Archive for the 'General News' Category
Has Halloween Become Overcommercialized?
Halloween 2008 - It’s A Wrap!
November 3rd 2008
The day had started bleak and plagued with one technical issue after the other (many of which our guests never had a clue; others, such as the overabundance of fog and crowd control at the table, were painfully obvious). However, all of the problems I did have are being chaulked up as lessons learned. And despite it all, even though I was working right down to the wire, it all turned out very well.
I’d like to thank everyone for making it a fantastic year, it was one of our best yet. The compliments poured in from nearly everyone and we saw an estimated 300 Trick-or-Treaters pass through our front yard (thats up almost 100 from last year’s count). It was a lot of hard crazy work getting to this point. But having the fantastic reaction and reception from nearly all our guests made it all worthwhile.
And in these times of financial struggles and a teetering economy it brings great joy and pride to my heart to have been fortunate enough to entertain so many in so little time. To make them feel alive and, if even for just a brief fleeting moment, make them forget the troubles of the world - and for some adults, like a child again.
Thank you to everyone who made Halloween 2008 a success. I thank my wife for her loving support and putting up with my crazy hobby. I thank my daughter for being the light and encouragement to keep trying even when an idea seemed not to work or head me off at the pass when another was too silly even for a six year old. And of course my friends, my family and the many great people of the Windsor community that poured through our front gates.
Honestly my only single regret is not being able take any photo’s before the end of night tear down. If anyone out there has any great shots to share let me know and I’ll be happy to post them up in a community gallery.
Thanks again. Until next year, lets all kick back and enjoy the holidays.
The Madness Has Begun
October 19th 2008
Demo Of Columns With Gargoyle
October 10th 2008
I took out one of my Gargoyles I picked up this year at Sams Club. It’s by far one of the best off the shelf animated props I’ve ever invested in. It hit me up for just over $80 bucks each (yes I bought two of them) but I feel it’s definitely worth it. It has a small PIR in it’s chest which works pretty well. His eyes light in addition to actually having lids that open and close. The wings open up. And the head is covered with latex rubber painted very well to match the body. The rubber head allows the mouth to move realistically when it talks. It only has two blurbs that I’ve noticed.
Anyways, I set up a red light last night in front the columns in the back yard and hooked up one of the gargoyles to do a visual as well as PIR test and must say I’m pretty happy with the results which you can see below:
Have You Seen The Yellow Sign?
October 8th 2008
After much deliberation it is my pleasure to announce that going forward the Necropolis Manor haunt will strongly reflect influences from legendary horror writer H.P.Lovecraft and his many contemporaries.
Many hard core fans will argue that the true nature of horror in his writing were so terrifying that no one could describe let alone conjure up physical artistic representations of his work (to which is mostly true). And it is this fact alone that would make most of the nightmarish entities from his writings even remotely recognizable by the uninitiated. Our thought and plans are to appeal to both the initiated and uninitiated alike so no guest will be left out. In order to do so the designs of our displays will have strong Lovecraftian elements in their design, yet remain unique and terrifying to those not familiar with his work.
This is an element that will slowly be introduced into the haunt over time and may not yet be evident in this year’s display.
The core theme will revolve actually around The King in Yellow - a mythos created by writer Robert Chambers and later adapted into the Cthulhu mythos by Lovecraft and later his contemporaries.
In the Necropolis Manor interpretation Hastur desires to enter our realm and claim dominion. Through his avatar, The King in Yellow, he plans to utilize the weakness in the barrier between realms that is at it’s thinnest on all hallow’s eve. Hastur’s plan unfolds when The King in Yellow holds a masquerade in order to lure hapless victims from the town of Windsor on to the manor grounds. But all is not normal in the manor. Lurking and waiting in the shadows are strange, dark things which the mind dares not try to comprehend…
This year the King in Yellow has conspired with the vile Carcosan witch known only as Black Agnes. Armed with access to a dark necromantic tome which could best be described as Carcosa’s Necronomicon, Agnes and the King bring the dead of Carcosa to our realm.
Will The Yellow King bring death, madness, and ultimately the the unspeakable one Hastur himself to the town of Windsor? Tell me, have you seen the yellow sign?
Halloween approaches, let the madness begin!
Updates Coming Soon
September 26th 2008
Sorry it’s been a while since I posted any news or updates. I’ve been super busy getting props ready for this year. As you know we’re now in the home stretch and thus in uber-crunch mode. I’m a little behind but looking at getting most all of it done.
I have a newer updated yard layout picture I need to upload as well as a ton of pictures I took at Target, Wal-Mart, and Spirit Halloween. You aren’t missing much this year as the retail market is hurting from the economy. Gemmy has a few good notable additions this year which I need to get some pictures of.
Also we’ve decided on our official theme this year, albeit late in the game.
Stay tuned…
-TM
Greetings From Disney!
August 18th 2008
Hey all, we had a great time in Disney and now we’re back and ready to kick into full Halloween mode. More updates are a coming…
Yankee Candle Halloween Goodies
August 10th 2008
I didn’t get a chance to go in as it was after 6pm when we past by and all the shops were closed or closing in the mall. However my wife spotted that Yankee Candle (at least in Westfarms mall in Farmington, CT) has put out their Halloween goodies. I grabbed a quick snapshot of it with my new enV2 phone (personal note, start bringing my Olympus Stylus 8mp camera with me on outings - 2mp camera phones suck). It’s just a pic of the store front but hey… The Boney Bunch actually looks pretty cool and I may pick up some on my next visit out to Westfarms.
Necropolis Manor
August 4th 2008
Before the first settlers arrived on the coasts of America… In a place now known as Windsor, the Pequot Indians tell of a legend of an ancient evil trapped beyond a mystical portal that leads to a realm of shadow and darkness. Some say that the very essence of the Pequot War was fought over rights to this dark gateway. Others say that the gateway was opened and that the evil which was released tore appart any existing peace between the tribes and the American settlers.
In the end the gate was sealed by elder members of the surviving River Tribes to keep the white tribes from unleashing the evils within. Over time though the portal was forgotten and settlements were built over it’s location corrupting the sigils which sealed it. Malicious spiritual energy slowly leaks from within latching on to kindred spirits in our realm.
Strange events often occur in the town of Windsor which seem to culminate on Halloween night when the barrier guarding the portal is thinnest.
WELCOME TO NECROPOLIS MANOR
