Haunted Attraction Magazine 47 - The Only Constant is Change
I just got the latest issue of Haunted Attraction Magazine in the mail yesterday. As I thumbed through the issue I stopped on Leonard Pickel’s editorial page to see what’s in the mind of the “Mad Doctor” this month. The theme this issue according to Pickel is change, and looking back at some of the big haunts that scared their last patron in 2006, like the highest rated haunted attraction in the country Rocky Point Haunted House, I have to agree with the Doctor. Now of course I’ve not been in the haunted industry as long as Pickel’s 30+ years, but even I have been able to see trends happening at the larger haunted houses. VIP passes, big money advertising, theme park events, etc. - the list goes on. Along with this is the disappearance of the smaller charity haunts that many still think of when you mention “haunted house”.
In HAM #47 Leonard Pickel gives us part 1 of 2 of an article entitled “A New Direction for the Haunt Industry” in which he introduces us to the first of two concepts he believes have to happen in order for the industry to survive the growing expectations of the patron. Face it - people will spend 8 - 15 dollars to watch a movie - even a bad one - plus another 20 - 30 bucks on overpriced popcorn and Milkduds, but balk at having to shell out 8 - 15 for a real-live-in-your-face experience of a multi-element haunted attraction. Pickel’s concept number 1 and I suspect next issue’s number 2 deal with having to “retrain” the patron’s out of the mindset of past expectations. Expectations namely being that a haunted house should cost $3 and is nothing more than some kids with dimestore masks jumping out and yelling boo.
It will be interesting to follow the discussions on the message boards on this one. Especially in an industry that seems beleaguered by petty arguments over whether to use or not use chainsaws or blood versus spooky in a haunt.
The rest of this issue fills out nicely with such articles as the cover story focussing on The Realm of Darkness in Pontiac, MI, an excellent haunt so I’m told with a “quest” theme to it. Plenty of other ghoulish goodies include workshops on “The Motorized Grave Grabber” by Kevin T. Kennedy of the Brewster Yard Haunt - yes, you can build it yourself even if you aren’t that mechanically inclined - and “Fog Machines - To Clean or Not To Clean” from Chris Markgraf of Froggy’s Fog which I assure you is another topic for heated debate. A great “Step by Step Ghoul Face” makeup by Brian Wolfe is a must read for anyone that has ever sweated their head off in a latex mask that they couldn’t see out of, as well as the “Memoirs of a Transworld Newbie” article by Gwendel “Empress Nightshade” Rodriguez about her first visit to the big Halloween and Party Show formerly in Chicago, now in Vegas baby.
Of course there’s plenty of other features in HAM #47 as product reviews and announcements and the Creeping Up calendar. All in all another great issue from a must have magazine for the Halloween Haunted Attraction owner or enthusiast. The price is a pittance for what you get in return. If you’re not a subscriber yet you can follow this link to do so.
October 19th, 2008 at 1:20 pm
For a $20 charge, we thought Realm of Darkness in Pontiac had to be good. Sadly, we were mistaken. Getting there at 8 p.m. after an hour drive, we stood in line for 1/2 an hour to get tickets. Then another 3 hours just to get in. The outside looks promising. Once inside, you were herded into a holding area for yet another 1/2 hour to watch a clip on TV. It said you would have to get gems to fight the wizard, etc. If you won, you got double your money back. Alot of time and money went into the props. The effects in the building are great, nice detail, cool monsters, etc. BUT….it is not near scary enough. If you’re a kid under 11 years, this MIGHT be scary for you. Maybe. But for adults, it’s more of a tour to see the work that went into it. As far as trying to find the gems to defeat the wizard, we were given an opportunity to pick a goblet. We picked the wrong one & were told we would have more more chances. We were given none. Very disappointing and not worth the 5 hours we spent (1 hour to drive there, 3 hours in line, 1 hour to drive home). For adults, on a scale of 1 to 10 for scariness, I’d give it a 2 or 3. For special effects and creativeness, a 9. But if you’re an adult and going because you want to get scared, prepare to be sorely disappointed. You’d be better off renting a scary movie instead. All in all, you’d probably fare much better at a Jaycee haunted house. The lines are 90% shorter, it’s cheaper, and odds are, you’ll be more scared. Either that, or spend another $15 and go to Halloweekends at Cedar Point.