April 2009 Archives
It was announced this weekend that two of Javier C. Rivera's films - The Scare and Sometimes I'm Sad - will be screening at the 2009 PowerFlicker during the Spring 2009 Old Pecan Street Festival.
Read our past interview with Javier here.
Javier will also be in attendance for a question and answer session among the other filmmakers.
Saturday, May 2nd
3pm - 6pm
Alamo Drafthouse Downtown
320 E 6th Street
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 476-1320
Read our past interview with Javier here.
Javier will also be in attendance for a question and answer session among the other filmmakers.
Saturday, May 2nd
3pm - 6pm
Alamo Drafthouse Downtown
320 E 6th Street
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 476-1320
Come find out. I talk to a company that does full time Haunted
Attraction and Special Event Insurance. Come learn more by watching
this video. You can also read more about it at www.hauntedreport.com.
This was shot at Transworld Haunt Show 2009.
LINCOLN, Neb. -- Residents of a small southwest
Nebraska town have a question for state officials: You're not doing
anything with that old electric chair, are you?
The Nebraska Supreme Court ruled last year that the state's use of the electric chair was unconstitutional because it amounts to cruel and unusual punishment. Some people in McCook -- population just under 8,000 -- think "Old Sparky" could be a tourist attraction and have offered to take it off the state's hands.
Fifteen men were executed in the chair, which is housed about 210 miles east of McCook at the Nebraska State Penitentiary in Lincoln.
"If it's sitting somewhere collecting dust, we have a place for it," said Duane Tappe, who said the chair could bring thousands of tourists to the town every year.
"My wife thinks it's a little -- what's the word -- macabre," said Tappe, who's involved in the city's Rotary Club and chamber of commerce. "But I would drive up the road to see it. I mean, I drove all the way to Cawker City, Kan., to see the (world's largest) ball of twine."
I love that last line.....
Enjoy your moment of Monday morning ZEN freaks.
http://www.boingboing.net/2009/04/10/terrifying-gory-work.html
http://www.boingboing.net/2009/04/10/terrifying-gory-work.html
HAuNTcon 2009
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!
Designed by Haunters, for Haunters of every age and level of experience, HAuNTcon brings people together who love Haunted Houses and Halloween for a fun filled three days and nights of Haunter Education, Tours of Local Haunted Houses, jam packed Tradeshow Floor, Hearse Show and an incredible Costume Ball!
The HAuNTcon Haunt Tours starts on Wednesday April 29 with a pre-show tour. The over-night bus trip includes lights on and lights off tours of the Hartford Jaycees Haunted House, Terror on Rural Street Crypt of Terror, Bad Boy's Scenic Design's Terror on the Fox, Shawano Manor and Dominion of Terror.
The Thursday Night Kick-off Tour and Social on April 30 includes dinner and a tour of the Realm of Terror owned by Tom Kristof. The Friday Night Haunt Tour, May 1 is the three haunt multi-element event Wisconsin Fear Grounds, owned by Tim and Ann Marie Gavinski, and features Morgan Manor, Freaky's Fun House and the brand new Unstable.
A key component of HAuNTcon is education! Over 50 hours of seminars, workshops and Demonstrations are included in the price of admission. Education id the key to help attendees learn tips and tricks on how-to build props and sets; how to make their lives easier and their attractions more successful.
The huge Tradeshow floor, Friday May 1 through May 3, is filled with the latest in fright services and equipment for the professional Haunted House owner and Halloween enthusiast alike. From horror makeup and highly detailed masks to static props and large animatronic creatures, everything a Haunter needs will be for sale and many at wholesale prices.
A Hearse and Parade Car Rally is planned for Sunday May 3, as the hotel parking lot fills with a collection of creepy tricked out vehicles and funeral cars.
Saturday night May 2, is the massive Haunted Attraction Magazine Costume Ball, where Haunters from across the country show-off their most creative costumes at a rocking party that celebrates the joy of getting into character for fun rather than for work. It is Halloween in May!
NEW for HAuNTcon 2009 is the Sunday Night Haunt Tour and social on May 3 of Monster Mayhem owned by Jeff Lister. The price for this tour includes a light dinner and networking social.
"HAuNTcon is an opportunity for Haunters to network, share tips and stories, get fresh ideas, learn new ways of doing things and check out the latest in Haunting props," explains Leonard Pickel, editor of Haunted Attraction Magazine and HAuNTcon event coordinator. "It is the best money you can spend on your Haunted Event."
Attendee and Exhibitor Registrations are available at www.hauntcon.com, as is a schedule of events for the weekend. Discount hotel rates for the Wyndham Milwaukee Airport Hotel and Convention Center are also available on the convention website.
If you own a Haunted House or would like to find out how to get started in the Haunt business, then HAuNTcon is a "not to be missed" convention! Even if you just like Haunted Houses and Halloween, then you are in for a rare inside look at how major Haunted Attractions across the country scare millions of people each October.
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!
Designed by Haunters, for Haunters of every age and level of experience, HAuNTcon brings people together who love Haunted Houses and Halloween for a fun filled three days and nights of Haunter Education, Tours of Local Haunted Houses, jam packed Tradeshow Floor, Hearse Show and an incredible Costume Ball!
The HAuNTcon Haunt Tours starts on Wednesday April 29 with a pre-show tour. The over-night bus trip includes lights on and lights off tours of the Hartford Jaycees Haunted House, Terror on Rural Street Crypt of Terror, Bad Boy's Scenic Design's Terror on the Fox, Shawano Manor and Dominion of Terror.
The Thursday Night Kick-off Tour and Social on April 30 includes dinner and a tour of the Realm of Terror owned by Tom Kristof. The Friday Night Haunt Tour, May 1 is the three haunt multi-element event Wisconsin Fear Grounds, owned by Tim and Ann Marie Gavinski, and features Morgan Manor, Freaky's Fun House and the brand new Unstable.
A key component of HAuNTcon is education! Over 50 hours of seminars, workshops and Demonstrations are included in the price of admission. Education id the key to help attendees learn tips and tricks on how-to build props and sets; how to make their lives easier and their attractions more successful.
The huge Tradeshow floor, Friday May 1 through May 3, is filled with the latest in fright services and equipment for the professional Haunted House owner and Halloween enthusiast alike. From horror makeup and highly detailed masks to static props and large animatronic creatures, everything a Haunter needs will be for sale and many at wholesale prices.
A Hearse and Parade Car Rally is planned for Sunday May 3, as the hotel parking lot fills with a collection of creepy tricked out vehicles and funeral cars.
Saturday night May 2, is the massive Haunted Attraction Magazine Costume Ball, where Haunters from across the country show-off their most creative costumes at a rocking party that celebrates the joy of getting into character for fun rather than for work. It is Halloween in May!
NEW for HAuNTcon 2009 is the Sunday Night Haunt Tour and social on May 3 of Monster Mayhem owned by Jeff Lister. The price for this tour includes a light dinner and networking social.
"HAuNTcon is an opportunity for Haunters to network, share tips and stories, get fresh ideas, learn new ways of doing things and check out the latest in Haunting props," explains Leonard Pickel, editor of Haunted Attraction Magazine and HAuNTcon event coordinator. "It is the best money you can spend on your Haunted Event."
Attendee and Exhibitor Registrations are available at www.hauntcon.com, as is a schedule of events for the weekend. Discount hotel rates for the Wyndham Milwaukee Airport Hotel and Convention Center are also available on the convention website.
If you own a Haunted House or would like to find out how to get started in the Haunt business, then HAuNTcon is a "not to be missed" convention! Even if you just like Haunted Houses and Halloween, then you are in for a rare inside look at how major Haunted Attractions across the country scare millions of people each October.
Leave us your comments. This is an Editorial from Larry Kischner. Do you agree or disagree?
TRADESHOW REPORT HALLOWEEN RETAIL SHOWS ARE SCARY BUSINESS IN 2009
Well both of the major Halloween Retail shows are over and the results are in... Both shows are flops. Both Houston Halloween Tradeshow and the Transworld Halloween and Party Show bombed bringing in the buyers. Our sources report the Transworld show was worse but both shows more or less flopped. In the past there was only one MAJOR Spring Halloween retail show and that was the Transworld Halloween and Party Show.
As of this year many of the major retail players specifically Rubies, decided to start their own show in Houston. Basically both shows cannibalized each other to the point that neither are considered a success. A show that use to draw in over 8,000 buyers spanned across 400,000 square feet was reduced to a few hundred buyers and no more than 1/5th the footage.
Now considering both shows are considered flops, both shows may soon court the Haunt industry back or introduce them to their existing retail shows. What a funny turn of events I would say considering it was the retail industry that wanted the haunts out of the show. Only now do they realize the haunts brought in bodies, and excitement with all the incredible Hollywood over the top props and animations.
Reality is that both shows probably now think if they can get the haunters back to their shows maybe they can win out over the show. The truth is however that the haunts have nothing to do with the retail flops... retail buyers do not buy from haunted house vendors because their products cost more than they are willing to pay, and additionally take up a lot of floor space. No 5,000 square foot costume shop wants a giant animation in the store that doesn't generate income. Haunted house owners could attend a retail show but they won't buy anything... yes they are lookers not buyers. If you are a haunted house owner you have passion for Halloween so you enjoy looking but seldom do they buy.
Sooo... bringing haunted houses back into the fold of a retail show will NOT solve the problem. The real solution is one of the two shows must go its really that simple. Our prediction is that one of the shows will go and it will be the show that no longer has Rubies as an exhibitor. Yes we are sure there are many vendors who do not like the idea of Rubies running their own show, however vendors are also smart enough to realize that Rubies brings buyers with them. Without Rubies no Halloween retail show will survive, period with or without haunters involved.
When both shows come a calling asking haunts if they will co-locate the answer is NO! Period! WE DO NOT NOR DOES ANYONE want to go to Chicago in the winter. Everything from the hotels, food, unions, to the hall itself cost way to much money for the haunt industry. Additionally why would the haunt industry want to co-locate with a dying Halloween retail show in the cold months in Chicago and pay more for the privledge? We don't and won't.
Then comes to Houston...yes they have called, and yes they are now interested feeling how this could be the final dagger into Transworld and bring them more bodies on the show floor in addition to sell more booth space. HOUSTON WE HAVE A PROBLEM... for one you are charging $2500.00 per booth, that is double what vendors are paying in St. Louis, and you have no background, no knowledge, on how or who to promote a show to. Not to mention with Rubies running your show you will focus all of your marketing dollars on RETAIL! SO HOUSTON GO HOME... we wish you luck from afar. We wish the Transworld retail show luck from afar, and even hope they win out over Houston.
Either way the haunt industry must move on and leave once and for all no matter what any one of these tradeshow organizations ask of us... we don't need them nor do we want to co-locate with a retail show. We are ATTRACTIONS with specific needs, and we need to grow our business by bringing new vendors from the amusement industry.
We need to embrace our fellow corn maze, pumpkin patch and even Christmas light show brothers and sisters and grow the show into something even bigger and better than ever imagined. RETAIL SHOWS... good luck, but our haunted future lies within our own show, with the marketing dollars focused on our industry, our needs, wants, and desires not mixed up with two retail shows going south not north.
I wish to THANK TRANSWORLD for taking the leap and creating this 2009 Haunt Show, and we offer to help them grow this show into something bigger than they have ever imagined and we can get there within 3 years. But they must stay the course otherwise it will be time for the haunt industry to produce their own show for their own association that benefits our indutry not a greedy retail industry.
A few years ago someone high up and I won't mention his name said he had never seen an industry that couldn't agree or fought more than the haunt industry. Now with the show only days away and an expected crowd more than double of Vegas and Houston combined and with the retail industry squaring fighting like cats and dogs and ruining the small guys in the process... I wonder if this person would retract his statements and now point the light square on the retail side.
For haunts its time to be one, for your own industry, look out for ourselves, and support those who we can trust, who stand behind us, and who will lead us... So far Transworld has not let us down and I hope it stays that way.
Again I hope this show will be the start of something new for Transworld.
TRADESHOW REPORT HALLOWEEN RETAIL SHOWS ARE SCARY BUSINESS IN 2009
Well both of the major Halloween Retail shows are over and the results are in... Both shows are flops. Both Houston Halloween Tradeshow and the Transworld Halloween and Party Show bombed bringing in the buyers. Our sources report the Transworld show was worse but both shows more or less flopped. In the past there was only one MAJOR Spring Halloween retail show and that was the Transworld Halloween and Party Show.
As of this year many of the major retail players specifically Rubies, decided to start their own show in Houston. Basically both shows cannibalized each other to the point that neither are considered a success. A show that use to draw in over 8,000 buyers spanned across 400,000 square feet was reduced to a few hundred buyers and no more than 1/5th the footage.
Now considering both shows are considered flops, both shows may soon court the Haunt industry back or introduce them to their existing retail shows. What a funny turn of events I would say considering it was the retail industry that wanted the haunts out of the show. Only now do they realize the haunts brought in bodies, and excitement with all the incredible Hollywood over the top props and animations.
Reality is that both shows probably now think if they can get the haunters back to their shows maybe they can win out over the show. The truth is however that the haunts have nothing to do with the retail flops... retail buyers do not buy from haunted house vendors because their products cost more than they are willing to pay, and additionally take up a lot of floor space. No 5,000 square foot costume shop wants a giant animation in the store that doesn't generate income. Haunted house owners could attend a retail show but they won't buy anything... yes they are lookers not buyers. If you are a haunted house owner you have passion for Halloween so you enjoy looking but seldom do they buy.
Sooo... bringing haunted houses back into the fold of a retail show will NOT solve the problem. The real solution is one of the two shows must go its really that simple. Our prediction is that one of the shows will go and it will be the show that no longer has Rubies as an exhibitor. Yes we are sure there are many vendors who do not like the idea of Rubies running their own show, however vendors are also smart enough to realize that Rubies brings buyers with them. Without Rubies no Halloween retail show will survive, period with or without haunters involved.
When both shows come a calling asking haunts if they will co-locate the answer is NO! Period! WE DO NOT NOR DOES ANYONE want to go to Chicago in the winter. Everything from the hotels, food, unions, to the hall itself cost way to much money for the haunt industry. Additionally why would the haunt industry want to co-locate with a dying Halloween retail show in the cold months in Chicago and pay more for the privledge? We don't and won't.
Then comes to Houston...yes they have called, and yes they are now interested feeling how this could be the final dagger into Transworld and bring them more bodies on the show floor in addition to sell more booth space. HOUSTON WE HAVE A PROBLEM... for one you are charging $2500.00 per booth, that is double what vendors are paying in St. Louis, and you have no background, no knowledge, on how or who to promote a show to. Not to mention with Rubies running your show you will focus all of your marketing dollars on RETAIL! SO HOUSTON GO HOME... we wish you luck from afar. We wish the Transworld retail show luck from afar, and even hope they win out over Houston.
Either way the haunt industry must move on and leave once and for all no matter what any one of these tradeshow organizations ask of us... we don't need them nor do we want to co-locate with a retail show. We are ATTRACTIONS with specific needs, and we need to grow our business by bringing new vendors from the amusement industry.
We need to embrace our fellow corn maze, pumpkin patch and even Christmas light show brothers and sisters and grow the show into something even bigger and better than ever imagined. RETAIL SHOWS... good luck, but our haunted future lies within our own show, with the marketing dollars focused on our industry, our needs, wants, and desires not mixed up with two retail shows going south not north.
I wish to THANK TRANSWORLD for taking the leap and creating this 2009 Haunt Show, and we offer to help them grow this show into something bigger than they have ever imagined and we can get there within 3 years. But they must stay the course otherwise it will be time for the haunt industry to produce their own show for their own association that benefits our indutry not a greedy retail industry.
A few years ago someone high up and I won't mention his name said he had never seen an industry that couldn't agree or fought more than the haunt industry. Now with the show only days away and an expected crowd more than double of Vegas and Houston combined and with the retail industry squaring fighting like cats and dogs and ruining the small guys in the process... I wonder if this person would retract his statements and now point the light square on the retail side.
For haunts its time to be one, for your own industry, look out for ourselves, and support those who we can trust, who stand behind us, and who will lead us... So far Transworld has not let us down and I hope it stays that way.
Again I hope this show will be the start of something new for Transworld.
Matt from Edge Designs explains what his company does and what
the Real Life Game of Operation Prop is all about. For more info check
out www.hauntedreport.com.
Check out the latest version of Haunt World Magazine for their cover story:
http://www.hauntedhousemagazine.com/images/hw21_mag_cover.jpg
Nice work Jon Love and crew.
http://www.hauntedhousemagazine.com/images/hw21_mag_cover.jpg
Nice work Jon Love and crew.
2009 State of the Union from International Association of Haunted Attractions as given by Pat Konopelski at the IAHA Dinner at Transworld 2009. Why should you join? Watch this video to find out why.
VIENNA, OH- The Darkride and Funhouse Enthusiasts (DAFE) recently honored Mary Lou Rosemeyer, Kennywood Park's Director of Public Relations with a lifetime membership in the non-profit organization. Rosemeyer is only the second person to be so honored. The first was William Cassidy, the former owner of the Pretzel Company, a company credited with creating the first darkride.
DAFE's Director said "When we learned the Mary Lou was being "phased out" after 22 years as Kennywood's PR director, we had to do something to honor her. Mary Lou was instrumental in assisting us with putting together our first event for our organization that was formed just months earlier. She insisted that Kennywood become one of our first corporate members and was always willing to answer all of the MANY questions I had about public relations issues for our fledgling group. More importantly, she became a friend...not just MY friend, but a friend to amusement park enthusiasts in general."
Rosemeyer was presented
with a plaque and a lifetime membership card at the American Coaster Enthusiasts
"CoasterBash!", a winter-time convention for coaster enthusiasts in the western
Pennsylvania
area.
DAFE (pronounced "daffy"),
which was founded October 31st, 2000, has over 300 members worldwide.
DAFE's Daffy Klub Web site www.dafe.org contains articles about dark attractions, club events,
and a downloadable membership application.
Hi everyone
Just a reminder that we have a scary story contest going on - you can win tons of DVDs from our personal libraries.
Just email your entry to news@hauntedreport.com with the title "scary story entry" and we'll be sure to post it.
The deadline for new stories is fast approaching so be sure to enter today! We accept any stories - true or fiction - just has to be scary or creepy.
And as a reminder, we also need you to vote on the stories. We currently have the following entries - be sure to read them and vote for your favorite in the comments!
Home Haunted by Demons
The Haunted Office Building
A Haunted Mansion
Ghost in the Woods
And, hey, if any of these are your stories, don't be afraid to ask your friends to vote! Remember the stories with the most votes win prizes!
Just a reminder that we have a scary story contest going on - you can win tons of DVDs from our personal libraries.
Just email your entry to news@hauntedreport.com with the title "scary story entry" and we'll be sure to post it.
The deadline for new stories is fast approaching so be sure to enter today! We accept any stories - true or fiction - just has to be scary or creepy.
And as a reminder, we also need you to vote on the stories. We currently have the following entries - be sure to read them and vote for your favorite in the comments!
Home Haunted by Demons
The Haunted Office Building
A Haunted Mansion
Ghost in the Woods
And, hey, if any of these are your stories, don't be afraid to ask your friends to vote! Remember the stories with the most votes win prizes!
Leonard Pickel accepts his Lifetime Achievement Award at the IAHA Award Dinner. And gives a somewhat controversial speech.
Friends of HR
