 'em out...
That's not me by the way....that's Fluffy. |
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Time is running out for this CAN’T MISS pre-show tour! |
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Posted by: leonard on 04/13/2009 10:10 AM
(Read: 329)
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Visit Six different Wisconsin Haunts in Two days on the HAuNTcon Pre-show Haunted Road Trip Bus Tour! April 29-30
All inclusive ticket price includes:
6 Different Haunted Attractions and a 4-D Theater! A ride on an antique passenger train! Bus Transportation! Hotel, Meals, Photo Op at Lambeau Field! Free beer, soda, and snacks at the Terror on the Fox!!
And more!
The Pre-show tour leaves at 8am on Wednesday April 29 from the Wyndham and returns to the host hotel at 6pm April 30. The current list of Haunts for this overnight bus trip includes Terror on Rural Street, The Hartford Jaycees Haunted House, Shawano Manor Haunted House, Dominion of Terror, Curse of the Crypt, and lights off AND lights on tour of Bad Boys Scenic Designs’ Terror on the Fox!
DETAILS |
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HAuNTcon Keynote Speakers Announced! |
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Posted by: leonard on 04/08/2009 01:15 PM
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Friday May 1 at 5pm
Halloween Horror Nights by Michael Aiello
Show Director for Halloween Horror Nights and Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure at Universal Studios Florida Michael Aiello will take us through the creative process used by the development team to design and realize the largest Halloween event in the world!
Saturday May 2 at 5pm
Knott’s Scary Farm by Gary Salisbury
Long before Universal's Halloween Horror Nights, Busch Garden’s Halloscreams, and Six Flag's Fright Fest, before any amusement parks celebrated Halloween there was Knott's Berry Farm's Halloween Haunt. Knott's Berry Farm was the first amusement park to produce a Halloween event, which changed the Halloween Industry forever. A small group of talented individuals got together in 1973 and came up with the concept of Halloween Haunt, the first Haunted Special Event in the world. Gary Salisbury was a member of this original group that charted the course for Knott's Berry Farm's Halloween Haunt and and shares his memories of how the Event was created and how it grew into the most famous Halloween special event in the world.
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Alterface and Clostermann Design at TransWorld St. Louis |
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Posted by: leonard on 03/18/2009 01:50 AM
(Read: 297)
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Alterface and Clostermann Design are to present the latest developments in their ambitious project for an interactive haunted house at the National Haunt & Attractions Show from 27 to 29 March 2009 in St Louis, Missouri, USA.
READ MORE> |
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MARATHON PARANORMAL BROADCAST coming to RIPLEY’S believe it or not! |
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Posted by: leonard on 03/12/2009 03:17 PM
(Read: 275)
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-Friday the 13th, March 2009-
St. Augustine, FL – Friday the 13th announcements of this nature might make some folks nervous, but at Ripley’s Believe It Or Not! Museum in St. Augustine, its par for the course.
READ MORE |
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HAuNTcon 2009 |
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Posted by: leonard on 02/24/2009 12:53 PM
(Read: 376)
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Join Haunters from across the country for the Sixth Annual Haunted Attraction National Tradeshow and Convention, at the Wyndham Milwaukee Airport Hotel and Convention Center, April 30-May 4, 2009 with a pre-show tour April 29-30. Open to the general public, HAuNTcon is a convention and expo that packs in everything a Haunter could possibly want or need to make the next Halloween season the best it can be!
EVENT DETAILS! |
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Read More
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Houston Halloween & Party Expo 2009 REVIEW |
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Posted by: leonard on 02/01/2009 07:18 AM
(Read: 557)
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With all the changes in the Halloween convention landscape, I made sure to make the trip to Houston to check out the First Annual Halloween & Party Expo the last weekend in January. I had registered online with no problem. A business license and an invitation letter from an exhibitor will get you in.
READ MORE |
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IAAPA Haunt Seminars - Novembev 20-21, 2008 |
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Posted by: leonard on 11/18/2008 12:06 AM
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This year at the IAAPA Convention in Orlando, there will be a full day of Haunted Attraction Seminars. Check out this exciting schedule!
Thursday November 20th
Haunted Attraction Operator Safety program
1:00 pm – 4:15 pm Class room
4:30 pm – 8:30 pm Field Trip
Operations Institute: Certified Haunted Attraction Operator Safety program– Code Compliance, Fire and Safety Issues
In cooperation with the International Association of Haunted Attractions (IAHA) and the Mobile Midway Safety Institute (M.M.S.I.) IAAPA presents the Certified Haunted Attraction Operator Safety program (C.H.A.O.S.) The program will focus on code compliance and fire and safety issues for haunted attractions and will include a site visit to one of Universal Studios’ Halloween Horror Nights haunted attractions. It will demonstrate to haunted attractions operators, the importance of taking a long term or year-round approach to safety and maintenance planning.
The program will provide an overview of the current standards and the standards authorities pertaining to haunted attractions including ASTM, NFPA and CPSC. It will also detail the operations requirements for a haunted or walk-through attraction including: automatic sprinklers systems, temporary or permanent water supply, smoke detection devices, alarm systems, illumination and exit markings and Class A interior finishes. The course will also consider inspection requirements, how to identify and correct hazards, and how to comply with established operating standards.
The course will end with a field trip to Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights where attendees will visit a number of haunted houses as well as hear a presentation by Universal Studios entertainment production staff on how they produce Halloween Horror Nights.
Speaker Phil Slaggert
4:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Haunt Tour: Behind the Scenes at Universal's Orlando's Fright Night
Take a very special tour to a very frightening place! Universal Orlando Resorts offers HALLOWEEN HORROR NIGHTS, one of the best Halloween experiences in the business....and this year IAAPA is offering a unique look behind the scenes of these thrilling attractions.. Universal’s creative team will take you through their Halloween house and maze experience and will explore with you the design features, operational challenges and other aspects of managing a truly scary experience. Bring an extra pair of pants!
You must be 16 years or older to participate.
(Separate registration fee required.)
Friday Novembev 21, 2008
8:30:AM - 9:45 AM
Throughput: Increase Your Capacity And Increase Your Profits
Learn how to maximize the capacity of your walkthrough attraction while retaining show experience in this in-depth session by 30 year Haunted Attraction Industry veteran Leonard Pickel. Topics include Guided Tour vs. Constant Line, Attraction Design, the Scare Forward Approach, Multiple Scare Points, Split Maze, Accelerating the Flow, Actor Substitution and Breaks, Design Aspects to Avoid, Greeter/Ticketing Control and Actor Training. Learn how to supercharge your throughput of your walkthrough attraction and to create shorter lines, repeat tours and happier customers.
Speaker Leonard Pickel
10:00 AM – 11:15 AM
How to make yourself the spotlight for the media
M Magazine Managing Editor, Amy Siewert and art director Carol Reichelt, present a master class on media management photo layouts. They will demonstrate how you can make your media story stand out from the rest of the pack and how to use props and photo layouts to sell your story. They will also give tips on how to approach an editor with your story and how to communicate to art department so that your needs are understood and met.
Speaker Amy Siewert
Speaker Carol Reichelt
10:30:00 AM – 12:30 AM
Haunt Floor Vendor Tour
If you are in the market for Halloween and Haunt products supplies and services, then don’t miss the Haunt Suppliers Vendor Show Floor Tour. Our tour guides will “fast track” you to participating haunt exhibitors who will demonstrate the benefits and features of their products as well as discuss their service and finance plans
11:30 AM – 1:15 PM
5th Annual Women in the Industry Networking Luncheon
Women in the Indstry - WIN - is pleased to host a true entrepreneur and innovator in the attractions industry - Bobbie Weiner.
Known in the business as "Bloody Mary," Bobbie is a professional Hollywood special effects makeup artist and Chief Executive Officer of Bobbie Weiner Enterprises LLC, a creative makeup products development company. She was the special effects make-up artist who transformed hundreds of actors into blue-lipped, icicle-covered corpses in the Oscar Award winning film, "Titanic."
She has leveraged the Bloody Mary name into a host of products from make up to comic books and this year Universal Studios will feature a Bloody Mary Attraction in its Halloween Horror Nights. She does extensive work for charity including Give Kids the World.
Bobbie will speak on the expo theme of Success in Every Direction and how she built her business empire from one small idea.
Speaker Bobbie Weiner
1:30 PM – 2:45 PM
Developing an Effective Year round Marketing Plan for Seasonal Haunted Attraction
This seminar will focus on techniques and strategies that can be employed to market a haunted attraction (or any seasonal event) with the emphasis on a year round approach. Join Brett Bertolino, IAHA and Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site as he explores in-house media relations, promotions, when and how to hire a PR Firm and other marketing tools to put your attractions on the map.
Speaker Brett Bertolino
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Alterface and Clostermann Design join forces |
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Posted by: leonard on 11/14/2008 12:10 PM
(Read: 833)
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Combining the recognized know-how of Clostermann Design in the
construction of animatronics and themed scenery with Alterface's
expertise in interactivity, this haunted house project has been
created to offer thrilling new sensations for the fans of this type of
attraction.
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Read More
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Creatures Crypt Auction - Tuesday, June 10, 2008. Auction starts at 10:30am |
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Posted by: leonard on 05/30/2008 12:20 AM
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For the past several years, Creatures Crypt has been known as one of Illinois' top Haunted Attractions. In fact, in 2007 it was voted the #1 Haunted House in Illinois by HauntedIllinois.com. Their creativity, detailed sets & props made them one of the best events in the business.
Sadly, 2007 was their last year, but you still have the opportunity to see this attraction one last time... and even take a part of it home with you! On June 10th, the owners of Creatures Crypt will be holding a Haunted House Auction in Bloomington, Illinois. The entire attraction must go. They will be auctioning off complete sets and scenes, as well as hundreds of individual items.
To find out more about the auction,Click Here
Don't pass up this opportunity to get your hands on a piece of this top-rated Haunted House! Clear your schedule for June 10th, to visit the Creatures Crypt Haunted House Auction! |
Future of ‘Star Trek: The Experience’ In Doubt |
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Posted by: leonard on 05/06/2008 10:31 PM
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Since opening in early 1998, Star Trek The Experience at the Las Vegas Hilton has been the premiere live Star Trek attraction in the world. With its Trek-themed restaurant, museum, shops and rides, it plays hosts to thousands of tourists and Trekkies every year. However, the current contract is up and it looks like 2008 may be the last year for Star Trek The Experience.
READ MORE |
The Plot Thickens for TransWorld 2009! |
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Posted by: leonard on 05/03/2008 07:14 PM
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The uproar from moving the TransWorld convention to Chicago in January has apparently been heard loud and clear by the exhibit company. The dates for next year's [url=http://www.tweshows.com]International Halloween Costume and Party Show[/url] have been changed to March 6-9, 2009
However! For the 2009 Haunts and Attractions Show it states only "Information Coming Soon!"
Is it possible that the dates and location for this Haunted House section of the TransWorld convention will be different from the Halloween Costume Show?
Stay Tuned!
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