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Category: Haunter Interviews

Interviews with the people behind Haunted Attractions.

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

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:18:41 — 90.1MB)

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ScareHouse Haunted HouseIn 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 a snippet off of the ScareHouse Website:

The ScareHouse in Pittsburgh, PA is an elaborate haunted attraction featuring Hollywood-quality sets, characters, and special effects. It has been ranked as one of “America’s Scariest Halloween Attractions” by Travel Channel and as one of America’s best haunted houses by USA Today, Forbes, and Haunted Attraction magazine. 

Unlike many haunted houses and Halloween events, The ScareHouse design team creates completely original concepts and characters for a series of heavily themed attractions each year. (from ScareHouse.com)

We hope enjoy our conversation with Scott Simmons. Remember if you like this episode find us on iTunes and subscribe, share it with your friends, & come back for more next time….Share the Scare…..

FIND MORE FROM SCOTT SIMMONS & THE SCAREHOUSE

 

TWO MORE THINGS YOU CAN DO TO WIN MORE STUFF!!
  • Enter the contest on our FaceBook Page. If your caption gets the most likes to our photo then you win a 2013 Haunted Halloween Calendar from Hector Turner. Hector was generous enough to donate (3) 2013 Calendars for the listeners of HaunTopic Radio. Go Here To Play. You have until December 14th to win!
  • Attend our FREE Online Webinar on December 12th that will dive deeper into our course we are putting together for new Haunt Owners and making your Haunted Attraction successful. Sign Up to attend here.

 

 

       

Home Haunter Huddle with Caleb Brumm & Tyler Palmer

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 44:22 — 50.8MB)

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Plague DoctorIn Episode 31 of HaunTopic Radio we talk with Home Haunters Caleb Brumm & Tyler Palmer from Fresno, California and steal some of their ideas for our yard haunts next year! Their Halloween Haunt this year was a mix of steam punk & plague doctor; a small haunt this Halloween but it is growing each year. And effective by the reaction of the trick-r-treaters.

Their inspiration for Halloween & decorating their front porch has sparked an eternal fire that only continues to burn hotter. They even have plans to take their talent & knowledge into the professional realm when the opportunity is right. But for now they will continue to work on learning new skills and doing plenty of research on the business side of Haunting.

Here are a few things we learned in this interview:

  • USING LOW DECIBEL FREQUENCY TO IRRITATE YOUR GUESTS
  • TRY TO USE ELEMENTS IN YOUR HAUNT TO ENGAGE ALL OF YOUR SENSES
  • FIND A FRIEND WHO LIKES HALLOWEEN AS MUCH AS YOU DO
  • A COOL YOU TUBE CHANNEL TO FIND HAUNT/HALLOWEEN IDEAS

 

To contact Caleb or Tyler follow these links:

IF YOU LIKE THIS INTERVIEW & PODCAST EPISODE-LET US KNOW IN THE COMMENTS BELOW &
SHARE THE SCARE !!

 

       

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)

Subscribe: Apple

3rd Street Asylum Haunted HouseIn 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 yours!

Then we get the full experience with all cylinders in motion! A full 22 Minute walk-through with the actors, music, and my daughter screaming every 2 minutes. You will hear my family through most of this: my wife, 16 year old daughter  and 14 year old son as we navigate our way through the dark and sinister hallways of The 3rd Street Asylum.

My Opinion: The 3rd Street Asylum was fun, frightening, and unforgettable! With the combination of passionate actors, startle scare tools, and highly detailed sets make 3rd Street Asylum a Haunted Attraction you don’t want miss! Located within a creepy abandoned  school house that was built in 1918 and that appears to be really ‘haunted’. The stone exterior brings a feeling of uneasiness as you climb its oversize stairs. I could definitely feel how this school house can be easily translated to an asylum.

With the building setting a nice tone for the attraction, the sets and actors made the illusions more believable. We were able to take our time through the entire haunt and each person in our group got scared or startled many times. Many times at the same scare spot. The flow through the haunt was just right and it seemed that all the scares were not timed so we never knew what to expect next. The old school style scares mixed with with the ideas & technology of today give the 3rd Street Asylum the right stuff to be a top Haunted Attraction in the Kansas/Kansas City area.

My family also rates The 3rd Street Asylum as one of their favorites.

FIND MORE FROM 3RD STREET ASYLUM:

3RD STREET ASYLUM WEBSITE

FIND MIKE CLOUSE ON FACEBOOK

 

       

The Garage of Evil: Steve O’Connor Opens the Door for a Personal Tour

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 58:47 — 67.3MB)

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Steve O'Connor

In Episode 29 we pull Steve O’Connor out of the garage for a minute and get his story on the early days of The Garage of Evil, some words of wisdom for any Haunter, and find out that he is like an Home Haunt Encyclopedia! He is so dedicated to share and provide value to Home Haunters around the world that we are not sure that he has even left the workshop yet…….Steve are you there?

The Garage of Evil Network is a community & knowledge base of Home Haunters that keeps growing despite the growing popularity of social media sites. There are many years of archives that you can gather ideas from or use for your next project. Here are a few links on the site:

If you are trying to find some clarity through all the social media noise & just want some solid ideas for your next Halloween/Haunt Project or you are looking for other Haunters like you then The Garage Of Evil Network is an awesome place to start.

FIND MORE OF STEVE O’CONNOR HERE:

The Garage of Evil Network

Steve’s Profile on Garage of Evil.com

Steve on Facebook

WE ARE TAKING A BREAK AND THE NEXT PODCAST WILL BE ON NOVEMBER 16TH. HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

 

       

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

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 56:14 — 64.4MB)

Subscribe: Apple

Halloween Nation

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 titled Halloween Nation: Behind America’s Fright Night. 

Lesley has interviewed & met many Haunters and Halloween fans within the industry. Small Home Haunters to Pumpkin Carvers-Pro Haunters to Witch Festivals- she has inspired many of us….

Lesley Bannatyne is a leading Halloween author that has written many great books on the subject of Halloween. Such as Halloween: An American Holiday, An American History and A Halloween Reader: Poems, Stories, and Plays of Halloween’s Past. If you are ever searching for the true history or meaning of Halloween then Lesley is the place to go for your answers. With 1,000’s of hours of research under her witch’s hat, she brings the tradition of Halloween to new eyes every day & makes it easy to understand for those who have questions.

She also loves Haunted Attractions and Home Haunts!

 

FIND MORE ABOUT LESLEY HERE:

I SKULL HALLOWEEN– LESLEY’S WEBSITE

BUY LESLEY’S BOOKS – AMAZON BOOK LIST

ANOTHER ARTICLE ON LESLEY BY SCARYVISIONS

THE WINNERS OF THIS MONTH’S CONTEST ARE: 

  1. LEE ALDER
  2. JAKE PETERSON
  3. MAT GOEBEL
  4. SIMON DANNEFAERD
  5. JAMES SCHUPPE
  6. JOHN FICHT
THE FIRST PLACE WINNER (LEE ALDER) WILL GET FIRST CHOICE. THEN DOWN THE LIST. CONGRATS! YOU CAN’T WIN IF YOU DON’T PLAY…ALL NAMES ARE DRAWN RANDOMLY.

THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS THIS MONTH FOR THE PRIZES!!

  • SPOOKY SOUND EXPERIENCE: 3 FULL DOWNLOADS OF HALLOWEEN & AMBIENT SOUND
  • STADIUM OF SCREAMS: 4 TICKETS TO THE NEWARK, NEW JERSEY HAUNTED BASEBALL STADIUM
  • COMPOSITE EFFECTS: $50 GIFT CARD TO CFX EFFECTS TO USE ON ANYTHING ON THEIR WEBSITE
  • HECTOR TURNER: 2013 HAUNTED HALLOWEEN CALENDAR