Leonard Pickel

Haunt Seminars

Welcome to our NEW series of online seminars just for Haunters! You don’t even have to leave your computer and you can watch/listen to these informative webinars straight from the comfort of your home. We get the Professionals from the Haunt Industry on video (recording available) and record the audio (MP3) so you can listen to the seminar if you can’t make the LIVE event. You will be able to watch or listen to these seminars when & wherever...
Cutting Edge Scenic Design

Mike ‘Tattoo’ Krausert: Spooky World, The Interactive Haunt, & Becoming a Haunt Designer

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 47:48 — 54.7MB) In Episode 37 of HaunTopic Radio we interview Mike ‘Tattoo’ Krausert from Cutting Edge Scenic Design and the Director of the famous Haunted Attraction Spooky World about the Interactive Haunted House that his team builds every year at the Transworld Halloween & Haunt Show. His team is known for their quick set up times & flexibility when working with highly detailed mobile haunts. We also discuss his experience at...
insane shane party

The Insane Shane Party, Disturbia Haunted House, & Transworld with Shane Dabbs

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 44:32 — 51.0MB) In Episode 36 we get ‘Insane’ Shane Dabbs, the man behind the Disturbia Haunted House & The Insane Shane Pre-Transworld Party, to open up a bit about a few different topics.  Here are a few topics we discuss with Shane in this show: How To Use A Token System to Make Your Attendees Wait Less What To Expect At the Insane Shane Party at Transworld Halloween & Haunt...
ScareHouse Haunted House

The ScareHouse: Interview with Scott Simmons from Pittsburgh’s Ultimate Haunted House

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:18:41 — 90.1MB) In Episode of 32 of HaunTopic Radio we interview Scott Simmons from The ScareHouse in Pittsburgh, PA and learn much more about what it takes to operate & manage Pittsburgh’s Ultimate Haunted House. We also get the story behind The ScareHouse, how Scott started out as a smaller attraction, and what it really took to get to where he is today. Plus a whole bunch more…. Here is...
3rd Street Asylum Haunted House

Live from The 3rd Street Asylum: A Complete Walk-Through & Guided Tour with Mike and Steve

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 53:45 — 61.5MB) In Episode 30 of HaunTopic Radio we get a behind-the-scenes guided tour with Mike Clouse & Steve Hoffine from The 3rd Street Asylum of Bonner Springs, Kansas. I get a short interview with the guys before we go through the Haunt with the lights on. They tell us about where they get their supplies, some useful prop tips for your Haunt, & great ideas you can use for...
Halloween Nation

Lesley Bannatyne: The Story Behind Halloween & What It Means Today

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 56:14 — 64.4MB) In Episode 28 of HaunTopic Radio we get Lesley Bannatyne to dust off her crystal ball & tell us remarkable stories of the past and other adventures of Halloween. She also turns the questions to us and we gave in. So you might here a couple stories from us about Halloween. We also learn where she found the inspiration behind her book about Halloween/Haunters & the Haunt Industry...
Composite Effects

CFX: The Evolution of Silicone Masks & What It Takes To Make One

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:10:21 — 80.5MB) In Episode 26 of HaunTopic Radio we interview Wes, Ken, & Diana from CFX or otherwise known as Composite Effects. We unmask each one of them and learn more about the silicone mask making process, where they get their creative inspiration, and how the silicone mask is an excellent tool for any Haunter. If you have never witnessed these masks in action…it is a completely different feel &...
Haunted Overload

Haunted Overload: No Halloween or Haunt Project is Too Big for Eric Lowther

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 49:45 — 56.9MB) In Episode 24 of HaunTopic Radio, we finally get Eric Lowther on the phone from Haunted Overload to get some advice on the steps from Home Haunting to Haunt Owner and How To Grow Your Haunt Business the Smart Way. Haunted Overload is an outdoor Haunted Attraction located in Lee, New Hampshire that Eric built & moved twice due to expansion and some business evolutions. You can find 30′...
Haunted Radio

HaunTopic Radio Archives

THESE ARE ALL OF OUR PODCAST EPISODES. WE TRY TO BRING YOU INTERESTING GUESTS FROM THE WORLD OF HALLOWEEN, HAUNTED ATTRACTIONS, & HOME HAUNTS. SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER “THE HAUNTER’S TOOLBOX” FOR ALL INSTANT UPDATES & NEW EPISODES. ENJOY!!       EPISODE 36: INTERVIEW WITH SHANE DABBS FROM DISTURBIA HAUNTED HOUSE & INSANE SHANE PARTY EPISODE 35: STILTBEAST STUDIOS & SELLING HALLOWEEN INTERVIEWS EPISODE 34: SCARY CHRISTMAS JINGLES & TWISTED CAROLS EPISODE 33: INTERVIEW WITH HECTOR TURNER FROM...
How to Build a Haunted House

How to Design & Build a Haunted House with Leonard Pickel

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 31:48 — 36.4MB) In Episode 19 of HaunTopic Radio we get the Haunt Godfather Leonard Pickel back on the mic where we discuss many of the obstacles that Haunters face in today’s world of constant challenge. How to Save Money While Building Your Haunt, Why Stories are Important to the Success of Your Attraction, & How to Beat the Conga Line Effect By Changing Your Design are just a few of the...
Midnight Syndicate

Midnight Syndicate: Ed & Gavin Tell Their Story Behind the Music

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 49:00 — 56.1MB) Do you love Midnight Syndicate music and have always wanted to know more about the creators behind the tracks? We interview Edward Douglas & Gavin Goszka from Midnight Syndicate and get them to open up a bit about their journey as Dark Composers. If you have never heard of Midnight Syndicate then you have a few years of music to catch up on. They are the composers of...
CFX Mask

How to Make Your Own Mask and Where to Buy One…just in case.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 34:12 — 39.1MB) In Episode 10 of HaunTopic Radio we discuss the essentials for Molding Your Own Mask, Where to Get the Supplies, & Where to Buy One if you don’t want to spend the creativity & time to do it. Making your own mask for the first time can be a rewarding and learning experience & designing another one will be too. With a little cash and a few hours...
Scary Visions

Tips You Need To Know Before Starting Up Your Haunted House

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 33:18 — 38.1MB) In Episode 9 of HaunTopic Radio we’re using 3 of our interviews from Transworld; all providing useful information like Common Mistakes Haunters Make , How Social Media Can Help You Build Your Haunt Business, and a Website Where You Can Get Some FREE E-books on Starting UP Your Haunted Attraction. We will also be running our very first contest and giving away a Free Issue of Fright Times...
old tools

The Haunter’s Toolbox is Now Open

  The Haunter’s Toolbox is finally here! I have been working on some type of free training series that is strictly focused on helpful information for Haunters by Haunters…and here it is. All you have to do is give me your email address and I will start sending you an email each week. I’m picking some of my older popular posts, adding some new one’s, and creating some special content just for The Haunter’s Toolbox Subscribers. Here are some...

Haunted Europe: Ball der Vampire

Posted 01 Apr 2011 in HAUNT NEWS, HAUNT VIDEOS

These are pictures from the Ball der Vampire in Heidelberg, Germany. Tune in to Rotting Flesh Radio’s Haunted Europe segment for more entertaining reviews and topics about scary things to do in Europe. And you thought America was scary….

Frightmasters and Juneau Studios Team Up For TransWorld

Posted 30 Mar 2011 in HAUNT NEWS, HAUNT VIDEOS

Juneau Studios and Frightmasters Halloween Props are sharing a booth at TransWorld booth 1118 this year along with that on-air Haunt Personality Chris Baker from HauntCast. But you wanna hear the cool thing about this? Damon from Frightmasters has been a good haunting friend of mine for several years. We acted at a Pro-haunt a few years back, he helped with my venture for a couple of years, and now we are home haunting together in the same town. He is beginning to follow his dreams and passions by vending for the first time at TransWorld! Congratulations to you Damon for rising from your grave and pursuing your dark passions! Find Damon Carson of Frightmasters here. “I remember my first...

The Diary Of A TransWorld Madman: A Video Documentary

Posted 14 Mar 2011 in HAUNT NEWS, HAUNT VIDEOS

“I escaped the unbreakable death grip of The Dark Zone. Out ran the giant tree monster that tried to decapitate me. And I was almost buried alive but luckily I am still here. This was not a dream or a fantasy. This was Transworld.” Thursday, March 10th: Arrived at St.Louis at about 6:00 pm. Checked in at the Holiday Inn Select-Nice hotel and close to the America’s Center. Left my wife alone to pick up my friend Damon Carson from FrightMaster Props because he needed a ride to the Insane Shane Party. Went the wrong way down a one-way street with 4 lanes of cars just waiting for a green light to smash me. Made it back...

Have You Ever Missed A Halloween?

Posted 04 Mar 2011 in HAUNT NEWS

As long as I can remember….I have never missed a Halloween. Now, I can’t say exactly when I began my journey down sweet tooth lane but I have very early memories about Halloween. My first trick-or-treat. Carving my first Jack-O-lantern. Stuffing my first scarecrow with leaves and old rags. I always had a costume and always ate too much candy causing a bellyache for days. I can honestly say if there was a Halloween I was out there rain or shine. On the battlefield of nervous moms and distracted children. Fast forward a few years and I still could never see myself ever missing a Halloween. I was always that different type of kid that related to other weird...

10 Things To Do In St.Louis When You’re Not At TransWorld

Posted 02 Mar 2011 in HAUNT NEWS

So you’ve got your registration in order. Your passes are sitting safely in your multi-coded security safe. You’ve booked your plane tickets and/or hotel rooms. You are eagerly awaiting TransWorld like a kid before Halloween. Ready to pounce and react. But have you thought about what you’re going to do when visions of zombies and bloody corpses aren’t dancing in your head? St.Louis is a wonderful city with soul and spirit and this would be a wonderful opportunity to explore all those things. Here are some ideas to help get you started. Go to InSane sHane’s Party: Thursday night. It starts at 7:30 pm. And it’s at the Renaissance Grand Hotel Crystal Ball Room. $95 a person. With many extra...

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