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Category: Podcasts

Podcasts from HaunTopic Radio, our monthly audio show all about Haunts, Haunted Attractions, and Halloween.

Oblivion Haunted House: A Behind-the-Scene Interview with Erick Gyrion & Dan Doble

 

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 50:13 — 57.5MB)

Subscribe: Apple

In Episode 23 of HaunTopic Radio we chat with Erick Gyrion & Dan Doble from the Oblivion Haunted House and get some helpful advice for operating  your Haunt & a small peek into their lives as Haunters. After a few laughs & stories of their journey, we dive deep into a few topics any Haunter would be interested in, such as:

  • HOW TO GET KEEP VOLUNTEERS/EMPLOYEES COMING BACK FOR MORE
  • WHY HAVING A CREATIVE PLAN IS THE BEST WAY TO SET UP YOUR HAUNT
  • IS IT NECESSARY TO REBUILD YOUR HAUNT EACH YEAR & HOW TO DO IT
  • HOW TO USE SOCIAL MEDIA & THE INTERNET TO INCREASE YOUR ATTENDANCE

 
 The Oblivion Haunted House is located in Menasha, Wisconsin and is open for the 2012 Season. Want to volunteer? I’m sure they have a few more spots…

FIND MORE ABOUT ERICK & DAN HERE:

Oblivion on Facebook: Go ‘Like’ their page.

Halloween Room Productions: Their main website for all their Haunting Ventures.

Oblivion Haunted House: Where they put their creative energy- Haunted Attraction in Wisconsin

Haunt Guys on YouTube: Behind-the-Scenes of building their Haunt & their lives.

 

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE OBLIVION HAUNTED HOUSE? PLEASE LEAVE YOUR COMMENTS BELOW.

Zombie Walks, Zombie Races, & Camping Trips for Haunters

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 38:17 — 43.8MB)

Subscribe: Apple

zombie 5kIn Episode 22 of HaunTopic Radio, me & Darryl talk about outdoor events that Haunters can participate in this summer throughout the year. We find more information about Haunters Camping Trips, Zombie Walks, Hearse Rallies, Zombie 5K Courses. We also include a couple interviews from the Oblivion Haunted House about the outcome of Haunter’s Camping Palooza Grant McDonald about his haunt experience, hearse conventions, and FrightFest B.C.

We know you may not be interested in Zombie Stuff or Haunt Camping Trips so we included some other rambling you may enjoy. We hope your summer has gone well and that you are deep in your builds by now. (I still haven’t started.) I have it all up here in my head…somewhere.

 

We have some interviews with Home Haunters, Pro-Haunters, & Scare Actors coming up in September & October so stay tuned…

Don’t forget to enter for this month’s contest! Listen to Episode 21 for the rules to win.

 

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT GRANT MCDONALD:

I Haunt U.com- Grant’s site with some of his cool Foam Props

FrightFest-BC.com- Halloween & Haunt Event held in British Columbia, Canada at a campground.

CAMPING EVENTS:

Haunter’s Camping Palooza-  Camping. Haunters. Haunted Attractions. Learning. Friends. Memories. Are you the next host?

ZOMBIE WALKS:

Vancouver Makeup Effects– Special FX School in Vancouver (Host of Zombie Walk in Vancouver.)

Toronto Zombie Walk– Zombie walk & Other Scary stuff to do in Toronto

Mexico Zombie Walk– The largest Zombie Walk ever recorded: 9,806 zombies

ZOMBIE 5K:

Sacramento Zombie Run- Be a zombie or be chased. You decide. In Sacramento, CA.

Run for Your Lives- Zombie 5K Obstacle Course that travels throughout Canada & the U.S. Check for dates close to you.

Zombie Survival Dash- In St.Louis, MO on October 27th. I should go….but…..

Ultimate Zombie Warrior- A simple race too easy for you? Try this one. It’s in Seymour,IN and has 15 obstacles pulled from the pages of a Military Training Course!

 

OTHER STUFF WE TALKED ABOUT:

Haunted Overload- Interview with Eric Lowther coming up in September. A Haunt everyone must go see!

AnthroCon- If you like wearing a ‘furry’ costume, this might just be the place for you.

Zombie Squad- Who you going to call…when something is strange in your neighborhood? Killing zombies since 2003.

 

(Photo donated by Gunaxin.com)


Mark Cline: Sculpting Foam Monsters & the History of The Monster Museum

 
In Episode 21 of HaunTopic Radio we talk to Mark Cline, the man behind The Haunted Monster Museum & the professional sculptor of many large foam & fiberglass creatures. His masterpieces can be found in theme parks, haunted attractions, & in many popular locations all over the country. Everywhere Mark goes he leaves his thumbprint. His creations are so popular that he has been listed on Roadside America, interviewed by the Wall Street Journal, and waiting on an approval for a reality show.

Make sure to watch the slideshow below while you listen to this audio episode. It shows off many of Mark’s awesome foam & fiberglass sculptures. If that doesn’t satisfy you, then make sure to visit the links listed below. We found more articles & pictures from around the web. If you stick around on this show’s audio interview, you might learn a few tricks for your next paper mache project.

LISTEN TO EPISODE 21 OF HAUNTOPIC RADIO HERE:

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 48:04 — 55.0MB)

Subscribe: Apple

We also discuss the fire that devoured The Haunted Monster Museum in April and what the future holds for Mark. His plans have changed a bit but he still remains confident about where his journey is taking him. You might get some opportunities to learn from Mark on a more personal level in one of his classes.

DON’T FORGET ABOUT THE CONTEST: Listen. Remember the question. Submit your answer to contest@hauntopic.com. Win a prize. A FREE CD from Prelude to a Nightmare (Dark Ride) & 2 Issues of Fright Times Magazine.

[slideshow id=2]

 FIND MORE ABOUT MARK HERE:

Kristy Noble Talks Home Haunting, Halloween, & Making Props

Twin StatuesIn Episode 20 of HaunTopic Radio, we interview Kristy Noble from Noble Manor & The Arizona Haunter’s Association about her insights as a Home Haunter for the last 10 years. We discover Why She Loves Halloween, Some Simple Prop Tricks You Can Use Today, & Where to Find Ideas for Your Next Halloween Project.

Each month we announce the winners of our monthly contest in our episode on the 26th. These are the lucky winners this month.

3rd Place (Fright Times Magazine): Lee Alder

2nd Place (Fright Times Magazine): Kevin Lancaster

1st Place (6 CDs Midnight Syndicate): Cyndi Noyes

Listen to Episode 20 with Kristy Noble Here:

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 43:23 — 49.6MB)

Subscribe: Apple

Find More of Kristy Here:

  • Home Haunter.net- Kristy’s Website
  • Kristy on YouTube– Over 310 videos of Haunting Goodness
  • Arizona Haunter’s Association- Cool place for Haunters in the Arizona Area to Meet Up

 
 
Websites Kristy Recommends for All Haunters:

  • Shadow of Palms– Come Chat With Other Haunters
  • Haunt Project.com- Over 1,000 Prop How-To’s & Tutorials for FREE
  • Monster List– Huge List of Halloween/Haunt Projects to Keep You Busy All Year Long
  • StiltBeast Studios– Join Allen Hopps every Wednesday on YouTube for some Haunt Fun!

 
 

If you want to get more information about The Haunter’s Camping Palooza on August 3-5, 2012 in Green Bay, WI– CLICK HERE

 

How to Design & Build a Haunted House with Leonard Pickel

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 31:48 — 36.4MB)

Subscribe: Apple

How to Build a Haunted HouseIn 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 topics we cover in this episode.

You also get some get background on how he got his start as a Haunter and some of the lessons he learned along the way. Just save yourself a few years of learning and push play on that little audio player above. Information you can’t afford to miss….

 

I was going to try to summarize Leonard’s experience in a paragraph but there is no way to squeeze all of his accomplishments in just a few sentences. I decided to make a list instead. Here is just a few things he has done in the Haunt Industry:

  • Produced his first commercial haunted house in 1976 as a fundraiser for the dormitory he was living in.
  • In 1982 he volunteered his horror production expertise to the local March of Dimes Haunted House and became chairman of the charity Halloween Event a year later.
  • In 1986 Leonard formed the basis for what later became known as the “Pickel Theory of Haunted Houses,” a high startle, low gore, high throughput, & low theatrics approach to dark amusements.
  • He applied his October seasonal experience toward a summer seasonal haunted house in 1993, with Mayhem Manor® in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina which lasted 7 years.
  • In 1994, Co-founder & Editor in Chief of  Haunted Attraction Magazine, the premier publication for the dark amusement industry.
  • In 1997, Leonard took on the task of forming the Haunted Industry’s first trade association, the International Association of Haunted Attractions (IAHA).
  • In 2000, Philip Morris of Morris Costumes in Charlotte, North Carolina, contracted Leonard  to facilitate the creation of a muli-element October seasonal Haunted Attraction.
  • In 2004, he launched the first national convention for the Haunted Attraction Industry. The Haunted Attraction National Tradeshow and Convention (HAuNTcon)
  •  In 2009, Leonard was awarded a Life Time Achievement award by the International Association of Haunted Attractions, (IAHA).
  • He has designed over 80 original and creative Haunted Attraction designs for major venues including Madison Square Garden, Universal Studios Florida, Six Flags, Kentucky Kingdom, SCREAMS Terror Park and the Kandy Halloween Party at the Playboy Mansion in Beverly Hills, CA.

 

Check out Leonard’s Training Programs on

Haunted House Design

&

Getting Started in the Haunted Attraction Business

 

If you want to find out more about Leonard Pickel or contact him for more Haunt Consulting check out these links: