10 Years Ago: The Lorain County Zombie Walk

It's crazy how time flies, even in our haunt circles. Today, I had a few photos pop up in a "memories" timeline and I had to do a double-take on the original date.

TEN years ago today, I attended the Lorain County (Ohio) Zombie Walk. I was just starting to dabble further into self-made horror fx applications and makeup, and took the opportunity to show off my skills.

I took extra time to create this open flesh effect with rotten teeth, blood, and solid grey face tones that accentuated yellow-and-black colored contact lenses. I also put together a detailed "zombie outfit" complete with a rusty chain and lantern. (Not really sure what the lantern was actually for in regards to the character, but it made for a cool, eye-catching accessory that swung side to side as I walked down the street.)

And while I did not win "Best Zombie Costume," I was still chosen as a finalist and got to strut my stuff on the stage in front of the large event crowd. I had quite a few people taking my photo, and best of all, the closeup photo below was used on the front page of the local newspaper in an article recapping the event.

Looking back at these photos brings a smile to my face, as it was the starting point of really taking my love of haunting up to the next level. Enjoy!

  

Dr. John's Complete Guide To A Haunted House, Vol. 1

There's nothing better than a little Halloween nostalgia, and today we're heading back to those wild and wonderful 80s. So grab the popcorn, get comfy, and prepare yourself for a hilarious look back!

Dr. John's Complete Guide To A Haunted House, Vol. 1 was the first instructional haunted house how-to video to come out during the rise of "professional" haunted house attractions of the early 1980s. It was geared toward Jay Cees and other community groups and was a start-to-finish, comprehensive video guide on how to create and run a financially successful haunted house.

Filled with solid tips on creating a fully-functioning and profitable haunted house attraction, it was also accentuated with enough Halloween creepiness to keep it exciting and thoroughly entertaining. From Dr. John's eccentric character (and the way he "mouths" his cigar while presenting), to the spiciness of the scantily-clad ladies, and even to the somewhat uncomfortable creepiness (I'm looking at you, Cousin It, and the weird Roach Motel "commercial" at the end), the video definitely proves that the 80s were a far different time and place than today.

Unfortunately, Dr. John Anderson passed away just last week, but this slice of VHS gold remains a wonderfully historic look back into the early days of the haunted house industry. Well worth the hour of viewing time!!

(A big thanks to Larry Kirchner of The Darkness Haunted House for posting the video along with the informative intro!)

Rest In Peace, Dr. John...

  

Haunted House Ads From The Past

I have always said that I was very fortunate to have grown up as an 80s Halloween kid in Northeast Ohio. We have an unbelievably rich history of haunted houses dating as far back as the early 70s, and continue to produce some of the best attractions in the country today.

When I was younger, I would race home from school every Friday starting in mid-September and grab the local newspaper. I would immediately pull out the Friday magazine insert, a small self-contained section that would have everything going on for the upcoming weekend. I would flip right past all of the boring concert and festival ads until I found what I was feverishly looking for... the ads for all of the local haunted houses!!

I can still smell the black ink that was slapped onto the porous newsprint paper (you know, the kind that transferred immediately to your fingers as you touched the page?). Page after page of glorious, horrifying clip art, spooky fonts, and outrageous claims. And don't forget the "celebrity" appearances to really seal the deal! I would mark off the ones closest to us, in hopes of having my or one of my friends' parents drive us to one (or more if we REALLY begged!) of those magical locations to get the wits scared out of us while gawking with utter excitement at all the gory props, masks, and scenes. Every weekend up until Halloween night was the same thing. And it was spectacular.

I recently came across this online article from the Akron Beacon Journal, my local newspaper. They had gone back into the photo archives and gathered up a HUGE collection of these old ads that appeared in the newspaper, dating all the way back to 1972.

I couldn't believe the instant joy as I looked through the ads. All those wonderful memories came flooding back as I scrolled, my smile getting wider the further I went.

Enjoy this amazing little slice of Halloween history from my neck of the woods. Most of these haunts are long gone, but their memories are most certainly not forgotten!

More terrifying than last year.

Hinckley's Haunted Hollow was one of the first haunted houses that my parents ever took me to. I remember it being an outdoor trail, which at that time was unique to other haunted houses in the area. I also remember this one being SO much fun!

Giant Gore House of Bloodview Heights. Best name ever!

All images courtesy of the Akron Beacon Journal.

Please do yourself a favor and check out the original article. TONS more of these awesome old haunted house ads that offer a glimpse into a bygone era. Enjoy!

 

Jaycee Haunted Houses 1975

There is nothing better for me than to get that warm, fuzzy feeling of Halloween days gone by. The nostalgia of my childhood trick-or-treating is something I reflect upon frequently when I now set up my annual yard haunt, trying to capture that magic to share with my neighborhood today.

Growing up, my parents took me to my first haunted house back in the early 80s, put on by a local Jaycee chapter in Parma, Ohio. By today's standards, it was pretty silly, but it was that moment that changed me forever! I HAD to go to other haunted houses!!

I came across this amazing video last year, but somehow never posted it. It's a mini documentary about those first haunted houses that were put on by local Jaycee chapters. It's a wonderful and hilarious look back at where the haunted house industry first got its start nearly 50 years ago.

If you're a fan of Halloween and haunted house history, this one will should give you the warm fuzzies, too. Enjoy!

Night of the Living Dead Turns 50!

Photo courtesy of the Official Night of the Living Dead Facebook page

50 years ago today, in a small theater in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, film history was made. A little-known, small, independent film premier took place that would change the horror genre forever.

Happy 50th birthday to George A. Romero's zombie masterpiece, Night of the Living Dead. A tale of the undead returning to life to devour the flesh of the living. A film that would come to define the modern zombie genre, spawning a multitude of sequels and copycats, all while delivering a subtle, yet biting social commentary. Especially for its time in 1968.

And don't forget to mark your calendars for October 24 and 25, when an all-new 4K restoration of the film hits theaters across the globe! It's a two-night event that should not be missed! To see a fully restored version of this mandatory classic on the big screen would be a full-sized treat for the Halloween season.

  

A Late Halloween Gift Becomes An Early Christmas Present

It all began with a ghost-story contest, a parlour-game, a serious young woman of eighteen years old who had run away with her boyfriend, and some very stimulating company—and a thunderstorm which kept them indoors...


Around the time of Thanksgiving, my wife and son presented me with a box. They said that it was originally supposed to be a surprise Halloween gift, but that it had only just arrived today.

Puzzled, I opened it. Inside was a face that I instantly recognized!

Frankenstein: The First Two Hundred Years by Christopher Frayling was hot off the Reel Art Press presses and delivered straight to my door. I was totally surprised, as I didn't even know about this new book! Over 200 stunningly beautiful pages detailing everything Frankenstein, from the original New Year's Day release of Mary Shelley's iconic 1818 novel (and its many interpretations), to Karloff's iconic Universal film monster portrayal, through the fascinating, wider metaphorical use of the storyline, and up to the firm hold of all things Frankenstein in modern day pop culture.

I haven't had a chance to fully dive into this monster yet (see what I did there??), but I can't wait to take it all in. I didn't realize that Shelley's Frankenstein story will turn 200 this January 1st. What a great time to celebrate my favorite horror character!

A huge thank you to my family for this gorgeous late Halloween/early Christmas gift! This is going to the top of my reading list immediately after the holidays.

Frankenstein: The First Two Hundred Years is available now at Reel Art Press and Amazon.com.