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Category: Podcasts

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

The Scare-A-Torium Takes Over Dublin, Ohio

 

Dialogue and theatrics are the best you’ll experience anywhere…great decor..houses the best acting we’ve seen in two years! – Ohio Valley Haunts

It’s been more than 25 years since a haunted attraction operated in the Dublin area. The Scare-A-Torium, one of the scariest Halloween haunted attractions in Ohio, has relocated to the Dublin Village Center south of I-270 and Sawmill Road. The Scare-A-Torium provides two attractions with more than 50 creative scenes with a support staff of 80 actors, makeup artists and safety personnel.

The last haunt in Dublin was operated by the Jaycees. They used to operate in old schools and abandoned houses, but requirements for sprinkler systems and costly safety features forced many of them to close. Haunted attractions have evolved in many ways to entertain guests in a safe manner. Also the appearance and performance of entertainers has changed with special effects makeup and custom characters.

The Scare-A-Torium, housed in the 31,000 square foot Dublin Village Center space, will offer the ultimate in fright-entertainment. The Scare-A-Torium formerly operated for two years at Karl Road and Rt 161 in a former Big Bear grocery store space. “The haunt received rave reviews from haunt teams that traveled throughout the Ohio Valley. We were rated # 1 in acting, costuming and makeup by the Ohio Valley Haunt Reviewer. They visited over 80 attractions last year we’re thrilled they voted us the best,” boasted Kelly Collins, the mastermind and haunted industry veteran behind the attraction. He continues, “We have a solid team of performers and we’ve been holding training sessions on makeup and acting year round.”

“With the new location in Dublin; we’ve added more scenes and created an awesome castle entrance that will be visible through large windows from the parking lot” added Collins. “Our new location offers lots of free parking and is easily accessible from the Outer belt, Dublin Granville Road, Riverside Drive and Sawmill Road.”

The Scare-A-Torium includes two haunted attractions and they’ll be open Thursday through Sunday nights during the month of October. The Scare-A-Torium is a collection of fears from around the world with a second attraction; RIP’s Funhouse; creating one of the largest haunted attractions in central Ohio.

The Scare-A-Torium is a very frightening experience and it is not recommended for small children, but special Family Friendly tours are offered in October on Sunday afternoons from 4:30 – 7:00 pm for families. Kids 12 and under are admitted for just $1 with a special $7 adult admission ticket purchase. The overhead lights are on, the sounds are on, but there won’t be any monsters in there to frighten them. Members of the Ghost Busters of Columbus and non-scary performers will assist as tour guides during the Lights-on tours. A portion of proceeds is donated to local community organizations.

The Scare-A-Torium Haunted Attraction is located in the Dublin Village Center at 6765 Dublin Center Drive in Dublin, Ohio, 43017; immediately South and East off I-270 and Sawmill Road near the Dublin AMC 18 Movie Theater. Please visit www.ColumbusHauntedHouse.com for more information, ticket times and pricing.

For interviews, press passes, and more information contact: Kelly Collins 614-203-4626 or here:

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Happy Birthday Scary Visions!

September 22, 2010….my very first post as a blogger. I was listening to a few podcasts that were guiding me to the interesting journey as a hobby blogger; not sure where the road was going to lead me. As I brainstormed for my first word….nothing was coming out. No ideas. No topics. No direction. I had no blog and no idea what I wanted to share with the world.

I consider myself more of an introvert with extroverted tendencies. I never enjoyed public speaking but I enjoy mingling in a crowd. My idea of a good time would be sitting inside the house reading a good book or doing something online. I also enjoy vacations with the family and social gatherings. But what could I write about that would help others and tap into my creative passion?

The realm of Dark and Scary!

One year later. I have met many honest people and gained many friends. I have learned how to create websites, a little bit about internet business and social media, and found a topic that I can spend hours researching and never get tired of it. I have learned quite a bit more about the horror, haunt, and Halloween industries. And I dove head first into realms of the paranormal, dark art, and artisans of the Halloween trade. There are lots and lots of dark creative people out there!

As a gift to you for my 1 year birthday of ScaryVisions.com; here is my very first post I wrote a year ago and a few of my earliest posts that you may have never seen. Enjoy!

As I sing: Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you…

Remember when: My very first post and a few classic Halloween cartoon to get you in the mood.

Haunt Advertising: A few tips on do-it-yourself advertising your haunt.

How Not To Operate A Haunt: A true story about how my brother got screwed over.

5 Types Of Scare Actors: Are you one of these actors or do know who is?

How To Keep Your Dark Passion Alive: How I keep my passion alive all year long.

 

       

Haunted Overload: Before and After Videos

 

I have gathered together some videos and articles about Eric Lowther from Haunted Overload located in New Hampshire. Have you seen his GIANT creations he builds from telephone poles? Amazing! I’ll try to give you some video and pictures to help you visualize these monstrous creatures. If you have time, you really need to view All the links in this article to get a true feeling of the journey Eric and his team have taken.

I ran into Eric on the Hauntworld Forums and I was amazed at his story. Home Haunter turned Pro. Makes his own telephone pole creatures. Likes to hang out in the woods. Easy going guy with Haunting somersaulting in his mind like a possessed gymnast. What wasn’t there to like about him.

Unfortunately, I submitted my interview questions too late in the Haunting game and wasn’t able to get Eric in text; but I’m starting to get into recording interviews on audio so maybe I’ll get him over on Skype soon. Would you want to listen to an interview podcast or mp3 on the website or iTunes?

Here are my favorite videos and interviews about Haunted Overload:

How Eric Went From Home Haunter To Pro! – I could not get this video embedded in my site- but you gotta watch this one. It’s a google video and it is an interview with Eric 4 years ago when he was a Home Haunter. Watch this one first.

Haunted Overload Review By B Movie Geek – A written interview about Haunted Overload and Eric’s  journey that got him to where he is today.

Construction Of Haunted Overload – If your into building sets and designing Haunts; this is a must watch! I have included the video below.

Haunted Overload: It’s Alive!! – Cool finished scenes from Haunted Overload. I’ve included this video too; but don’t forget to go check out the other links I’ve included. You won’t be disappointed.

More Cool Links To Check Out:

Haunted Overload YouTube Channel

Haunted Overload Website

Eric On Hauntworld

Find Eric On Facebook

       

Free E-Book: The History Of Halloween

To get you in the spirit of Halloween; I am giving you a gift. I sent this e-book to my email list a couple of weeks ago to get their feedback and everyone seemed to enjoy it. I created it over the last 6 months and have included my popular interview with Lesley Bannatyne inside. This e-book also has some interesting facts about Halloween and a few good links to get you in the Halloween mood. Share it with your friends and please leave a comment below if you like it. Here is a short excerpt of The History Of Halloween:

Click Here To Read The Entire E-Book “The History Of Halloween”

The Birth Of Halloween

Halloween has transformed into a different type of monster since its birth. Today’s Halloween has been created from a mix of different customs and religions: Celtic beliefs, Catholic rituals, and European folk traditions. Halloween was first born in the regions that are now known as France, Ireland, and the United Kingdom over 2,000 years ago by the Celts. Before we go into traditions, you need a more visual description of who the Celts were. Diodorus, a Roman historian described them like this:

“Their aspect is terrifying…They are very tall in stature, with rhythmic muscles under clear white skin…They look like wood-demons, their hair thick and shaggy like a horse’s mane….The way they dress is astonishing: they wear brightly coloured and embroidered shirts and cloaks…they wear bronze helmets with figures picked out on them, even horns, which made them look even taller than they already are…while others cover themselves with breast-armour made out of chains. But most content themselves with the weapons nature gave them: they go naked into battle…Weird, discordant horns were sounded, [they shouted in chorus with their] deep and harsh voices, they beat their swords rhythmically against their shields…the Celts cut off their enemies’ heads and nailed them over the doors of their huts in exactly the same way as hunters do with their skulls of the animals they have slain…they preserved the heads of their most high-ranking victims in cedar oil, keeping them carefully in wooden boxes.”

Click Here To Read The Entire E-Book “The History Of Halloween”

       

How To Create A Home Haunt For $100


Don’t have enough cash to build your haunt? Wish you had that latest animatronic from Scare Factory? You want to build your own home haunt and not enough space in your garage? These are the questions I asked myself last Halloween as I resigned as co-owner of a Haunted Attraction.

All of my haunt supplies stayed with Backwoods Terror and I needed to tap into my creative supply of ideas with not much money to work with. I did spend a few months gathering materials like old doors and pallets. Scavenged a bunch of garage sales and curbs for old fence and medical supplies. And created a few props out of chicken wire and spray foam. If you have about 10 minutes to spare; watch this video I created last year walking through my home haunt Dr.Phobia’s maDneSS.