RIP, Garage of Evil

Yesterday, we all received the news that the Garage of Evil, once the central hub of the haunter universe, was closing its doors for good. While the news itself wasn't all that shocking, it still left me a bit sad as I read Steve's notice. With the rise of Facebook and newer, larger groups like Haunter's Hangout, users (just like myself) stopped visiting the GoE site in favor of the newer kids on the block...


When I decided to take my then-unnamed little Halloween yard display to the next level in 2009, the Garage of Evil was the first "haunter site" that I discovered. I joined and the inspiration exploded. An entire forum of people who were just like me. I perused the photos of other peoples' props and displays and quickly went to work on my own. As I continued to obsess over all of the amazing work that was shared on the forum, I then discovered local haunter groups. 

My mind was blown when I discovered a local chapter group, the Northern Ohio Home Haunters. A group of fellow enthusiasts right in my own neck of the woods. I still had to drive an hour for my first meeting, but I awkwardly arrived and introduced myself to the garage full of people. And every one of them couldn't have been more friendly and welcoming. I felt like I had finally found my tribe. I sat back and scribbled notes like a madman as I was introduced to the words "make and take." Show up and everyone builds something cool to use in their display. I had a ton of fun at those meetings, building props like a flying crank ghost and a talking skull, both of which are still used in my display today. It's been quite a few years since the group last got together, but I'm glad that I still keep in contact with a few of those members. I guess in time, like the Garage of Evil itself, all things come to pass...

One of the last things I did for our group was come up with a new logo. I think the group unofficially disbanded before it could be used, but I'm still pretty proud of what I created.

Another amazing thing about the Garage of Evil, and especially the Northern Ohio Home Haunters Group, is that they also introduced me to the convention scene. I couldn't believe that there was a convention for haunters just 2 short hours away in Columbus, Ohio.

In 2011, I decided to go check out the Midwest Haunters Convention. Mrs. Highbury and I drove down on a Saturday to go check out the convention floor, meet up with a few members of the Ohio group, and then go to the big Garage of Evil dinner meet up.

Upon entering the convention floor, I was shocked by what I saw. I was like a kid in a candy store, ogling over all of the props, masks and other haunt-related goods. I really loved the Garage of Evil booth for that year, the infamous shooting gallery (perhaps only outdone by the following year's "crashed alien spaceship" booth)!

After crisscrossing the convention floor, we made our way over to the dinner meet-up. I met a lot of the big names in the haunt world, and knew from that point that I was no longer just "a guy who set things up for Halloween"...

After the meet-up, we jumped back into the car and headed for home with a bag full of goodies, including a GoE patch and projection lights, both of which I still have! As I look back, I realize that this was the defining moment that send me down the path toward Highbury Cemetery and what it has become today. So I really do owe Steve and the Garage of Evil a debt of thanks.


Last night, I logged back into my old Garage of Evil account for one last trip down memory lane. I went through my old photos, curious to see the first one that I posted. And it was a great one! 

From 2010, my William Henry Pratt/Boris Karloff tribute stone. It was one of the first tombstones that I did where I really researched the epitaph and then pushed the creative with an ornate and detailed epitaph, recessed skull face and embedded LED light eyes. I still have this stone and it continues to be one of the highlights of my ever-growing collection.


So it's with an almost nostalgic smile that I bid the Garage of Evil a final farewell, with a huge thanks for what they did for the haunt community, and especially for its instrumental development on my haunt and for the wonderful memories that I will always have.

Rest in peace, Garage of Evil, and thank you for everything. You won't soon be forgotten.

  

  

Midwest Haunters Convention, 2014: Part Two

After a fun filled Friday full of tours and partying, we got up Saturday morning with a thick fog clouding our brains and tried to get ready for the Trade Show floor. We pulled our bodies out of our slumber and headed down for a quick breakfast.

On the way to the trade show, I noticed someone who was a little worse off than we were from the previous night's festivities...

As we entered the trade show, we quickly noticed Froggy's Fog in their usual spot, doing their usual thing.

As we toured the rest of the show, we noticed that there seemed to be a few less vendors there than in the previous few years. Some of the usual suspects were there (and was it just me and my foggy brain, but was Stiltbeast Studios NOT there??), but it seemed like most vendors had smaller booths. Still, we were still impressed by what was available...

Vigo, for all of you Ghostbusters II fans!!

Lots of full-body characters on display in the different vendor booths...

And lots of foam weapons were available...

...as well as a five-foot-tall animated skull. 

After we got about half way through the show, it was time to go meet fellow members of the Northern Ohio Home Haunters Group for lunch. We made our way over to North Market for some Holy Smoke BBQ. Pulled Pork and Chicken for everyone (except for Jimmy T, who found a Polish vendor and scored himself some gas-inducing Old World treats)!!

 Photo by Stacey Rager.

After filling our bellies, it was time to get back to the show with renewed vigor...

Just hanging around...

 

And yes, we got to see the stars of Making Monsters, Ed and Marsha Edmunds of Distortions Unlimited. Unfortunately, there were so many people around their booth, we never got the opportunity to actually meet them. Maybe next time...

If you look closely, you can see Ed in the top left of the photo, wheelin' and dealin'.

During the trade show, the judging for the Kids' Costume Contest was held and Alexis, age 6, won "Best Costume" with her incredible Queen of Hearts costume:

She even got an interview with Inside The Haunt Industry! And when she pulled out that severed head on stage, I absolutely cracked up. Off with their heads!

 

When we finished exploring the trade show (and emptied our wallets to a few of the vendors), we made it back to the room for a quick nap and then it was up to the 19th floor for the Garage of Evil pizza and beer hotel party.

 

We even got a visit from Transworld's (and now MHC's) Jen Braverman. It was cool that she took a few minutes out of her busy schedule to come up and hang out.

Before we left, fellow Northern Ohio Home Haunter, Lane, correctly guessed the number for SteveO's big giveaway and took home this ridiculously cool GoE ouija board...

And after a quick refueling with some pizza and beer and a complimentary GoE fridge magnet, it was time to get back to the room so that we could make our transformations for the big masquerade party...


 

The First MnT of 2012 And Other Madness...

Well, a week later and I'm finally able to document the incredible time Scrapes and I had at the Northern Ohio Haunters' first Make & Take of 2012...

As a quick recap, the Make & Take was held at Forsaken Haunted House, which was by far the most perfect venue to hold a gathering of home haunt loonies like us. A HUGE thank you to Brian and Diana for allowing us to come in and use their space and especially for giving us a full tour of the haunt. Scrapes and I will definitely be making the trip back up in October to get the full effect (and for anyone else thinking about going - hold on in the Decontamination Room!).

A talking skull routine welcomed you to the haunt, complete with a hidden hose that pumped out a buttered popcorn scent. Yum!

After the guided tour, we got down to the business at hand. For this Make & Take, we were carving foam tombstones (which was nice because all of the tombstone epitaphs in our Cemetery haunt thus far were painted). Eric and Tracee gave a detailed how-to and we were off to carve...

Scrapes gets busy with the x-acto blade in between bites of his Sloppy Joe...

Eric brought an amazing sample from his tombstone collection...

Stacey got to try out a hot wire foam cutter (but her daughter took off when she saw me bust out the camera)...

And Randy showed off his incredibly detailed tombstone. Wow...

The time flew by and we soon headed home. Scrapes and I talked about the direction we wanted to go with our (his) new tombstone and decided to go a little bit more subtle. Instead of adding "Jason" to the Voorhees name, we decided instead to add the roman numeral for "13." (Get it? Friday the THIRTEENTH??) Scrapes was so pumped, he went home and continued to carve that night, firing off a new photo the next morning. I'd say he's got it!!

I can't wait to get some paint on this thing. The subtle reference is spot on and I think we've decided that the only other thing that we are going to do is to hang a hockey mask off of the corner. This thing is going to look incredible sitting amongst the other tombstones in our Cemetery this year. We'll definitely post more photos as we continue to progress on it...

In other news, our GoE friend Stacey sent us a link, saying she thought of us when she saw it. I wonder why??

HGTV - Calling All Extreme Halloween Fans!

Is Halloween the most important holiday of the year for you? Do you spend a days, weeks, even months turning your house into the scariest place on the block? Then you could be a part of an HGTV Halloween special!

We're searching the country for home decorators, designers and pumpkin carvers who go all-out and over-the-top getting their house, yard, pumpkin patch or corn maze ready for the scariest day of the year.

Does this sound like you or someone you know? If so we'd love to hear from you! Please send us an email to halloween@stvcasting.com. Be sure to include the following:

• Your name, address and contact information (please include email address and cell phone number)
• A brief description about yourself and why you love decorating for Halloween
• Pictures and/or video of you and your Halloween decorations and creations

 

Thanks, Stacey, but I know a whole slew of fellow haunters that can be included on this!! Hmm... An entire segment focusing on the Northern Ohio Haunters??? Let's make it happen!!

And finally, anyone who frequents our blog knows what a big fan I am of the Swedish band, Ghost. In October, I was pumped to see them play in Columbus, only to have them cancel the entire tour because of visa trouble. Currently, they are on their rescheduled tour, but aren't playing any city remotely close to me (Chicago being the closest, a mere 6 hour drive away...). So imagine my joy when they announced another tour starting in April. And this time, I'm making the drive to see them in Pittsburgh on April 15th. For anyone else who might be at the show, (they are opening for Opeth and Mastadon), I'll be the dork up front with the camera and the perma-grin at the start of the show...

For anyone who hasn't heard of them yet, simply feast your eyes on this...

So there you have it for this installment. We'll be back soon with more updates as we complete more projects for Halloween, 2012. Only 262 more days, which means, as always, we need to get moving!!!