Date: Mon, 06 Nov 1995 15:29:22 -0700 From: Lauren Jones To: halloween-l@netcom.com, Donna_KENNY@umail.umd.edu Subject: Trick-or-treaters in DC Area Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Status: O X-Status: dk62 11/05/95 11:55am writes: > ...[MORE] However, compared to last years whopping 75, we got only > 29! ....[MORE]...My friends in the area told me they had fewer kids this > year to, for that old Trick or Treat night, but no one seems to know > why, and it spanned through DC from MD and to VA. Hi! I'm from the DC area, too, although this last Halloween was the last I've been in my own area for it in several years! I did my house for a dozen or so years until I broke my leg, and aside from the general paranoia around here, I can tell you about a pattern I saw in those years and a little after. It seems we either had mostly school-aged kids or, conversely, we had toddlers and teenagers. When your neighborhood is mostly school-aged kids, you have a lot of trick-or-treaters right there, and if your house is highly decorated, etc., these kids have friends at school that immigrate into your neighborhood on Halloween for the express purpose of seeing your house. On the other hand, when it's just toddlers and teenagers, a lot of the older kids aren't trick-or-treating--and the toddlers might not be out themselves, let alone have school friends to bring over. At least, that's what it was like in suburban Maryland. We also noted that everything was on a 7-year cycle: in year 1 there were LOTS of kids born--even more in year 2; years 3 and 4 were fewer, but still a lot. In years 5-7, numbers dropped way down. Then the whole thing started over again. When the kids in years 1-4 were school-aged, we had well over a hundred kids go through; when they were teens, there were only a few school-aged kids around, although a lot of little preschoolers were around. Anyone else see something like this going on where they live? From owner-halloween-l Wed Nov 8 07:42:58 1995 From: Stuart_McIntire_at_AISDC@ccsmtp.uage.com Date: Wed, 08 Nov 95 10:16:22 EST To: halloween-l@netcom.com Subject: Re: Trick-or-treaters in DC Area Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Status: O X-Status: >I can tell you about a pattern I saw in those years and a little after. >We also noted that everything was on a 7-year cycle: in >year 1 there were LOTS of kids born--even more in year 2; >years 3 and 4 were fewer, but still a lot. In years 5-7, >numbers dropped way down. Then the whole thing started >over again. When the kids in years 1-4 were school-aged, >we had well over a hundred kids go through; when they were >teens, there were only a few school-aged kids around, >although a lot of little preschoolers were around. >Anyone else see something like this going on where they live? Sure! Montgomery County, MD currently has in excess of 177,000 elementary and secondary students in the public school system. New school construction can not keep pace - especially in the northern part of the county (where there are currently eight elementary schools in Germantown alone). As the schools fill up and run out of capacity, the officials are reduced to using portable classrooms to house the students. Many schools use a dozen or more portables. It was just a few years ago this same county was closing schools at an unprecedented rate due to declining enrollment. It's apparent we're experiencing that cycle you spoke of. <...wistfully...> Just think of all these new "victims" we get to scare in the next few years... - Stu [ stuart.mcintire@uage.com ] From owner-halloween-l Wed Nov 8 16:15:14 1995 From: VickyJ1412@aol.com Date: Wed, 8 Nov 1995 16:55:52 -0500 To: halloween-l@netcom.com Subject: Thanks! Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Status: O X-Status: I guess I've been "lurking" (sort of acceptable on a Halloween list! ;-) ) on this list for about a month now. I wanted to break my silence and say Thanks to all of you for all the fun missives I've read during that time. I don't stage elaborate scenes on the porch and lawn, nor have parties like some of the people on the list, but I gleaned lots of fun stuff to incorporate into my family's more modest celebration. Especially I loved the Cat do-do cookies, the list titled "Ten Reasons Why Trick or Treating is Better Than Sex," and the idea of replacing a dummy dead body with a live person and scaring the devil out of people. I'm sticking with the list cause there's always next year. I just wanted to tip my hat and say Thanks for all the creative ideas and enjoyable reading. Vicky Shultz VickyJ1412@aol.com From owner-halloween-l Wed Nov 8 19:59:25 1995 From: Stuart_McIntire_at_AISDC@ccsmtp.uage.com Date: Tue, 07 Nov 95 17:53:46 EST To: halloween-l@netcom.com Subject: Re[2]: strobe light advice Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Status: O X-Status: ______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________ Subject: Re: strobe light advice Author: halloween-l@netcom.com at Internet Date: 11/7/95 5:31 PM Don wrote: (abbreviated) >J & R Music World has four strobe light machines: >NESS D-250 Variable speed egg strobe $14.95 >Compact & portable - just screw into standard socket base - Adj. flash rate >Comes in Blue, Clear, Orange or Red >If someone has bought these, or has more info on them, please let us know. I've rented from Kinetic Artistry in Takoma Park, Maryland egg strobes wired on a strip. Tied together, they are a reasonable facsimile of lightning (especially "heat light- ning"). KA has about eight to ten of them on the strip... they flash intermittently in random sequence. I *would* go to Nathan for strobes, foggers, etc. if he < sigh > wasn't so far from me (though I do owe him a visit after a few E-Mails several weeks ago). Again, I defer to Nathan for the response you need... - Stu [ stuart.mcintire@uage.com ] From owner-halloween-l Thu Nov 9 09:27:21 1995 Subject: Re: strobe light advice To: halloween-l@netcom.com Date: Wed, 8 Nov 1995 16:14:13 -0500 (EST) From: "Nathan Kahn" Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Status: O X-Status: > NESS D-250 Variable speed egg strobe $14.95 > Compact & portable - just screw into standard socket base - Adj. flash rate > Comes in Blue, Clear, Orange or Red > > Lyte Quest SL-100 Mini Strobe $21.95 > Up to 35 watts per flash - 1 to 10 flashes per sec - 10 million flash life > variable speed > > NESS ML-15 Mini Flash $24.95 > Mini strobe witn built-in reflector & 2.25' linear flash tube for maximum power > flash rate adjustable from 1 to 15 flash per second. > > Lyte Quest SL-350 Aluminum Strobe $127.95 > 350-watt long-life helical quartz lamp - conivenient Par 56 case - 1 to 12 > flash per second. 1/4" jacks for sync operation. > > Nathan? What word have you heard? And what do you guys have? We have most of these, and some others as well. The Egg Strobe is not very bright, skip it. I thought the SL-100 and ML-15 were the same thing, so I'm surprised the same catalog has both. I've never seen the SL-350 but it sounds very interesting. Nathan nathan@theatrefx.com From owner-halloween-l Thu Nov 9 09:44:58 1995 Date: Thu, 9 Nov 1995 09:31:15 -0800 (PST) From: Don Bertino To: halloween-l@netcom.com Subject: Re: strobe light advice Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Status: O X-Status: On Wed, 8 Nov 1995, Nathan Kahn wrote: > > Lyte Quest SL-100 Mini Strobe $21.95 > > Up to 35 watts per flash - 1 to 10 flashes per sec - 10 million flash life > > variable speed > > > > NESS ML-15 Mini Flash $24.95 > > Mini strobe witn built-in reflector & 2.25' linear flash tube for maximum power > > flash rate adjustable from 1 to 15 flash per second. > > The Egg Strobe is not very bright, skip it. I thought the SL-100 and ML-15 > were the same thing, so I'm surprised the same catalog has both. I've never > seen the SL-350 but it sounds very interesting. Do the SL-100 and ML-15 have sync ports on them? Do you know how they work? don bertino@netcom.com ____/^\_____________________________________ Disney ascii art & / \ || FDC MCP || / \ animations are at <______\ [] [] [] || [] [] [] || [] [] [] /______> ftp.netcom.com ======\----------------||----------||----------------/=== /pub/be/bertino========\______________||__________||______________/===== From owner-halloween-l Fri Nov 10 08:11:02 1995 Subject: Re: strobe light advice To: halloween-l@netcom.com Date: Thu, 9 Nov 1995 14:53:48 -0500 (EST) From: "Nathan Kahn" Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Status: O X-Status: > > Lyte Quest SL-100 Mini Strobe $21.95 > > Up to 35 watts per flash - 1 to 10 flashes per sec - 10 million flash life > > variable speed > > > > NESS ML-15 Mini Flash $24.95 > > Mini strobe witn built-in reflector & 2.25' linear flash tube for maximum power > > flash rate adjustable from 1 to 15 flash per second. > > Do the SL-100 and ML-15 have sync ports on them? Do you know how they work? > No, you can't get sync ports on anything cheaper than $75 or so. These just have an adjustable speed on the back. They don't work very well at slow speeds (i.e. cut the speed back past 50% and they just stop). But they are surprisingly bright for the size, as bright as if not brighter than the basic Radio Shak box strobe. We had some problem with these burning out in some haunted displays that ran 15 hours a day all October. Cutting the speed back helped, but didn't entirely eliminate the problem. BTW, there is no on/off switch. Plug it in and it goes. And the bulb is not easily replaceable -- its soldered in. Nathan nathan@theatrefx.com From owner-halloween-l Sat Nov 11 02:44:20 1995 From: sao@MIT.EDU To: halloween-l@netcom.com Cc: sao@MIT.EDU Subject: New web site of Halloween fun! Date: Fri, 10 Nov 1995 12:15:25 EST Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Status: O X-Status: Hi, folks! Many thanks for the great ideas involving Meathead(tm) and the insulation-foam skeletons! I used both of these at my Halloween party this year; if you'd like to have a look at some of the fun, point your Web browser to: http://cascade.mit.edu/halloween/party.html This is a temporary web site and server I've set up on my desktop machine; please don't make any links to it, since I'm likely to take it down in a few weeks. But in the meantime, feel free to browse and enjoy! :Andy From owner-halloween-l Sat Nov 11 02:47:36 1995 From: Stuart_McIntire_at_AISDC@ccsmtp.uage.com Date: Fri, 10 Nov 95 13:22:15 EST To: halloween-l@netcom.com Subject: Re[2]: strobe light advice Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Status: O X-Status: ______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________ Subject: Re: strobe light advice Author: halloween-l@netcom.com at Internet Date: 11/10/95 11:54 AM >BTW, there is no on/off switch. Plug it in and it goes. And the bulb is not >easily replaceable -- its soldered in. Nathan, *In order to satisfy the impaired electrician in me* Can a switch be installed on the electrical cords on these small box strobes? I believe the Xenon strobe from Spencer's was also a "plug 'n go." What do you need to watch for when installing dimmer switches for any other kind of light source than the standard incandescent bulbs? (Not that we would want to *dim* a strobe - just wonder- ing for different light sources). I once purchased a dimmer switch that I installed on a lamp at home, but it wasn't a dial type that dimmed gradually. It was basically a three position switch that increases/decreases the light noticeably at each switch position. Is there dimmer switches you can install on a cord which dim gradually? Lastly, to achieve a potentially awesome Halloween effect, I need to know if you can wire two dimmers together so that one increases one light source while the other dims a different light source simultaneously. Thanks for the help, Nathan! - Stu [ stuart.mcintire@uage.com ] From owner-halloween-l Sat Nov 11 02:50:30 1995 From: "BHendrsn@kirk.microsys.net" To: halloween-l@netcom.com Date: Thu, 9 Nov 1995 15:12:39 +0000 Subject: Re: strobe light advice Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Status: O X-Status: > The Egg Strobe is not very bright, skip it. I thought the SL-100 and ML-15 > were the same thing, so I'm surprised the same catalog has both. I've never > seen the SL-350 but it sounds very interesting. Well, correction. The Egg Strobe is not very bright for large effects, but for smaller applications, it works wonders and it does fit into small areas where you couldn't put other strobes. -Brian From owner-halloween-l Sat Nov 11 02:58:11 1995 Date: Wed, 8 Nov 1995 23:02:45 +0500 To: halloween-l@netcom.com From: grizelda@astral.magic.ca ('Greysting' [Ron Orr]) Subject: Re[2]: Being humbled at Halloween decorating Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Status: O X-Status: >IMHO, Halloween is the supreme adult holiday. Kids only appreciate the >free candy, but adults get really creative with the costuming and special >effects (as this mailing list is proof of!). Besides, adults have fewer >chances to play dress up, so they can appreciate it more! In retrospect, >I think I didn't appreciate Halloween quite as much when I was little as I >do today. I do miss the trick-or-treating, but I actually like the parties >& clubs better! > >-- Trystan L. Bass Hello all! Delurking here for the first time... This is exactly how I feel about the holiday. I do costuming pretty much all year at SF conventions and the like, but Hallowe'en is the _one_ time of year when adults can do that in public & nobody complains. My two daughters are quickly coming to the same mindset. It isn't the candy they enjoy (well, not the _most_) but the chance to dress up and see the sights around our tiny village. I'm looking forward to collecting ideas for next year. I help decorate the town library each year for the Hallowe'en Ghost Walk & am always looking for low-cost scary decorating ideas. Sure wish we could afford some of the Big Special Effects, though. (*sigh*) Ron Any Excuse to Be in Costume From owner-halloween-l Sat Nov 11 06:35:28 1995 Date: Fri, 10 Nov 1995 10:38:05 -0800 From: milwiron@ix.netcom.com (D.D. ) Subject: Theremin Newsgroup Lives! To: Halloween-L@netcom.com Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Status: O X-Status: Thanks in a large part to Don Bertino (the owner of this list and amazing computer literate type guy) the newsgroup is alive and uh... on life support. I believe the birth commands were given at around the same on either coast and Don's prodding/whacking with a big stick helped get it fired up on Netcom and other servers. (My constant whining and moaning helped a little) I would ask anyone interested in keeping the world safe for spooky music check in on the group and participate. Without active participation the Lord Of The Net will pull the plug, leaving our children fending for themselves in a world of happy music created by large purple dinosaurs on P.B.S. Thanks Don! Denny From owner-halloween-l Sat Nov 11 07:05:12 1995 Date: Mon, 06 Nov 1995 15:41:49 -0700 From: Lauren Jones To: halloween-l@netcom.com Subject: Re[2]: Being humbled at Halloween decorating -Reply Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Status: O X-Status: So far, I've noticed two other DC-commuting-area folks on this list. Next year I'm going to have to try to scope out your houses! From owner-halloween-l Sat Nov 11 07:08:46 1995 Date: Mon, 06 Nov 1995 15:31:29 -0700 From: Lauren Jones To: lcanders@ccnet.com, halloween-l@netcom.com Subject: strobe light advice -Reply Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Status: O X-Status: A friend borrowed one for our "Inferno" theme a few years back, and it just ran on regular household current. We had it cut in when the devil reached for you (with artificially extended arms!) and some people got so scared they tried to rip down the backdrops to escape! From owner-halloween-l Sat Nov 11 07:16:52 1995 From: alt@ixstar.att.com (Arthur Louis Todesco +1 +1 708 979 1120) Date: Tue, 7 Nov 95 07:31:20 CST To: halloween-l@netcom.com Subject: Re: Being humbled at Halloween decorating Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Status: O X-Status: > 663! Yeesh, you must spend a small fortune on candy. It was a very > disappointing year at my house. We share a long driveway set off the I told my wife last night that we should post a sign saying, "worlds cheapest candy given out here." As most here in this group, we put our money into the display itself. This year we had 1200 pieces of candy and gave out about 1000. Many adults and even many kids didn't take any. Although, I'm sure that some repeats did double dip. However, there were several kids that didn't take candy because this was their 2nd time through or they were back again with a friend. Art Todesco alt@ixstar.att.com From owner-halloween-l Sat Nov 11 07:24:47 1995 From: TheLazer@aol.com Date: Mon, 6 Nov 1995 11:12:31 -0500 To: halloween-l@netcom.com Subject: Re: Hmm Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Status: O X-Status: Someone get me this guy with the Lasers Number.. I think I could use something a little bit more powerful than my 2.5 HeNe I dont know about the Desel Gen, though kinda noisy? Jay From owner-halloween-l Sun Nov 12 22:26:44 1995 From: TonyGJr@aol.com Date: Sat, 11 Nov 1995 18:21:34 -0500 To: halloween-l@netcom.com Subject: Post halloween Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Status: O X-Status: A small question fgor the day. Now the observations and the handshaking and congrats are almost over with, where do we go from here? I am new here and would definitely want to see ideas traded around and proposed for nEXT year. Don't let this newsgroup die!! Tony G From owner-halloween-l Mon Nov 13 06:31:46 1995 From: Stuart_McIntire_at_AISDC@ccsmtp.uage.com Date: Mon, 13 Nov 95 08:58:59 EST To: halloween-l@netcom.com Subject: Re: Theremin Newsgroup Lives! Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Status: O X-Status: ______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________ Subject: Theremin Newsgroup Lives! Author: halloween-l@netcom.com at Internet Date: 11/11/95 10:02 AM Denny writes (in part): I would ask anyone interested in keeping the world safe for spooky music check in on the group and participate. Denny, Count me in! I've got a small sampling of Theremin on one of my Halloween tapes, but it's not nearly enough. Do you have the subscribe command for this group? - Stu [ stuart.mcintire@uage.com ] From owner-halloween-l Mon Nov 13 06:41:38 1995 From: Stuart_McIntire_at_AISDC@ccsmtp.uage.com Date: Mon, 13 Nov 95 08:45:07 EST To: halloween-l@netcom.com Subject: Re[3]: Being humbled at Halloween decorating -Reply Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Status: O X-Status: ______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________ Subject: Re[2]: Being humbled at Halloween decorating -Reply Author: halloween-l@netcom.com at Internet Date: 11/11/95 10:18 AM >So far, I've noticed two other DC-commuting-area folks on this >list. Next year I'm going to have to try to scope out your >houses! Well, *at least* three anyway. Bill Lewis in Laytons- ville, Donna Kenny Harrington (Harrington Kenny? sorry if I got it wrong, Donna) whereabouts unknown and my- self in Germantown. Both Bill and I are in upper Montgomery County... ...and probably more John and Jane Does, I imagine. - Stu [ stuart.mcintire@uage.com ] From owner-halloween-l Mon Nov 13 07:03:38 1995 From: Stuart_McIntire_at_AISDC@ccsmtp.uage.com Date: Mon, 13 Nov 95 08:53:54 EST To: halloween-l@netcom.com Subject: Re: Post halloween Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Status: O X-Status: ______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________ Subject: Post halloween Author: halloween-l@netcom.com at Internet Date: 11/13/95 6:50 AM Tony G writes: >A small question for the day. Now the observations and the handshaking and >congrats are almost over with, where do we go from here? I am new here and >would definitely want to see ideas traded around and proposed for nEXT year. >Don't let this newsgroup die!! Agreed, Tony! I'm hoping to pick up scores of "how to" hints regarding the things I don't know well (i.e.: using motors to control displays, electrical whys and wherefores, modelling materials and methods, etc.). Also, I need to get directions from those in-the-know as to where to subscribe to related newsgroups such as stagecraft, magic, etc. I'm definitely interested in the new group about Theremins. Ours is a group of diehards - I don't expect we'll wither on the vine. - Stu [ stuart.mcintire@uage.com ] Tony G From owner-halloween-l Mon Nov 13 08:43:11 1995 Date: Mon, 13 Nov 1995 07:32:20 -0800 From: milwiron@ix.netcom.com (D.D. ) Subject: Re: Post halloween To: halloween-l@netcom.com Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Status: O X-Status: You wrote: >A small question fgor the day. Now the observations and the handshaking and >congrats are almost over with, where do we go from here? I am new here and >would definitely want to see ideas traded around and proposed for nEXT year. >Don't let this newsgroup die!! > >Tony G Hi Tony, Thankfully you're not the only person on this list with tears in their eyes asking "why can't everyday be Halloween?". Even as I type, my wonderful skulls and spiders are being replaced by cute Christmas decorations. My offer to put a white beard and a Santa hat on the flying ghost was only met with stern silence. It'll be up to us to keep the list alive despite the jolliness and warm feelings of the upcoming season. I'm having tons-o-trouble with my provider these days, with just about anything I try to do other than personal E- mail (and I just jinxed that) so my participation is iffy at best until I find a new one... but I'll keep sending and maybe some things will continue to get through. Denny From owner-halloween-l Mon Nov 13 10:48:44 1995 Date: Mon, 13 Nov 1995 09:16:09 -0800 From: milwiron@ix.netcom.com (D.D. ) Subject: Re:II Post halloween To: halloween-l@netcom.com Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Status: O X-Status: I wrote: > It'll be up to us to keep the list alive... It should read- "all of us". later folks, Denny From owner-halloween-l Mon Nov 13 20:25:41 1995 From: TheLazer@aol.com Date: Sun, 12 Nov 1995 19:23:25 -0500 To: halloween-l@netcom.com Subject: Re: Re[2]: strobe light advice Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Status: O X-Status: >>> Can a switch be installed on the electrical cords on these >>>small box strobes? I believe the Xenon strobe from >>>Spencer's was also >>>a "plug 'n go." Yep, just splice into the cord that you plug into the wall and install your switch.. Make SURE that it is the cord that carryes the 120 volt power, not the 1000Plus trigger part of the strobe >>>What do you need to watch for when installing dimmer >>>switches for any other kind of light source than the >>>standard incandescent bulbs? (Not that we would want to >>>*dim* a strobe - just wonder-ing for different light >>>sources). Well first off you cant dim any type of Florcsent bulb, unless the transformer is made for that purpuse.. That being means that those nice screw in mini power saveing blubs they sell at the store, CAN NOT be dimmed.. Nor can you dim any type of Halagne track lighting, or Halagen light. Unless again the transformer is made for this. Most home kits are not made this way. You cant dim a stobe light. Well you can but it invovles fooling with alot of High Power stuff and electronics. So if you need to dim a strobe, then the best bet is to go buy one that comes that way.. {I think there about 200$ these days} Basicly if the light you want to dim has a Transformer powering it you cant dim it. Unless again the Transformer is made for this.. Also, those transformer arnt too cheap. Other than that just make sure the Dimmer you use is rated for the wattage of what your trying to dim. As for the question of a dimmer switch on a cord. Well heck they might sell it. If not you can just make one. Take a Dimmer like you would put on your wall, the kind that lets you dim all the way, mount it in a box and then connect your cord going to the wall into the box and the dimmer. Then go from the dimmer in the box to your lamp. >>> Lastly, to achieve a potentially awesome Halloween >>>effect, I need to know if you can wire two dimmers >>>together so that one increases one light source while the >>>other dims a different light source simultaneously. Hmm, well you can buy a two way switch. So I would think that you could buy a Two Way dimmer. Only thing is that it wouldnt work the right way. What you really need is a Cross Fader. I know that most light boards have them. {Then agian they cost into the thousnds} I guess the best way to do it is to get two dimmers and to steady hands and just do it by dimming one up and useing your other hand dim the other out. Jay -->Spelling, what spelling?<-- From owner-halloween-l Tue Nov 14 05:53:04 1995 From: Stuart_McIntire_at_AISDC@ccsmtp.uage.com Date: Mon, 13 Nov 95 13:49:51 EST To: halloween-l@netcom.com Subject: Re[2]: Post halloween Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Status: O X-Status: ______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________ Subject: Re: Post halloween Author: halloween-l@netcom.com at Internet Date: 11/13/95 12:08 PM Denny writes: (some deleted) >Hi Tony, >Thankfully you're not the only person on this list with tears >in their eyes asking "why can't everyday be Halloween?". >Even as I type, my wonderful skulls and spiders are being >replaced by cute Christmas decorations. My offer to put a >white beard and a Santa hat on the flying ghost was only >met with stern silence. It'll be up to us to keep the list alive >despite the jolliness and warm feelings of the upcoming >season. Welll...we can always pull out our copies of Nightmare Before Christmas for a more gradual seasonal transition, can't we? :) A more perfect option could not be found! Plenty of Halloweenish images combined with a Christmas story leaving us all warm and fuzzy feeling at the end... Sidebar: You probably noticed the door that was left wide open for sequels related to holidays throughout the year...when Jack Skellington "discovered" the doorway to Christmas Town, he was in the woods where on the trees were painted images of an Easter Egg, a turkey, etc. Willl Jack and Company soon be visiting us throughout the year?...Only time will tell! - Stu [ stuart.mcintire@uage.com ] From owner-halloween-l Wed Nov 15 01:34:45 1995 Date: Mon, 13 Nov 95 16:16 PST To: halloween-l@netcom.com From: bdosfx@wimsey.com (Brian D. Oberquell) Subject: Other newgroups, mailing lists Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Status: RO X-Status: Stu [ stuart.mcintire@uage.com ] wrote: > Also, I need to get directions > from those in-the-know as to where to subscribe to related > newsgroups such as stagecraft, magic, etc. Here's a list of newgroups which often have "good stuff": rec.arts.theatre.stagecraft rec.arts.theatre.misc alt. stagecraft rec. arts. movies.production rec. arts. movies.tech There are probably more that I'm not aware of... Mailing lists: STAGECRAFT DIGEST send e-mail to stagecraft-request@zinc.com; in body write: SUBSCRIBE STAGECRAFT your e-mail address I haven't tried this one yet; just found out about it: FILMMAKERS FORUM send e-mail to majordomo@power.net; in body write: SUBSCRIBE FILMMAKERS your real name To quote from another source, "Mailing list info can be found in the usenet newsgroup news.lists." (the mailing list instructions should work; if I got them wrong, you should get a message back telling you the correct format...apologies in advance). Brian ______________________________________________________________________________ Brian D. Oberquell The Wizard's Den SPFX Studio 210 Cornell Way Port Moody, B.C. CANADA V3H 3W2 Phone (604) 931-6298 Pager (604) 895-3721 "15 years in the business and we still have all our fingers" From owner-halloween-l Wed Nov 15 01:54:51 1995 Date: Sun, 12 Nov 1995 18:37:24 -0500 (EST) From: "Donna J. Logan" To: halloween-l Subject: THIS is TRUE for 5 November 1995 (fwd) Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Status: O X-Status: ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Sat, 11 Nov 1995 12:00:00 (PST) From: Randy Cassingham Subject: THIS is TRUE for 5 November 1995 THIS is TRUE for 5 November 1995 Copyright 1995 by Randy Cassingham ------------------------------------------------------------------------ TRICK OR TREAT: A police officer in Paulsboro, N.J., wearing a clown suit over his bulletproof vest, got a lot of treats on Halloween night -- a dozen people with outstanding arrest warrants. He went door to door, asking each time for a fugitive known to live there. "You don't get a `He's not home' on Halloween," explained chief of police Kenneth Ridinger. The idea started two years ago, when an officer dressed as Batman arrested four people. Police may take a break next year. "If we do it every year, everybody will start shutting their doors and the poor kids can't get their candy," the chief said. (AP) ...Now THERE is a good idea. TO RECEIVE "THIS is TRUE" every week free by e-mail, send e-mail to listserv@netcom.com with the message: "subscribe this-is-true" (without quotes) -- please: nothing else on the line. To UNSUBSCRIBE or for HELP subscribing, e-mail this-is-true-approval@netcom.com; a human will help you. Our web page: http://www.infoark.com/freecom/ Comments are welcome: e-mail arcie@netcom.com or write to Randy c/o Freelance Communications, PO Box 91970, Pasadena CA 91109-1970 USA or by Fax to: 500 442-TRUE (442-8783). "This is True" is a trademark of Freelance Communications. Copyright 1995 by Randy Cassingham, All Rights Reserved. Broadcast, publication or storage -- including on CD-ROM, listservers, BBSs, WWW, "FTP" archives, or anywhere else -- is STRICTLY PROHIBITED without PRIOR written permission. However, permission is GRANTED to circulate this publication via MANUAL forwarding by e-mail to others providing that 1) the file is transmitted IN ITS ENTIRETY, from the title and byline on top to the end of this paragraph, and 2) NO FEE is charged. More than fair, isn't it? From owner-halloween-l Wed Nov 15 09:30:24 1995 From: bhayes@student.umass.edu Date: Wed, 15 Nov 1995 12:01:25 -0500 Subject: Terror on Church Street To: halloween-l@netcom.com Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Status: O X-Status: Has anyone gone to Terror on Church Street in Downtown Orlando? That has got to be one of the scariest Haunted Houses I have even been in. It took almost 45 min to get through.. It started out in Sapin i believe..and now it has come to the US. If you are going to be around Orlando..go visit it!! Also... Has anyone been to Spooky World in Berlin, MA? This is "America's Horror Theme Park". I havn't had a chance to go yet, but it is supposidly really great! Let me know your opinions of these places...or if you would like information.... Bri :) Brian Hayes University of Massachussetts Hotel, Restaurant, and Travel Administration bhayes@student.umass.edu visit my homepage at: http://www-vms.oit.umass.edu/~bhayes/index.html ******************************************************************************** "Am I a good man? Am I a madman? It's such a fine line between a good man and a bad...." ******************************************************************************** From owner-halloween-l Wed Nov 15 10:55:01 1995 From: "D. Joseph Creighton" Subject: Tombstone addendum To: halloween-l@netcom.com ("The Hallowe'en-ies") Date: Wed, 15 Nov 1995 11:54:19 -0600 (CST) Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Status: O X-Status: >From Henry Cate's Life listing... ------------------------------ From: J. Harbron N1EPONWP@IBMMAIL.COM Another headstone paid by the creditors of the deceased-- "Owen Moore has gone away" "Owin' more than he could pay!" ------------------------------ - Joe -- "Simplicity, carried to an extreme, becomes elegance." -- Jon Franklin http://www.ee.umanitoba.ca/~djc/ D. Joseph Creighton \ Sr. Programmer, DB Support: Admin Computer Services Joe_Creighton@UManitoba.CA \ University of Manitoba Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada From owner-halloween-l Thu Nov 16 13:41:29 1995 Date: Thu, 16 Nov 1995 13:32:44 -0800 (PST) From: Don Bertino To: halloween-l@netcom.com Subject: Re: Theremin Newsgroup Lives! Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Status: O X-Status: On Fri, 10 Nov 1995, D.D. wrote: Hi! > Thanks in a large part to Don Bertino (the owner of this > list and amazing computer literate type guy) the > newsgroup is alive and uh... > on life support. I believe the birth commands were given > at around the same on either coast and Don's > prodding/whacking with a big stick helped get it fired up > on Netcom and other servers. (My constant whining and moaning helped a > little) :) > I would ask anyone interested in keeping the world safe > for spooky music check in on the group and participate. > Without active participation the Lord Of The Net will > pull the plug, leaving our children fending for themselves > in a world of happy music created by large purple > dinosaurs on P.B.S. Thanks for the kind words Denny. We will see about a Halloween/Christmas decorating newsgroup next year... :) don bertino@netcom.com ____/^\_____________________________________ Disney ascii art & / \ || FDC MCP || / \ animations are at <______\ [] [] [] || [] [] [] || [] [] [] /______> ftp.netcom.com ======\----------------||----------||----------------/=== /pub/be/bertino========\______________||__________||______________/===== From owner-halloween-l Thu Nov 16 13:46:01 1995 Date: Thu, 16 Nov 1995 13:20:25 -0800 (PST) From: Don Bertino To: halloween-l@netcom.com Subject: Re: Hmm Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Status: O X-Status: On Mon, 6 Nov 1995 TheLazer@aol.com wrote: > Someone get me this guy with the Lasers Number.. I think I could use > something a little bit more powerful than my 2.5 HeNe > > I dont know about the Desel Gen, though kinda noisy? With 7,000 watts of stereo sound, I couldn't hear nothing... don bertino@netcom.com ____/^\_____________________________________ Disney ascii art & / \ || FDC MCP || / \ animations are at <______\ [] [] [] || [] [] [] || [] [] [] /______> ftp.netcom.com ======\----------------||----------||----------------/=== /pub/be/bertino========\______________||__________||______________/===== From owner-halloween-l Thu Nov 16 13:48:38 1995 Date: Thu, 16 Nov 1995 13:24:46 -0800 (PST) From: Don Bertino To: halloween-l@netcom.com Subject: Re:II Post halloween Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Status: O X-Status: On Mon, 13 Nov 1995, D.D. wrote: > I wrote: > > It'll be up to us to keep the list alive... > > It should read- "all of us". Yes, certainly! What where all the deals that you bought for 75% off... :) I am busy making a christmas float for thanksgiving weekend... 4,000 lights on my truck :) I used a brite-light pattern to project on a 4x8 piece of plywood. Drilled holes and struck lights thru the holes, after painting the plywood black. It's good to be fall.... :) don bertino@netcom.com ____/^\_____________________________________ Disney ascii art & / \ || FDC MCP || / \ animations are at <______\ [] [] [] || [] [] [] || [] [] [] /______> ftp.netcom.com ======\----------------||----------||----------------/=== /pub/be/bertino========\______________||__________||______________/===== From owner-halloween-l Sun Nov 19 06:18:00 1995 From: TheLazer@aol.com Date: Thu, 16 Nov 1995 21:14:55 -0500 To: halloween-l@netcom.com Subject: Re: Hmm Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Status: O X-Status: AGH! I have to talk to this man.! 7000 watts of stearo power!! Next thing you will tell me is that he had 500 subwoofers that did a really good Earthquake simulation! Jay From owner-halloween-l Sun Nov 19 06:22:11 1995 Date: Thu, 16 Nov 1995 23:43:09 -0500 (EST) From: Wilson Daniel Thomas To: halloween-l@netcom.com cc: halloween-l@netcom.com Subject: Re:II Post halloween Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Status: O X-Status: How do I unsubsrice to this listserver? From owner-halloween-l Sun Nov 19 06:36:44 1995 Date: Thu, 16 Nov 1995 17:36:33 -0800 From: milwiron@ix.netcom.com (D.D. ) Subject: RE: Strobe advice, 2nd. try To: Stuart_McIntire_at_AISDC@ccsmtp.uage.com To: Halloween-L@netcom.com Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Status: O X-Status: Hi Stu, I sent a reply to the list on strobes and stuff last Sunday and I think Netcom has misplaced another one. Anyhow, it went something like this... This is what I did a few years ago for a museum display I was contracted to build, maybe it'll help with your project. I took a thick piece of acrylic sheet (plywood would work) and drilled a hole through it that was a tight fit on the shafts of the rotary dimmers I bought. I cut the acrylic into a 4" diameter circle with the hole in the center and shoved the two dimmers into the disc from either side and mounted it all in a box. With the two dimmers facing each other, turning the disc powers one up while the other powers down. Of couse the disc and it's mounting box was all polished and cleaned up so the public could use it. Installing a small rotary switch in a line cord for a strobe should be no problem because of the low wattage of most home type units. And... when using dimmers always use one design for the type of light i.e. incandescent, fluorescent, etc. Strobes can't be easily dimmed because of the high voltage circuit. Adding a dimmer on the line voltage input before the electronics would be like putting a dimmer on a stereo line cord to control volume. Catch ya later, Denny From owner-halloween-l Sun Nov 19 06:34:32 1995 Date: Wed, 15 Nov 1995 05:22:11 -0800 From: milwiron@ix.netcom.com (D.D. ) Subject: RE: Jacob's Ladders To: Halloween-L@netcom.com Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Status: O X-Status: Thought I would add this to the thread that was running a couple of months ago. The December issue of Electronics Now Magazine has plans and schematics for a Jacob's Ladder that doesn't use a neon sign transformer. The article also includes sources for parts and rough plans for a protective housing. It seems like an over-complication of the simpler sign transformer version but could be fun to build if someone enjoys the electronics hobby. Denny From owner-halloween-l Sun Nov 19 06:46:12 1995 Date: Wed, 15 Nov 1995 05:25:37 -0800 From: milwiron@ix.netcom.com (D.D. ) Subject: Re: Post halloween To: halloween-l@netcom.com Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Status: O X-Status: You wrote: >On Mon, 13 Nov 1995, D.D. wrote: >> Thankfully you're not the only person on this list with tears >> in their eyes asking "why can't everyday be Halloween?". >> Even as I type, my wonderful skulls and spiders are being >> replaced by cute Christmas decorations. My offer to put a >> white beard and a Santa hat on the flying ghost was only >> met with stern silence. It'll be up to us to keep the list alive >> despite the jolliness and warm feelings of the upcoming >> season. > >Well, maybe you could have more success suggesting a flying angel instead.... >according to the Bible, the Angel Of The Lord was always terrifying, >definitely not a cute cherub (or a jolly old elf like Santa...)...it was >never specified exactly what was so terrifying about the AOTL, so it >could be open to interpretation...... > >...I can see it now: Armeggedon Christmas...... Hi Donna! I better keep my mouth shut around here, divorce can be so ugly this time of year. :-} Denny From owner-halloween-l Sun Nov 19 07:26:41 1995 Date: Mon, 13 Nov 1995 21:50:48 -0800 To: halloween-l@netcom.com From: dumptv@gargamel.ptw.com (Dean & Nancy & Dumpsterpiece Theatre) Subject: Re: Post halloween Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Status: O X-Status: "why can't everyday be Halloween?". >Even as I type, my wonderful skulls and spiders are being >replaced by cute Christmas decorations. My offer to put a >white beard and a Santa hat on the flying ghost was only >met with stern silence My husband is halloween freak, and he intends on dressing a skeleton in a santa suit, and putting him on the roof!!! Be creative, and you can re-use lots of your halloween decorations!!! ...until next time, Nancy p.s... ...............If you know anyone in the Antelope Valley, tell them to..... ....................................Watch Dumpsterpiece Theatre! ..................10pm Friday Nights......... KPAL TV..... Palmdale CA .............................Cable channel 35.....UHF channel 38 .....................Bad Movies- - -Ugly Co Hosts- - -Free Prizes! From owner-halloween-l Sun Nov 19 07:45:22 1995 From: TheLazer@aol.com Date: Wed, 15 Nov 1995 16:46:12 -0500 To: halloween-l@netcom.com Subject: Re: Terror on Church Street Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Status: O X-Status: Could you speak more about the Church St thing.. I would like to know about some of there effects and stuff Jay From owner-halloween-l Sun Nov 19 08:55:53 1995 From: "BHendrsn@kirk.microsys.net" To: halloween-l@netcom.com Date: Tue, 14 Nov 1995 01:31:20 +0000 Subject: Re: Re[2]: strobe light advice Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Status: O X-Status: > >>> Can a switch be installed on the electrical cords on these >>>small box > strobes? I believe the Xenon strobe from >>>Spencer's was also > >>>a "plug 'n go." > > Yep, just splice into the cord that you plug into the wall and install your > switch.. Make SURE that it is the cord that carryes the 120 volt power, not > the 1000Plus trigger part of the strobe You don't even have to splice it. You can use one of the "clip-on" switches that you tighten into place with a screwdriver and they do all the work. > Hmm, well you can buy a two way switch. So I would think that you could buy a > Two Way dimmer. Only thing is that it wouldnt work the right way. What you > really need is a Cross Fader. I know that most light boards have them. {Then > agian they cost into the thousnds} I guess the best way to do it is to get > two dimmers and to steady hands and just do it by dimming one up and useing > your other hand dim the other out. It can be done if you take apart the dimmers, get a longer shaft, put the dimmer assemblies back to back and install the longer shaft all the way through so it operates both dimmers. As you turn one dimmer clockwise, the other one would turn counter-clockwise and vice versa. ______________ | | | ---------------|----------|----------|-------------- | | | | | ---------------|----------|----------|-------------- | | | --------------------- Dimmers mounted back to back with the shaft running through the middle. Just make sure there isn't anything behind the shaft or that the pot isn't damaged when you remove and install the shaft. I hate ASCII art. -Brian From owner-halloween-l Sun Nov 19 09:03:09 1995 From: "BHendrsn@kirk.microsys.net" To: halloween-l@netcom.com Date: Mon, 13 Nov 1995 01:07:05 +0000 Subject: Re: Post halloween Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Status: O X-Status: > A small question fgor the day. Now the observations and the handshaking and > congrats are almost over with, where do we go from here? I am new here and > would definitely want to see ideas traded around and proposed for nEXT year. > Don't let this newsgroup die!! I agree. I'm currently drawing up plans for a full-sized coffin for next year and have been looking for other ideas. Some of my electronics are being rewired (my door knocker gargoyle is going to have a remote sensor set up since it was too dark to trigger this year) and in general, it's getting bigger and better. Heck, I started building and planning the day *AFTER* Halloween. -Brian From owner-halloween-l Sun Nov 19 09:39:08 1995 Date: Mon, 13 Nov 95 06:49:46 EST To: halloween-l@netcom.com From: lewisw@oasys.dt.navy.mil (Bill Lewis) Subject: Re: Re[2]: Being humbled at Halloween decorating -Reply Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Status: O X-Status: >So far, I've noticed two other DC-commuting-area folks on this >list. Next year I'm going to have to try to scope out your >houses! > Do it! Remind me next year to give you directions. Plus, let me know if there are any other great displays in the area! You just missed mine. I finally got my picture taking done, dismantled and packed the display on Saturday (Nov. 11). An aside, there was some discussion about quantity of t'or't'rs, and I am glad to announce that I had a total of 4 visits, with a total of 7 visitors on Halloween night (Including Stu and 2 of his!). Am I a scrooge for candy? No, this figure is actually up from last year (2 visits, 4 visitors). I live on a fairly busy road, so I really do it out of a labor of love (or horror). Bill lewisw@oasys.dt.navy.mil You can beat a dead horse, but you can't make him drink. Even a blind nut gets a squirrel every once in awhile. If it's fixed, don't break it. Measure once, Cut twice. From owner-halloween-l Sun Nov 19 09:41:27 1995 Date: Mon, 13 Nov 95 06:32:43 EST To: halloween-l@netcom.com From: lewisw@oasys.dt.navy.mil (Bill Lewis) Subject: Re: Re[2]: strobe light advice Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Status: O X-Status: > Nathan, I know this was directed to Nathan, but I'll take a crack at answering it as well. > *In order to satisfy the impaired electrician in me* > > Can a switch be installed on the electrical cords on these small > box strobes? I believe the Xenon strobe from Spencer's was also > a "plug 'n go." If it's plug'n go then there should be no problem installing a switch on the cord. > What do you need to watch for when installing dimmer switches > for any other kind of light source than the standard incandescent > bulbs? (Not that we would want to *dim* a strobe - just wonder- > ing for different light sources). You can only really add a standard dimmer to an incandescent bulb. Flouresent lights require a special ballast/dimmer to dim those. Also, a strobe uses the discharge from a capacitor to light, so dimming one of those is impossible, and dimmers will also not act as speed controls for (AC) motors. Are there any other light sources that I have left out? One more thing to remember, make sure the dimmer Wattage rating is sufficient for the amount of lights you are using. The minimum rating for most dimmers is 600 Watts. Though even with a 600W dimmer, I wouldn't put 6 100W bulbs on it, 4-5 maybe if it didn't get too hot. > I once purchased a dimmer switch that I installed on a lamp at > home, but it wasn't a dial type that dimmed gradually. It was > basically a three position switch that increases/decreases the > light noticeably at each switch position. Is there dimmer > switches you can install on a cord which dim gradually? This might require a trip to my second home, Home Depot. > Lastly, to achieve a potentially awesome Halloween effect, I > need to know if you can wire two dimmers together so that one > increases one light source while the other dims a different light > source simultaneously. A cheap mechanical method might be to mount two slide dimmers in a double electrical box, with one of them upside down in relation to the other. Then remove the slider knobs and make a connecting bar to the two sliders. Bill lewisw@oasys.dt.navy.mil You can beat a dead horse, but you can't make him drink. Even a blind nut gets a squirrel every once in awhile. If it's fixed, don't break it. Measure once, Cut twice. From owner-halloween-l Mon Nov 20 00:40:03 1995 Date: Sun, 19 Nov 1995 09:27:12 -0800 From: bobbyr@ix.netcom.com (Bobby Rosenberger ) Subject: Re:II Post halloween To: halloween-l@netcom.com Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Status: O X-Status: You wrote: > >How do I unsubsrice to this listserver? > If you ever want to remove yourself from this mailing list, send the following command in email to "listserv@NETCOM.COM": unsubscribe halloween-l Bobby R. From owner-halloween-l Mon Nov 20 01:08:21 1995 Date: Sun, 19 Nov 1995 09:48:10 -0800 From: bobbyr@ix.netcom.com (Bobby Rosenberger ) Subject: Party Props... (The Mausoleum) To: Halloween-L@netcom.com Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Status: RO X-Status: (This is the second attempt to post this message. I hope this one gets through!) Several halloween-l posters have asked for descriptions of some of the props I did for my party... Here's the first in what might be a series if the response is favorable. First, I'll describe the main or at least the largest prop in the basement. This was pretty inexpensive and only took an evening or two to do. The mausoleum: (ascii picture below) The whole top portion of the Mausoleum (as we came to call it) was constructed from 4'x8' sheets of styrofoam. I bought these at Home Quarters Hardware store here in town for about $5 a sheet. I used 3 sheets. I constructed the top to look pretty much like the roof of a house. Two of the sheets were cut to size to be used as the left and right sides (approx. 4'x6' each) of the top of the roof and the third sheet was used to create the front and back triangular face plates... I forget what these are called on houses. Once the pieces were cut I rolled them with a flat dark gray paint (gargoyle gray... how fitting) and assembled them with liquid nails. Then with the scrap pieces we fashioned a few decorative items for the face of the prop. The centerpiece was a carving (done with the styrofoam and a dremel - works very nice!) of an evil face I found in an old D&D book. A friend of mine is a graphic artist and he did a very nice job with the face. Then I took over... I drilled two holes where the eyes were and, from the back, inserted small lightbulbs into the holes. These lights were wired to a switch on the coffin and would light up when the coffin was opened, but more about that later. With the top complete, I moved on to the columns... for these I used two 2x4's about 6'5" long. I set them parallel to each other with a couple short pieces (about 6" long) holding them apart. (hard to describe... easy to do) After screwing it all together (screws are nice for dis-assembly) I wrapped the piece in black plastic. So, I had a column that was about 3" deep, 9" wide, and 6'5" tall. (It's worth noting that I have 9' ceilings in my basement and I am 6'4" so I wanted to make the structure as tall as possible) Then I used a stack of 2x4's (painted the same color gray) as column headers and footers (I'm sure they have proper names, but hey..) I made two columns for the front of the mausoleum and the back I affixed to the wall of my basement. For rigidity I did construct a simple square frame of 2x2's for the top part. That is basically it. I added enhancements like the lightbulb eyes in the evil face, a strobe light under the top portion, two red lights illuminating the backs of each of the columns (very nice effect), wild grapevines covering the entire structure, plus since I had 4' black light tubes I accented the grapevines with green flourencent paint. I also hung one of the excellent vampire bats sold at Johnnie Brocks kinda off center to the left and a fog machine underneath the coffin table so the fog would billow out from under it. The coffin I had made last year, I use it as a cooler for beer, soda, wine, etc, but that's another story. ^ Most of this top part / Evil \ was constructed from / face here. \ styrofoam. / Eyes were small bulbs \ ------------------------------------------ <- 2x2 frame |_____| |_____| <- column header | | About 7' | | | | <---------------------------->| | <- 2x4's wrapped | | | | with black | | __________________________ | | plastic and | | | Coffin rigged with | | | covered with | | | switch to control eyes | | | vines | | _|_________________________|_ | | | | | | | | | | | Table covered tightly with| | | _|___|_| black plastic. |_|___|_ |_____||___________________________||_____| <- column footer Hope that wasn't too long winded. Like I said, I have a couple other props I did that were fun/interesting to do and recieved very favorable responses from the folks at the party (about 100 total!). Let me know if there is any interest. Here's some of the props on my list: Bubbling brain chamber Dracula's Coffin cooler spinning-spiral wheel Warlock's brew/wall fountain Jacobs ladder (mainly its environment, since we've talked about the ladder itself) Until next time, Bobby R. From owner-halloween-l Mon Nov 20 11:27:06 1995 From: "D. Joseph Creighton" Subject: Halloween costume - tasteless, perhaps offensive To: halloween-l@netcom.com ("The Hallowe'en-ies") Date: Thu, 16 Nov 1995 13:36:46 -0600 (CST) Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Status: O X-Status: [ Hey, *I* thought it was funny, so I just had to share... :) - Joe ] } Newsgroup: rec.humor.funny } From: tja@vnet.net (Todd Anderson) } Subject: Halloween costume - tasteless, perhaps offensive } Keywords: topical, smirk, sick } Date: Wed Nov 15 11:20:08 CST 1995 } Lines: 14 } } After 3 nights of attending Halloween parties and witnessing a wide variety } of costumes, prizes, contests, etc. this costume, in my estimation, wins } hands-down in the "celebrity current events" category: } } Superman with riding boots, equestrian hat and riding crop..... } } In a wheelchair. } } heh heh heh, From owner-halloween-l Mon Nov 20 11:33:14 1995 Date: Mon, 20 Nov 1995 11:21:48 -0800 (PST) From: Don Bertino To: halloween-l@netcom.com Subject: RE: Strobe advice, 2nd. try Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Status: O X-Status: On Thu, 16 Nov 1995, D.D. wrote: Hi Denny & Stu! > This is what I did a few years ago for a museum display > I was contracted to build, maybe it'll help with your > project. I took a thick piece of acrylic sheet (plywood > would work) and drilled a hole through it that was a tight > fit on the shafts of the rotary dimmers I bought. I cut the > acrylic into a 4" diameter circle with the hole in the center > and shoved the two dimmers into the disc from either side > and mounted it all in a box. With the two dimmers facing > each other, turning the disc powers one up while the other > powers down. Of couse the disc and it's mounting box > was all polished and cleaned up so the public could use it. I have seen this done with two dimmers set next to each other, with a vacuum cleaner belt rapped around the disc's, with a twist in it. This works perfect for the Pepper's Ghost effect: ------------------------------------------------------- | | | [Side b] | | [Skelton] | | | -----------------------------\ | | \ | | \ | | [Side a] \ <-- Glass | | [living person] \ | | \ | | \ | | \ | -----------------------------| \- [Viewing area] This works great where one side is lit and the other is dark. Then, slowly there is a slow transformation as the lit side slowly dims and the dark side slowly gets brighter. don bertino@netcom.com ____/^\_____________________________________ Disney ascii art & / \ || FDC MCP || / \ animations are at <______\ [] [] [] || [] [] [] || [] [] [] /______> ftp.netcom.com ======\----------------||----------||----------------/=== /pub/be/bertino========\______________||__________||______________/===== From owner-halloween-l Mon Nov 20 14:57:06 1995 From: VickyJ1412@aol.com Date: Mon, 20 Nov 1995 16:57:51 -0500 To: halloween-l@netcom.com Subject: Re: Reply post test Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Status: O X-Status: Bill, it's obvious by your sign-off quote that you're NAVY!!!Ha!!! Just Kidding =:-) Vicky Shultz VickyJ1412@aol.com Hannibal, Missouri Wherever you go...there you are. (I learned that < first hand during 17 moves in 21 years as an Army wife ;-/ ) From owner-halloween-l Mon Nov 20 15:36:30 1995 Date: Mon, 20 Nov 95 14:49 PST To: halloween-l@netcom.com From: rbradvica@covina.lightside.com (R. Bradvica) Subject: RE: Strobe advice, 2nd. try Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Status: O X-Status: > >I have seen this done with two dimmers set next to each other, with a >vacuum cleaner belt rapped around the disc's, with a twist in it. > >This works perfect for the Pepper's Ghost effect: > >------------------------------------------------------- > | | > | [Side b] | > | [Skelton] | > | | >-----------------------------\ | >| \ | >| \ | >| [Side a] \ <-- Glass | >| [living person] \ | >| \ | >| \ | >| \ | >-----------------------------| \- > > [Viewing area] > >This works great where one side is lit and the other is dark. Then, slowly >there is a slow transformation as the lit side slowly dims and the dark >side slowly gets brighter. > We have used this effect in our haunted house several times now, but we do it on a smaller scale due to problems getting a huge piece of glass. We just cut a hole in a wall and use a skull or mask in one area and a real person in the other. we fade from the skull to the person, who then speaks. Then fade back to the skull.(this year we started with a mask, faded to the person, and switched the mask to a skull while the person was talking then faded back) For it to look good though, it must be very dark. Robert From owner-halloween-l Mon Nov 20 17:31:16 1995 From: KellyHenk@aol.com Date: Mon, 20 Nov 1995 17:53:18 -0500 To: halloween-l@netcom.com Subject: Halloween Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Status: O X-Status: Unsubscribe halloween From owner-halloween-l Mon Nov 20 18:03:18 1995 From: TonyGJr@aol.com Date: Sun, 19 Nov 1995 16:24:03 -0500 To: halloween-l@netcom.com Subject: Re: Post halloween Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Status: O X-Status: Nice little Theremin group. I was wondering if there was a schematic for a modern version using easy to find op amps and off the shelf parts? If you or anyone could make draw a schematic up and FTP site, it can help spread the notoriety... :) Tony G Coming soon: SUPERMAN-The Escape. The world's fastest and tallest rollercoaster.... From owner-halloween-l Mon Nov 20 21:50:24 1995 Date: Mon, 20 Nov 1995 01:37:33 -0800 (PST) From: "D.J. Johnson" To: Bobby Rosenberger Cc: Halloween-L@netcom.com Subject: Re: Party Props... (The Mausoleum) Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Status: O X-Status: COOL!! Thanks for detailing that. YES, I vote you continue to share your secrets. Thanks, man. Deej From owner-halloween-l Mon Nov 20 22:25:58 1995 From: "BHendrsn@kirk.microsys.net" To: halloween-l@netcom.com Date: Mon, 20 Nov 1995 02:06:03 +0000 Subject: RE: Jacob's Ladders Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Status: O X-Status: > The December issue of Electronics Now Magazine has > plans and schematics for a Jacob's Ladder that doesn't use > a neon sign transformer. The article also includes sources > for parts and rough plans for a protective housing. > It seems like an over-complication of the simpler sign > transformer version but could be fun to build if someone > enjoys the electronics hobby. I saw that in the bookstore and all I could say is "Why the heck spend all that money when you could do the same thing with a $5 neon transformer and two clothes hangers?" -Brian From owner-halloween-l Mon Nov 20 22:50:21 1995 Date: Mon, 20 Nov 1995 03:02:03 -0800 To: halloween-l@netcom.com From: Martha Sapeta Subject: Re: Party Props... (The Mausoleum) Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Status: O X-Status: I'd be interested in hearing about all of the following props! >Bubbling brain chamber >Dracula's Coffin cooler >spinning-spiral wheel >Warlock's brew/wall fountain >Jacobs ladder (mainly its environment, since we've talked about >the ladder itself) Thanks! Love, Martha ****************************************************************************** Tragedy is when I cut my finger -- Comedy is when you walk into an open sewer and die. -- Mel Brooks --- The scribblings of Martha, the semi-mystical (but not on Fridays) --- WALLABALOOMBA! -- Adam Ant ****************************************************************************** From owner-halloween-l Mon Nov 20 23:09:47 1995 Date: Mon, 20 Nov 95 06:24:54 EST To: halloween-l@netcom.com From: lewisw@oasys.dt.navy.mil (Bill Lewis) Subject: Re: Party Props... (The Mausoleum) Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Status: O X-Status: >The mausoleum: (ascii picture below) > >back triangular face plates... I forget what these are called on >houses. gables >same color gray) as column headers and footers (I'm sure they >have proper names, but hey..) bases, and capitals >Hope that wasn't too long winded. Nope, good description! 2 questions though, How thick was the sytrofoam, and did you distress it any? >Like I said, I have a couple >other props I did that were fun/interesting to do and recieved >very favorable responses from the folks at the party (about >100 total!). Let me know if there is any interest. I'm always interested in hearing about these things. I'm sure most everyone else will be too. >Here's some of the props on my list: > >Bubbling brain chamber >Dracula's Coffin cooler >spinning-spiral wheel >Warlock's brew/wall fountain >Jacobs ladder (mainly its environment, since we've talked about >the ladder itself) Well they all sound worthy of writing up! How about pictures? Bill lewisw@oasys.dt.navy.mil You can beat a dead horse, but you can't make him drink. Even a blind nut gets a squirrel every once in awhile. If it's fixed, don't break it. Measure once, Cut twice. From owner-halloween-l Tue Nov 21 03:33:18 1995 From: TonyGJr@aol.com Date: Sun, 19 Nov 1995 16:45:42 -0500 To: halloween-l@netcom.com Subject: Re: Here's a unique idea Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Status: O X-Status: For opening doors, we used small garage door openers :) From owner-halloween-l Tue Nov 21 03:56:08 1995 From: TonyGJr@aol.com Date: Sun, 19 Nov 1995 16:27:34 -0500 To: halloween-l@netcom.com Subject: Re: Post halloween Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Status: O X-Status: Christmas is lots of funb all its own. We have a whole neighborhood that dresses up out here (Los Angeles-Redondo Beach area). Buyt Halloween is always dearf to my heart, whether it's thinking up ne4w tricks or composing scary music tracks to us....Always keep the Halloween spirit alive, and hopefully we can trade ideas all year long to make next years Halloween that much more fun! Tony G From owner-halloween-l Tue Nov 21 08:07:43 1995 Date: Tue, 21 Nov 95 07:28 PST To: halloween-l@netcom.com From: rbradvica@covina.lightside.com (R. Bradvica) Subject: Re: Party Props... (The Mausoleum) Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Status: O X-Status: > With the top complete, I moved on to the >columns... for these I used two 2x4's about 6'5" long. I set them >parallel to each other with a couple short pieces (about 6" long) >holding them apart. (hard to describe... easy to do) After screwing >it all together (screws are nice for dis-assembly) I wrapped the >piece in black plastic. So, I had a column that was about 3" deep, >9" wide, and 6'5" tall. another option for columns is to contact your local carpet dealer they should have some empty rools that they could give you. >Bubbling brain chamber >Dracula's Coffin cooler >spinning-spiral wheel >Warlock's brew/wall fountain >Jacobs ladder (mainly its environment, since we've talked about >the ladder itself) > and of course we want to hear more. why else would be talking of decorating for halloween in november! robert From owner-halloween-l Tue Nov 21 12:35:06 1995 Date: Tue, 21 Nov 1995 11:26:42 -0800 (PST) From: Don Bertino To: halloween-l@netcom.com Subject: Re: Halloween Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Status: O X-Status: On Mon, 20 Nov 1995 KellyHenk@aol.com wrote: > Unsubscribe halloween Please do not send unsubscribe messages to the list. To unsubscribe send messages to listserv@netcom.com with: unsubscribe halloween-l in the body. don bertino@netcom.com ____/^\_____________________________________ Disney ascii art & / \ || FDC MCP || / \ animations are at <______\ [] [] [] || [] [] [] || [] [] [] /______> ftp.netcom.com ======\----------------||----------||----------------/=== /pub/be/bertino========\______________||__________||______________/===== From owner-halloween-l Wed Nov 22 10:46:12 1995 Date: Wed, 22 Nov 1995 10:36:53 -0800 (PST) From: Don Bertino To: halloween-l@netcom.com Subject: Season Greetings Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Status: O X-Status: Hi All! Happy thanksgiving everybody! Here's to Netcom going down this weekend and putting in new mail servers, faster backbones and other goodies :) don bertino@netcom.com ____/^\_____________________________________ Disney ascii art & / \ || FDC MCP || / \ animations are at <______\ [] [] [] || [] [] [] || [] [] [] /______> ftp.netcom.com ======\----------------||----------||----------------/=== /pub/be/bertino========\______________||__________||______________/===== From owner-halloween-l Thu Nov 23 18:46:58 1995 Date: Tue, 21 Nov 1995 12:38:00 -0800 From: milwiron@ix.netcom.com (D.D. ) Subject: Re: Party Props... (The Mausoleum) To: halloween-l@netcom.com Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Status: O X-Status: You wrote: >> With the top complete, I moved on to the >>columns... for these I used two 2x4's about 6'5" long. I set them >>parallel to each other with a couple short pieces (about 6" long) >>holding them apart. (hard to describe... easy to do) After screwing >and of course we want to hear more. why else would be talking of decorating >for halloween in november! > >robert Well shoot! This sure sounds like a great thread. Would somebody please send me the original post that started it? I don't seem to have received it. Denny From owner-halloween-l Thu Nov 23 19:54:24 1995 From: Michael Worth To: "'Halloween Forum'" Subject: Eyes peering out from bushes or dark places... Date: Mon, 20 Nov 1995 23:54:43 -0700 Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Status: O X-Status: >Wire 2 LEDs together with a serial resistor of about 1K. Wire this whole >shebang into a 9V battery clip. Tape up the connections, make sure you uise >bright LEDs. They make great eyes peering out from bushes or dark places... How about a little schematic for those of us "equal opportunity" electricians? Michael Worth From owner-halloween-l Thu Nov 23 20:01:10 1995 From: TheLazer@aol.com Date: Mon, 20 Nov 1995 15:06:17 -0500 To: halloween-l@netcom.com Subject: Re: Hmm Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Status: O X-Status: Noting like a good ol Earthquake, to scare the little kiddies! Jay From owner-halloween-l Thu Nov 23 20:30:48 1995 Date: Tue, 21 Nov 1995 00:09:24 -0700 From: Lauren Jones To: halloween-l@netcom.com Subject: Re: Re[2]: Being humbled at Halloween decorating -Reply Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com -Reply Status: O X-Status: Bill Lewis 11/13/95 06:49am writes: >So far, I've noticed two other DC-commuting-area folks on this >list. Next year I'm going to have to try to scope out your >houses! > Do it! Remind me next year to give you directions. Plus, let me know if there are any other great displays in the area! ====================== I think I'll start a catalogue of private haunted houses to visit in the DC area! I haven't done mine in awhile, but you guys... One at the corner of Brookville and Thornapple in Chevy Chase, MD is still going strong. It's all on the inside--visual and sound both--so you have to know about it beforehand or run up and down the street until you see the line forming. I always did in and out, and always had SFX blaring out of the upstairs windows. A couple of weeks before Halloween, I set up a silhouette of a ruined mansion in my picture window with a witch flying over it, and that let people know ahead of time that we were going to be on that year. If you don't have anything outside, maybe you ought to try that to attract people. I live on a major highway, and I had people sitting on benches outside waiting to get in. From owner-halloween-l Thu Nov 23 22:29:17 1995 From: RoboJay@aol.com Date: Tue, 21 Nov 1995 19:04:25 -0500 To: halloween-l@netcom.com Subject: Re: Halloween costume - tasteless, perhaps offensive Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Status: O X-Status: } After 3 nights of attending Halloween parties and witnessing a wide variety } of costumes, prizes, contests, etc. this costume, in my estimation, wins } hands-down in the "celebrity current events" category: } } Superman with riding boots, equestrian hat and riding crop..... } } In a wheelchair. } } heh heh heh, Brilliant! Hilarious! Totally tasteless! My kind of costume! At the Halloween party I attended, one woman came as Nichole Brown Simpson. She wore a blonde wig and had red makeup all over her throat. In addition, one man came all dressed in black and wielding a toy knife. He was the "real killer." Nyark, nyark, nyark. From owner-halloween-l Thu Nov 23 22:47:56 1995 From: "BHendrsn@kirk.microsys.net" To: halloween-l@netcom.com Date: Tue, 21 Nov 1995 01:08:52 +0000 Subject: Re: Re[2]: Being humbled at Halloween decorating Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Status: O X-Status: > Wire 2 LEDs together with a serial resistor of about 1K. Wire this whole > shebang into a 9V battery clip. Tape up the connections, make sure you uise > bright LEDs. They make great eyes peering out from bushes or dark places... You don't really need to use the resistor, you can just wire battery clip to LED to LED to battery clip. Just make sure that you match your positives and negatives, it does make a difference when you're wiring. -Brian From owner-halloween-l Thu Nov 23 22:48:04 1995 Date: Tue, 21 Nov 1995 20:38:19 -0700 From: Lauren Jones To: halloween-l@netcom.com, lewisw@oasys.dt.navy.mil Subject: Mausoleum on the Cheap! Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Status: O X-Status: The year we did "The Twilight Zone" we used corrugated cardboard to create a facade consisting of lintels and capital (I think I have that right!) that we simply painted to look like stone and tied in pieces to the front of the awning supports over my tiny front porch. The ubiquitous black plastic lined the thing. Cheap and easy, and it looked better than it sounds (and yes, the name "carved" over the door was "Serling"...) We had an actor in a trench coat as your guide doing Rod Serling imitations, the theme went off when you went through the mausoleum, a glowing "Twilight Zone" logo lit up the picture window, and that was the year I caught on fire (no injuries). From owner-halloween-l Thu Nov 23 22:51:19 1995 From: Stuart_McIntire_at_AISDC@ccsmtp.uage.com Date: Mon, 20 Nov 95 15:38:15 EST To: halloween-l@netcom.com Subject: Re[2]: Strobe advice, 2nd. try Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Status: O X-Status: ______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________ Subject: RE: Strobe advice, 2nd. try Author: halloween-l@netcom.com at Internet Date: 11/20/95 2:55 PM Don wrote: (earlier stuff deleted): >I have seen this done with two dimmers set next to each other, with a >vacuum cleaner belt rapped around the disc's, with a twist in it. >This works perfect for the Pepper's Ghost effect: ----------------------------------------------------- | | | [Side b] | | [Skelton] | | | -----------------------------\ | | \ | | \ | | [Side a] \ <-- Glass | | [living person] \ | | \ | | \ | | \ | -----------------------------| \- [Viewing area] >This works great where one side is lit and the other is dark. Then, >slowly there is a slow transformation as the lit side slowly dims and the >dark side slowly gets brighter. Don! You are too, too awesome! This is EXACTLY the effect I'd like to achieve - illustrated perfectly! Now you've got me curious...what is the origin of the "Pepper's Ghost" you mentioned? I know Disney uses this effect (and/or variations of this effect) at the Haunted Mansion. Is Pepper's Ghost a Disney creation? BTW, as I think I mentioned previously, I learned this effect from a book bought many moons ago titled How To Run A Financially Successful Haunted House by Phillip Morris. I've seen this book in three incarnations. The first was a spiral bound book (my copy is dog eared big time). The second was a perfect bound book. The third was the same perfect bound version sold in a box with an illustration of a haunted house. It came with a tube of vam- pire blood and spider webbing (spider included, natch). This third version was on the shelves at Doubleday Bookstore locally. (The book does a great job of describing effects used at the Haunted Mansion - including the Haunted Ballroom and the face that appears between the spectators in the car. It also shows an effect used by Tod Browning so many years ago in one of his flicks. I'm not sure which one - Freaks maybe. It is shown in the book Monster Show. It depicts a Spider Lady...a human head on a spider body). Anyhoo, thanks a bundle, Don. As I said, the picture is perfect! *** An aside to Bill Lewis *** Bill, if we do the haunted house next year, we HAVE to find a way to make this work! - Stu [ stuart.mcintire@uage.com ] From owner-halloween-l Thu Nov 23 22:56:52 1995 From: bhayes@student.umass.edu Date: Mon, 20 Nov 1995 12:22:40 -0500 Subject: Re: Terror on Church Street To: halloween-l@netcom.com Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Status: O X-Status: On Wed, 15 Nov 1995 TheLazer@aol.com wrote: > Could you speak more about the Church St thing.. I would like to know about > some of there effects and stuff > > Jay Geez..there is soo much to tell.. I really get tired of typing alot, so I will make it brief. You go in as groups of 10 or so...everyone forms a straigt line and holds on the the person in front of them. One person, the bravest one, is asked to go first. There are so many different rooms, I can't remember the order, but I will tell about a few. One room was a scene from the exorcist. As you walk in you see a girl writhing in a bed, suddently, as you walk by, she lases out at you, just barely missing you. One hallway has a staircase and as you walk by it, "Mother" from Psycho comes rolling down the stairs in a wheelchair. One room is really a prison cell, with a masked man mumbeling behind the bars ( Hannibal Lector). As you walk by he suddenly rips the bars away and runs at you.... At one point you come to the middle of the house....there are a bunch of coffins standing around, with bodies in them, they are obviously dummies. Suddenly a man appears and says that you have reached the middle and if you wish to leave, do so now... You are told of a witch that will not let you survive the house unless you give her something....you will just have to see what happens... At the end you are confrnted by leatherface....armed with a chainsaw...he chases you out the door...perfect photo moment for anyone waiting.... You end up in the gift shop where you can buy tons of horror mamoribilia.... Hope that helps.... Bri :) Brian Hayes University of Massachussetts Hotel, Restaurant, and Travel Administration bhayes@student.umass.edu visit my homepage at: http://www-vms.oit.umass.edu/~bhayes/index.html ******************************************************************************** "Am I a good man? Am I a madman? It's such a fine line between a good man and a bad...." ******************************************************************************** From owner-halloween-l Fri Nov 24 15:54:17 1995 From: "BHendrsn@kirk.microsys.net" To: halloween-l@netcom.com Date: Fri, 24 Nov 1995 00:44:24 +0000 Subject: Re: Eyes peering out from bushes or dark places... Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Status: O X-Status: > >Wire 2 LEDs together with a serial resistor of about 1K. Wire this whole > >shebang into a 9V battery clip. Tape up the connections, make sure you uise > >bright LEDs. They make great eyes peering out from bushes or dark places... > > How about a little schematic for those of us "equal opportunity" electricians? Very simple. Go down to Radio Shack or wherever and buy a pair of LEDs (about .99 for a pair of red or greens) and a pack of 9V battery clips (around $1.49 for a pack of 6). Each of the LEDs have a long leg and a short leg. Match the LEDs in serial (battery wire ->long leg -> short leg -> battery wire). Either solder, electrical tape or wire screw these together and plug in a 9V battery. Works great. BTW: Offhand, I don't remember which direction the power flows through the LEDs as far as the long leg/short leg, so try it before you solder the battery clip in place. If it doesn't work, reverse the clip wires. It's quick, it's cheap and pretty well disposable. You can also go pretty wild with different kinds of LEDs. There are blinking lights available, different sizes, etc. and you're pretty well limited only by your imagination. -Brian From owner-halloween-l Fri Nov 24 16:14:35 1995 From: "BHendrsn@kirk.microsys.net" To: halloween-l@netcom.com Date: Fri, 24 Nov 1995 00:44:26 +0000 Subject: Re: Re[2]: Strobe advice, 2nd. try Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Status: O X-Status: > BTW, as I think I mentioned previously, I learned this effect > from a book bought many moons ago titled How To Run A Financially > Successful Haunted House by Phillip Morris. I've seen this book > in three incarnations. The first was a spiral bound book (my > copy is dog eared big time). The second was a perfect bound book. > The third was the same perfect bound version sold in a box with > an illustration of a haunted house. It came with a tube of vam- > pire blood and spider webbing (spider included, natch). This > third version was on the shelves at Doubleday Bookstore locally. I'd love to find this book. Would you have the ISBN? If it isn't available in the stores, I'd love to try to order it. > Bill, if we do the haunted house next year, we HAVE to find > a way to make this work! I would absolutely love to hook up with people in Southern California and see if we could arrange a *HUGE* haunted house for next year. If everything goes well (cross your fingers everyone), we'll have a nice big old house with a barn in the back that we can deck out as a professional haunted house. I can do it myself. I'd prefer not to. ;) -Brian From owner-halloween-l Sun Nov 26 02:18:42 1995 Date: Sat, 25 Nov 95 08:45 PST To: halloween-l@netcom.com From: rbradvica@covina.lightside.com (R. Bradvica) Subject: Re: Re[2]: Strobe advice, 2nd. try Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Status: O X-Status: > >I'd love to find this book. Would you have the ISBN? If it isn't >available in the stores, I'd love to try to order it. > isbn: 0-911137-11-4 it's a paperback put out by imagine inc. you can get it from tombstone prods on the net but don't expect to pay the 9.95 cover price. try the book store first. robert rbradvica@lightside.com From owner-halloween-l Sun Nov 26 03:15:06 1995 Date: Sat, 25 Nov 95 08:41 PST To: halloween-l@netcom.com From: rbradvica@covina.lightside.com (R. Bradvica) Subject: Re: How To Run A Financially Successful Haunted House Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Status: O X-Status: >...i love holoween and would like to some day open a " house". >i have a good working knowledge of the artistic and technical aspects ,( hell >if you cant make it out of foam , tape, and fiberglass... it cant be made ! ) >but im lost , when it comes to the business end of things... i am wondering >if the book "How To Run A Financially Successful Haunted House" by Phillip >Morris. is a worth getting ? i would love to hear from anyone who has it, or >who could recomend another book or two on the subject. would also like to >hear from anyone who has run a " financially succesfull" house. the book is a pretty good source of info and works really well as a check list to see that everything necessary is getting done. i've seen other book on the subject but this on e seems the best. here is some of the stuff covered... CHAP 1 how to make money sale of tickets concessions other services CHAP 2 how to find a location getting people to help organization chart CHAP 3 a first class attraction floor plan costumes CHAP 4 legal and safety precautions check list CHAP 5 how to advertise clip art hype list TV copy radio copy press stories press photos CHAP 6 room designs(approx 55 pgs. some great ideas and some that might inspire great ideas) CHAP 7 make it fun one liners sick jokes epitaphs skip this chapter!!! CHAP 8 easy costume guide rubber masks CHAP 9 make up easy guide professional clown make up(for those evil clowns!!!) that's the toc. if you see anything that interests you send me an e-mail and i'll elaborate if i can. also we have been doing "houses" for 5 years now. and they get more successful year after year. both financially and terror wise. it is very expensive at first to buy all of the props and building materials. but reusing these thing helps and stuff does seem to accumulate very fast. we have a huge storage facility filled to the roof with props after just those 5 years. also making plans for your house way in advance also helps so you can spread out purchases through out the year and look for thing at garage sales and such. > i would like to find a good >(visual) source of information, regarding devices of torture...i enjoy >building " sick" props ...do plans exist ???? you pretty much just need to get a book with torture devices in it and build them by looking at the pictures. i'm still trying to find someone with a background in magic to help me build a working guillotine!!! > >Ldwarf@aol.com. > i hope that some of this long message helped. robert rbradvica@lightside.com From owner-halloween-l Mon Nov 27 04:53:50 1995 From: Ldwarf@aol.com Date: Sun, 26 Nov 1995 17:16:59 -0500 To: halloween-l@netcom.com Subject: Re: How To Run A Financially Successful Haunted House Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Status: O X-Status: thanks for the help, ill look for the book. what location of the country are you in? how much does it cost to get started the first year? is your house run for profit... does it do well... ie: do you make the big bucks? what sort of help do you need w/ the guillotine ? Scott From owner-halloween-l Mon Nov 27 05:02:44 1995 From: TonyGJr@aol.com Date: Sun, 26 Nov 1995 16:23:50 -0500 To: halloween-l@netcom.com Subject: Re: Re[2]: Being humbled at Halloween decorating Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Status: O X-Status: Brian, the resistor makes all the diference if you want eyes peering at you or if you want one shot strobe lights... Seriously, the resistor is not needed if you use small lamps. The design is for LEDs which DO require the resistor. Besides, with the resistor, they will last much longer.... :) Tony G From owner-halloween-l Mon Nov 27 15:35:07 1995 Date: Mon, 27 Nov 1995 15:18:26 -0800 (PST) From: Don Bertino To: halloween-l@netcom.com Subject: Re: Re[2]: Strobe advice, 2nd. try Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Status: O X-Status: On Mon, 20 Nov 1995 Stuart_McIntire_at_AISDC@ccsmtp.uage.com wrote: > >This works perfect for the Pepper's Ghost effect: > > ----------------------------------------------------- > | | > | [Side b] | > | [Skelton] | > | | > -----------------------------\ | > | \ | > | \ | > | [Side a] \ <-- Glass | > | [living person] \ | > | \ | > | \ | > | \ | > -----------------------------| \- > > [Viewing area] > > >This works great where one side is lit and the other is dark. Then, > >slowly there is a slow transformation as the lit side slowly dims and the > >dark side slowly gets brighter. > > Don! You are too, too awesome! This is EXACTLY the effect > I'd like to achieve - illustrated perfectly! > > Now you've got me curious...what is the origin of the "Pepper's > Ghost" you mentioned? I know Disney uses this effect (and/or > variations of this effect) at the Haunted Mansion. Is Pepper's > Ghost a Disney creation? Pepper's Ghost has been around since before the 1880's, using differant lighting techniques. I have heard of a great book called "The Boy Wonder" which was published in the 1900's, of which I would *die* for a copy, which details alot of effects of the stage in the late 1800's. This book was used for the most of the effects in the Haunted Mansion. > BTW, as I think I mentioned previously, I learned this effect > from a book bought many moons ago titled How To Run A Financially > Successful Haunted House by Phillip Morris. I've seen this book > in three incarnations. The first was a spiral bound book (my > copy is dog eared big time). The second was a perfect bound book. > The third was the same perfect bound version sold in a box with > an illustration of a haunted house. It came with a tube of vam- > pire blood and spider webbing (spider included, natch). This > third version was on the shelves at Doubleday Bookstore locally. Yes, this book is wonderful. I bought it when I worked in a Magic Shop while going to College. But thats another story.... :) > Anyhoo, thanks a bundle, Don. As I said, the picture is perfect! Sure, no problem. don bertino@netcom.com ____/^\_____________________________________ Disney ascii art & / \ || FDC MCP || / \ animations are at <______\ [] [] [] || [] [] [] || [] [] [] /______> ftp.netcom.com ======\----------------||----------||----------------/=== /pub/be/bertino========\______________||__________||______________/===== From owner-halloween-l Tue Nov 28 03:17:17 1995 From: TonyGJr@aol.com Date: Sun, 26 Nov 1995 16:20:17 -0500 To: halloween-l@netcom.com Subject: Re: Eyes peering out from bushes or dark places... Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Status: O X-Status: On the schematic, it is fairly simple. (since I'm using a #!@$%&^%^& piece of @#%^&#$^&* ou;here, I cannot draw it so well, but here it goes: ----/\/\/\/\ ----|<---|<--- | | -------- (-) Battery (+)---- The resistor should be 470 ohms, and the LEDs are foward biased. It's a simple series circuit. (since this $%^^&&#^ machine is doing proportional fonts, it may not line up :(