I believe theme music is a must. It lays out the plot an adds ambiance. 2000's theme was "Hotel California", the Eagles newest version. The front of the barn was covered in black plastic. A heavy framed wooden door was secured into place with T-posts and wire. Over the door hung the "Hotel California" sign, painted black with the words in neon paint under a blacklight. The pillars are styrofoam packing from a dumpster behind an apliance store. As victoms entered, the door would slam behind them. That not only scared the crap out of them, but was also a signal to the workers.

As you enter the "hotel", Mortis greets you with a glass of pink champaign on ice. To the left is a fireplace with spandex backing, which a motorised face was to push through. The motor thing just didn't work, so my son spent all 15 nights pushing his face through. It was really awesome though, because he would moan (probably from his knees hurting). On the wall hangs a bleeding portrait. Note all the furnishings in the room. Pay attention to details, they make all the difference, right down to carpet. Everything in the room came from the dump, garage sales or was built from junk. As you leave the room, a small sign hangs by the door. It says "caution: stairs down". In a barn?! People actually went down the dark hallway feeling with thier feet expecting stairs! he he hee

Enter room 13, the bridal suite. Again, pay attention to detail. The walls of this room are covered in white/clear plastic. The window is an old window frame with glass, the back side covered with black plastic. The levitating bride is made from a chunk of 4" foam rubber to keep her lite. She is rigged with fishing line, pullies and a rotissory grill motor(really!).

The bone wall I have used for many years. It's a 3" thick piece of foam rubber. Using scissors I hacked away all the space between the bones. Then I painted it with latex house paint. The first year we used this, I cut all the way through around the arms of the main skeleton allowing a person to stant behind it and reach out at people as they came by. Just roll it up for easy storage. Grama, to the right, is a great long lasting prop thats easy to make. My daughter, left, was created 14 years earlier, but I will spare you and won't go into detail on the making of her.

Mirror effects are really cool and easy to do. Though the photo doesn't do it justice, people would stop and stare asking "Where are your legs?!". Some would even get down on thier knees to look under the table, while others would speculate we cut a hole in the barn for her legs to go through.

The tomb in this scene was made with a 2x4 frame work, then covered with 1/2" foam insulation. I free handed the stone paint job. The pillars are 10" pvc pipe(from a dump). The grave digger is made of a cheap mask and garage sale clothes, with a wood and wire frame.

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Go home --- Halloween 2001 --- Halloween 2002

beasleys@brightok.net