letters!) karen p cproctor@flash.net From owner-halloween-l@majordomo.netcom.com Sat Jan 18 19:16:01 1997 Date: Sat, 18 Jan 1997 21:11:42 -0600 (CST) From: John Dolan To: halloween-l@netcom.com Subject: bodies Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Kathy, I personally have had mixed results with high school students. Some have worked out wonderfully but overall I found the re- liability factor to be pretty low. You didn't mention whether you were looking for actors or help with sets,prop building etc. One area I have had exteremely good luck finding help with both actors and scenic work is at the college/university drama departments. I'm fortunate enough to live in an area with both a large state university and a small liberal arts college that each have a drama dept. They tend to be not only extermely talented but they are also looking for any opportunity to gain outside experience to list on their resumes. I've especially had luck with make-up students who have created some fantastic looking monsters. Unlike normal volunteers they don't seem to mind spending a hour or more to make-up their costumes. JD jdolan@titan.iwu.edu From owner-halloween-l@majordomo.netcom.com Sat Jan 18 19:21:20 1997 Date: Wed, 15 Jan 1997 11:47:09 -0800 From: Michael Marcrum To: halloween-l@netcom.com Subject: Re: Coffins Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Jacqui, I can just see the person now that takes that order. " And when did your husband pass on" "Oh, he is not dead" " why the coffin than, if I may ask?" " I need it for later, when I put him in it" OK< I am interested where do you order a coffin from?? Kathy the new kid on the crypt mmarcrum@ix.netcom.com From owner-halloween-l@majordomo.netcom.com Sat Jan 18 19:47:39 1997 Date: Sat, 18 Jan 1997 19:35:26 -0800 From: Spook To: halloween-l@netcom.com Subject: Re: bodies Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Our House runs with 135 volunteers. When you need that many bodies, you have to be creative. Here in California, High School Juniors and Seniors are required to put in community service hours. We just contact the High School and let them know we're available. They do the rest. This year, we had to turn volunteers away. Mark From owner-halloween-l@majordomo.netcom.com Sat Jan 18 20:48:11 1997 Date: Sat, 18 Jan 1997 23:36:58 -0500 From: Allan Clifford To: halloween-l@netcom.com Subject: Bodies...Bodies...and more Bodies! Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com I need some suggestions with this inanimate bodies for our haunted event. Each year we manufacture bodies out of chicken wire including the arms, legs, and torso to use in different scenes. For instance in the graveyard, these bodies are dressed in old tattered suits/dresses sitting in chairs looking toward a casket in a funeral scene. Another will have cenobites (creatures from the Hellraiser movies) in different poses throughout a scene, and so on. My problem is finding something, if there is something, that would be better to use than this. Here are some pros and cons to the chicken wire frame: PROS: Cheap!, easy to pose, weatherproof, realistic looking if made correctly. CONS: Storing tends to flatten them, time consuming to make I am looking for alternatives since I need 40-50 of these this year. What does everyone else use???? Tell me your idea's with pros and cons. Thanks, Allan Clifford Nightmare Forest..."Experience The Fear" From owner-halloween-l@majordomo.netcom.com Sat Jan 18 23:57:19 1997 Date: 19 Jan 1997 07:49:25 -0000 From: "kreig denniston" To: dejay@midwest.net, halloween-l@netcom.com Subject: Re: greetings Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com >From owner-halloween-l@majordomo.netcom.com Sat Jan 18 11:02:37 1997 >Received: by majordomo.netcom.com (8.7.5/8.7.3/(NETCOM MLS v1.01)) id XAA02967; Fri, 17 Jan 1997 23:16:03 -0800 (PST) >Message-ID: >Date: Sat, 18 Jan 1997 01:17:04 -0800 >From: DJ >X-Mailer: Mozilla 3.0 (Win95; U) >MIME-Version: 1.0 >To: halloween-l@netcom.com >Subject: Re: greetings >References: >Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii >Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit >Sender: owner-halloween-l@majordomo.netcom.com >Errors-To: owner-halloween-l@majordomo.netcom.com >Precedence: bulk >Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com >John Dolan wrote: > >> Seriously though my name is J.D. and I am the producer of a >> quasi-professional haunted house in central ILL. > >Hi, J.D.! Welcome to the list. Central IL, you say? We may be >semi-neighbors. I'm in Olney, home of the albino squirrels. (Now >that's something *really* scarey!) Ever heard of it? > >We're glad to have you on board. So... why don't you tell us about your >"quasi-professional" haunt? Details... we want details! (Please?) > >Regards, >DJ, who's glad to know she's not the only ghoul in the state > Hey DJ, You want to know what's scary? I once saw an albino armadillo. Now that was scary!! BOO!!! Kreig Denniston (cybervampyre@hotmail.com) , formerly Craig Denniston (csdenniston@juno.com) --------------------------------------------------------- Get Your *Web-Based* Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com --------------------------------------------------------- From owner-halloween-l@majordomo.netcom.com Sun Jan 19 02:12:07 1997 Date: Sun, 19 Jan 1997 04:04:57 -0600 To: halloween-l@netcom.com From: Annette Hermanek Subject: Stupid Fuck Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com 19 JAN 97 4:00 AM Quit writting this address or I'll rip it out through you ass-hole. You stupid fuck!!! At 07:49 AM 1/19/97 -0000, you wrote: > >>From owner-halloween-l@majordomo.netcom.com Sat Jan 18 11:02:37 1997 >>Received: by majordomo.netcom.com (8.7.5/8.7.3/(NETCOM MLS v1.01)) id >XAA02967; Fri, 17 Jan 1997 23:16:03 -0800 (PST) >>Message-ID: >>Date: Sat, 18 Jan 1997 01:17:04 -0800 >>From: DJ >>X-Mailer: Mozilla 3.0 (Win95; U) >>MIME-Version: 1.0 >>To: halloween-l@netcom.com >>Subject: Re: greetings >>References: >>Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii >>Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit >>Sender: owner-halloween-l@majordomo.netcom.com >>Errors-To: owner-halloween-l@majordomo.netcom.com >>Precedence: bulk >>Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com >>John Dolan wrote: >> >>> Seriously though my name is J.D. and I am the producer of a >>> quasi-professional haunted house in central ILL. >> >>Hi, J.D.! Welcome to the list. Central IL, you say? We may be >>semi-neighbors. I'm in Olney, home of the albino squirrels. (Now >>that's something *really* scarey!) Ever heard of it? >> >>We're glad to have you on board. So... why don't you tell us about your >>"quasi-professional" haunt? Details... we want details! (Please?) >> >>Regards, >>DJ, who's glad to know she's not the only ghoul in the state >> >Hey DJ, > You want to know what's scary? I once saw an albino armadillo. >Now that was scary!! > > BOO!!! > Kreig Denniston (cybervampyre@hotmail.com) , > formerly Craig Denniston >(csdenniston@juno.com) > >--------------------------------------------------------- >Get Your *Web-Based* Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com >--------------------------------------------------------- > From owner-halloween-l@majordomo.netcom.com Sun Jan 19 02:14:06 1997 Date: Sun, 19 Jan 1997 04:02:25 -0600 To: halloween-l@netcom.com From: Annette Hermanek Subject: Listen Fuck! Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com 19 JAN 97 4:00AM Quit writting this adress or I'll rip your ass-hole out through your mouth. You stupid Fuck!!! At 11:36 PM 1/18/97 -0500, you wrote: >I need some suggestions with this inanimate bodies for our haunted >event. Each year we manufacture bodies out of chicken wire including the >arms, legs, and torso to use in different scenes. For instance in the >graveyard, these bodies are dressed in old tattered suits/dresses >sitting in chairs looking toward a casket in a funeral scene. Another >will have cenobites (creatures from the Hellraiser movies) in different >poses throughout a scene, and so on. My problem is finding something, if >there is something, that would be better to use than this. Here are some >pros and cons to the chicken wire frame: > >PROS: Cheap!, easy to pose, weatherproof, realistic looking if made >correctly. >CONS: Storing tends to flatten them, time consuming to make > >I am looking for alternatives since I need 40-50 of these this year. > >What does everyone else use???? Tell me your idea's with pros and cons. > >Thanks, > >Allan Clifford >Nightmare Forest..."Experience The Fear" > From owner-halloween-l@majordomo.netcom.com Sun Jan 19 04:40:59 1997 From: milwiron@btprod.com Date: Sun, 19 Jan 1997 06:31:25 -0600 To: halloween-l@netcom.com Subject: Re: Listen F! Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com At 04:02 AM 1/19/97 -0600, you wrote: >19 JAN 97 >4:00AM > > Quit writting this adress or I'll rip your ass-hole out through your >mouth. You stupid F!!! Hi All, What a pleasant surprise at 5:00 in the morning. I've gone ahead and unsubscribed this address. Don, sorry I jumped in and did the unsubscribe, but it was early and I figured it needed to be done. Besides, it's the most fun I had all weekend. :) Denny B.T. Productions' Terror By Design Haunt Supplies & Scare Wares From owner-halloween-l@majordomo.netcom.com Sun Jan 19 09:13:40 1997 From: "David Janoskie" To: halloween-l@netcom.com Date: Sun, 19 Jan 1997 12:07:25 +0000 Subject: Places for Haunt? Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Hi Everybody! It's 10 degrees here in Falls Church, VA, and I don't particularly care to be outside. So, I decided to do some catching up work inside. I've been on the WWW today and I looked at Halloween Productions page ( htttp:// www.halloweenproductions.com ) and I noticed they sell complete portable haunts. At $37,000 for the simplest setup, this is a little out of my price range right now, but I was wondering if others out there would have any suggestions on securing a site for a haunt. I was thinking of going to realtors and looking for a fix-upper house for rental and trying to rent it for maybe a month or so for the purpose of holding the haunt there, but I don't know if that would be a good idea or not. Anyway, I have been following the thread of getting enough actors for the haunt and I would definitely contact the drama department of the area colleges and also if there are any local theatre groups, that may be another source of actors. Thanks for any suggestions. David Janoskie djan@erols.com "There is no terror in a bang, only in the anticipation of it." Alfred Hitchcock From owner-halloween-l@majordomo.netcom.com Sun Jan 19 09:52:58 1997 Date: Sun, 19 Jan 1997 09:39:20 -0800 From: Bob Andrews To: halloween-l@netcom.com Subject: Re: Listen F! Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com milwiron@btprod.com wrote: > > At 04:02 AM 1/19/97 -0600, you wrote: > >19 JAN 97 > >4:00AM > > > > Quit writting this adress or I'll rip your ass-hole out through your > >mouth. You stupid F!!! > > Hi All, > What a pleasant surprise at 5:00 in the morning. > I've gone ahead and unsubscribed this address. > > Don, sorry I jumped in and did the unsubscribe, but it was early and I > figured it needed to be done. Besides, it's the most fun I had all weekend. :) > Denny > What a relief it was sent to the Halloween list. For one brief horrifying moment I thought my sister found my email address. -- Bob Andrews bandrews@inreach.com http://www.anaserve.com/~BoBandrews From owner-halloween-l@majordomo.netcom.com Sun Jan 19 11:03:39 1997 Date: Sun, 19 Jan 1997 14:46:56 -0800 From: "K. Long" To: halloween-l@netcom.com Subject: Re: Places for Haunt? Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com David Janoskie wrote: > > Hi Everybody! > > It's 10 degrees here in Falls Church, VA, and I don't particularly care to be > outside. So, I decided to do some catching up work inside. > I've been on the WWW today and I looked at Halloween Productions page > ( http://www.halloweenproductions.com ) and I noticed they sell complete > portable haunts. At $37,000 for the simplest setup, this is a little out of my Hi David, Don't know if this will help you or not. I have been looking into putting up one of those all metal homes you see advertised in some of the magazines, for a haunted house. I was talking with the folks at Wolf Studios and he mentioned that if he ever put up another Haunted house he would use one of those buildings. Just a thought, Keith From owner-halloween-l@majordomo.netcom.com Sun Jan 19 11:10:59 1997 From: Jacqueline Young To: "'halloween-l@netcom.com'" , "'Michael Marcrum'" Subject: RE: Coffins Date: Sun, 19 Jan 1997 13:54:45 -0500 Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Actually I'm having a friend build it for me. Somehow I think if I tried to order a real one the cost would be a bit high. Still the friend and I were talking about it in the elevator at work and we did get some rather strange looks. Sadly we both enjoyed it. Jacqui ---------- From: Michael Marcrum[SMTP:mmarcrum@ix.netcom.com] Sent: Wednesday, January 15, 1997 2:47 PM To: halloween-l@netcom.com Subject: Re: Coffins Jacqui, I can just see the person now that takes that order. " And when did your husband pass on" "Oh, he is not dead" " why the coffin than, if I may ask?" " I need it for later, when I put him in it" OK< I am interested where do you order a coffin from?? Kathy the new kid on the crypt mmarcrum@ix.netcom.com From owner-halloween-l@majordomo.netcom.com Sun Jan 19 11:11:00 1997 From: Jacqueline Young To: "'halloween-l@netcom.com'" , "'milwiron@btprod.com'" Subject: RE: Listen F! Date: Sun, 19 Jan 1997 13:54:35 -0500 Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Thanks Denny, I was curious as to how he managed to get back on the list. I'm sure we all appreciate the prompt action Jacqui Hi All, What a pleasant surprise at 5:00 in the morning. I've gone ahead and unsubscribed this address. Don, sorry I jumped in and did the unsubscribe, but it was early and I figured it needed to be done. Besides, it's the most fun I had all weekend. :) Denny B.T. Productions' Terror By Design Haunt Supplies & Scare Wares From owner-halloween-l@majordomo.netcom.com Sun Jan 19 11:38:47 1997 Date: Wed, 15 Jan 1997 17:05:26 -0800 From: Michael Marcrum To: halloween-l@netcom.com Subject: Re: bodies Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Hey Mark, I did not know that we here in foggy Calif. had community service for the high school kids. As soon as this cast is off I will have to start looking into the local schools. Thanks for the idea!! Kathy the new kid on the crypt mmarcrum@ix.netcom.com From owner-halloween-l@majordomo.netcom.com Sun Jan 19 11:38:50 1997 Date: Wed, 15 Jan 1997 17:08:16 -0800 From: Michael Marcrum To: halloween-l@netcom.com Subject: Re: Bodies...Bodies...and more Bodies! Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Allan, A friend of ours makes all his framework for his bodies out of PVC pipe. He heats them and bends them to make arms and things that need joints. It is very inexpensive and you can change the arms, legs, heights, just about any part with removing a piece! Then he covers them with the costume, puts the mask on the top....one dummy!! Kathy the new kid on the crypt mmarcrum@ix.netcom.com From owner-halloween-l@majordomo.netcom.com Sun Jan 19 11:38:55 1997 Date: Wed, 15 Jan 1997 17:12:18 -0800 From: Michael Marcrum To: halloween-l@netcom.com Subject: Re: Listen F! Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Yeah Denny, I can't believe I turned on the computer and that is the first thing I saw!! Thanks for kicking someone off that I would say needed it!! JD I enjoy your posts, don't worry about the unhappy person. Kathy the new kid on the crypt mmarcrum@ix.netcom.com From owner-halloween-l@majordomo.netcom.com Sun Jan 19 11:44:01 1997 Date: Wed, 15 Jan 1997 17:19:31 -0800 From: Michael Marcrum To: Jacqueline Young Subject: Re: Coffins Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Jacqui, I just emailed most of the casket suppliers on line. I thought why not give it a try and see what they say. If I can get one that is damaged or whatever for cheap it would be worth it!! I even sent for a catalog, can't wait till that comes in the mail!! Hello Mr. Mailman!! Kathy the new kid on the crypt mmarcrum@ix.netcom.com From owner-halloween-l@majordomo.netcom.com Sun Jan 19 11:55:59 1997 Date: Wed, 15 Jan 1997 17:29:09 -0800 From: Michael Marcrum To: halloween-l@netcom.com Subject: Bobs Sister Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Bob, I have not laughed this hard in a long time. Thanks for putting the humor in a sad situation!! "What a relief it was sent to the Halloween list. For one brief horrifying moment I thought my sister found my email address." -- Kathy the new kid on the crypt mmarcrum@ix.netcom.com P.S. I knew it wasn't my sister she spelled all the dirty words right!! From owner-halloween-l@majordomo.netcom.com Sun Jan 19 12:34:23 1997 Date: Sun, 19 Jan 1997 14:45:06 -0800 From: "K. Long" To: halloween-l@netcom.com Subject: Re: Places for Haunt? Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com David Janoskie wrote: > > Hi Everybody! > > It's 10 degrees here in Falls Church, VA, and I don't particularly care to be > outside. So, I decided to do some catching up work inside. > I've been on the WWW today and I looked at Halloween Productions page > ( htttp:// www.halloweenproductions.com ) and I noticed they sell complete > portable haunts. At $37,000 for the simplest setup, this is a little out of my Hi David, Don't know if this will help you or not. I have been looking into putting up one of those all metal homes you see advertised in some of the magazines, for a haunted house. I was talking with the folks at Wolf Studios and he mentioned that if he ever put up another Haunted house he would use one of those buildings. Just a thought, Keith From owner-halloween-l@majordomo.netcom.com Sun Jan 19 13:49:08 1997 Date: Sun, 19 Jan 1997 13:43:27 -0800 From: Bob Andrews To: halloween-l@netcom.com Subject: Re: Coffins Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Michael Marcrum wrote: > > Jacqui, > I just emailed most of the casket suppliers on line. I thought why not > give it a try and see what they say. If I can get one that is damaged or > whatever for cheap it would be worth it!! I even sent for a catalog, > can't wait till that comes in the mail!! Hello Mr. Mailman!! Kathy, I've done this too. I also went to my local funeral parlor to peruse their coffinary wares. There are a couple of discount casket sellers on the web as well, but expect to pay $750 - $1000 (with postage) for their cheapest model. I was contacted by a mortician from Illinois, who is into halloween! He is building his own horse-drawn hearse, and found mine while surfing the web. I have a picture of it on my site. He also made a wagon for his one-year-old son from a child's casket and a go-cart out of an adult casket. These can be seen at http://www.anaserve.com/~BoBandrews/coffin.htm . He offered to get me a good price on a casket. I'll ask him the price if you're interested... -- Bob Andrews bandrews@inreach.com http://www.anaserve.com/~BoBandrews From owner-halloween-l@majordomo.netcom.com Sun Jan 19 14:05:40 1997 Date: Sun, 19 Jan 1997 15:53:26 -0800 From: The Proctors To: halloween-l@netcom.com Subject: Re: bodies Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com I think all our local private high schools now require community service. Don't know if they'd count a haunt in that category. Maybe only if you were donating admission funds to a charity or something. (I know, I know, you're a freebie) karen p cproctor@flash.net Michael Marcrum wrote: > > Hey Mark, > I did not know that we here in foggy Calif. had community service for > the high school kids. As soon as this cast is off I will have to start > looking into the local schools. Thanks for the idea!! > Kathy > the new kid on the crypt > mmarcrum@ix.netcom.com From owner-halloween-l@majordomo.netcom.com Sun Jan 19 15:07:37 1997 Date: Wed, 15 Jan 1997 19:58:21 -0800 From: Michael Marcrum To: halloween-l@netcom.com Subject: Re: Coffins Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Bob, I was just showing a friend your homepage! He was very impressed with your graphics. And I checked out the homepage of Troy's!! That guy has some great toys!! I would be interested in a price if he could get one for me! I don't know what to expect for a price, and it does not have to be in perfect shape!! gouge here or there will add to the real look!! Thanks for sending me the info. I told Troy he should join our list, I think he has some great ideas!! Kathy the new kid on the crypt mmarcrum@ix.netcom.com From owner-halloween-l@majordomo.netcom.com Sun Jan 19 15:08:04 1997 To: halloween-l@netcom.com From: Jim Kadel Subject: Web Games Date: Sun, 19 Jan 1997 16:00:45 -0700 Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com For those who like playing "letter" games - like hangman Try a dungeon version at: http://www.dtd.com/rip/letter.cgi?new From owner-halloween-l@majordomo.netcom.com Sun Jan 19 15:42:03 1997 Date: Wed, 15 Jan 1997 20:31:56 -0800 From: Michael Marcrum To: halloween-l@netcom.com Subject: Re: Web Games Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Jim, I checked out the Letter RIP!! It was fun, I guessed the word both times but not before the poor guy was in a lot of pain!! Thanks for the neat place to play!! Kathy The new kid on the crypt mmarcrum@ix.netcom.com From owner-halloween-l@majordomo.netcom.com Sun Jan 19 16:42:52 1997 Date: Sun, 19 Jan 1997 16:39:17 -0800 From: Bob Andrews To: halloween-l@netcom.com Subject: Re: Coffins Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Michael Marcrum wrote: > > Bob, > I was just showing a friend your homepage! He was very impressed with > your graphics. And I checked out the homepage of Troy's!! That guy has > some great toys!! I would be interested in a price if he could get one > for me! I don't know what to expect for a price, and it does not have to > be in perfect shape!! gouge here or there will add to the real look!! > Thanks for sending me the info. I told Troy he should join our list, I > think he has some great ideas!! > Kathy > the new kid on the crypt > mmarcrum@ix.netcom.com Kathy, Maybe he could dig up a bargain on a "Previously Titled" one. ;-D -- Bob Andrews bandrews@inreach.com http://www.anaserve.com/~BoBandrews From owner-halloween-l@majordomo.netcom.com Sun Jan 19 22:14:01 1997 Date: Mon, 20 Jan 1997 01:28:04 -0500 To: halloween-l@netcom.com From: "John P. Jeffries" Subject: Re: Noah - New Animal Search Engine! Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com At 06:51 PM 1/19/97 -0800, you wrote: >Dear Animal Lover, > >I am excited to announce the debut of Noah, a search engine dedicated only >to quality animal sites on the web! Gee, I wonder if Gargoyles, bats, Wolf-men and misc. Creatures are included? :) John ********************************* * Mr.Scary Productions * * http://www.mrscary.com * * E-mail: mrscary@kiva.net * * 1-812-824-8935 * * FAX: 1-812-824-9960 * ********************************* From owner-halloween-l@majordomo.netcom.com Sun Jan 19 23:12:34 1997 Date: Mon, 20 Jan 1997 02:25:49 -0500 To: halloween-l@netcom.com From: "John P. Jeffries" Subject: Re: bodies Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com (snip) > One of the things we have problems with every year is finding bodies >to work in the haunt. Family and Friends start running from us starting >in August. I was thinking about going to the local high school this year >and seeing if the drama class and art classes would like to get >envolved. (trim) Ahh, the problem of people. I work with a three separate groups. 1)local youth group, 2)Local vol.Fire Dept. 3) Local High School Theater class. There are several things to consider: 1) Top priority, INSURANCE! If someone gets hurt, YOU PAY. 2) Contracts with the groups. (What will they get paid?) 3) Bank account: Does the event have one? 4) Are you: NON-Profit or FOR-profit? (if you charge, even DONATIONS!) To make it short, if you go with an outside group, you need the above. The local High-school Theater class I work with have been VERY good. I keep in contact with the teacher and do work-shops at the school. Students are good for bodies, but need to be kept informed to the rules from time to time. Make time to know them (and their parents), they will act their hearts out for you. This can get rather long, if you have specific questions, e-mail me and I will be glad to help. You need to protect yourself once you bring in people. Trust me, I know. John ********************************* * Mr.Scary Productions * * http://www.mrscary.com * * E-mail: mrscary@kiva.net * * 1-812-824-8935 * * FAX: 1-812-824-9960 * ********************************* From owner-halloween-l@majordomo.netcom.com Sun Jan 19 23:31:08 1997 Date: Mon, 20 Jan 1997 02:43:55 -0500 To: halloween-l@netcom.com From: "John P. Jeffries" Subject: Re: Coffins Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com At 09:48 PM 1/18/97 -0500, you wrote: >Okay guys, I'm about to commission a coffin for my husband, how do I go about measuring him for it and does anyone have any recommendations on how strong the wood should be and what shape I should be looking at. Humm, good question. For size, measure how tall he is, then at his shoulders. The coffin (depending on how you pad it) should be 2"-4" more than this. The depth can be from 15"-20" deep, depending on what you like best. As for style, wow, you can go "old" (toe pincher) or new (box/dome lid). Only you can decide "what looks best". As for wood, I suggest A/C or A/B grade 3/4" plywood. This in *my* personal opinion, but 3/4" is very strong. The "A" means one side is "A" grade (no knotts), the other will be knotty and such, but you can cover with cloth. Also, scope out the lumber yard for wood trim. You can use several different moldings together to trim it out. To give you an idea what "styles" are out there, look under YAHOO for "CASKET" or "COFFIN". There are several places that have photos so you can get an idea. Hope this helps. Hauntingly, (and tired) John ********************************* * Mr.Scary Productions * * http://www.mrscary.com * * E-mail: mrscary@kiva.net * * 1-812-824-8935 * * FAX: 1-812-824-9960 * ********************************* From owner-halloween-l@majordomo.netcom.com Mon Jan 20 05:15:00 1997 Date: Mon, 20 Jan 1997 08:10:07 +0000 From: Cliff Martin To: halloween-l@netcom.com Subject: Re: Coffins Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Bob Andrews wrote: > > Michael Marcrum wrote: > > > > Jacqui, > > I just emailed most of the casket suppliers on line. I thought why not > > give it a try and see what they say. If I can get one that is damaged or > > whatever for cheap it would be worth it!! I even sent for a catalog, > > can't wait till that comes in the mail!! Hello Mr. Mailman!! > (snip) A mortician friend recommended checking out crematories - the coffin is never destroyed and may be available cheaply (although I didnt think to ask what exactly was done with them afterwards...). Another source is a large scrap-steel-type junkyard. Both may have either "like-new", "previously-owned", or "fixer-uppers" for you! Cliff (bad puns a speciality!) cliff.martin@saralee.net From owner-halloween-l@majordomo.netcom.com Mon Jan 20 05:17:13 1997 Date: Mon, 20 Jan 1997 08:13:08 +0000 From: Cliff Martin To: halloween-l@netcom.com Subject: Re: details Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com DJ wrote: > > John Dolan wrote: > > > O.K. I've rambled enough, as to details I need to know if you want the > > short version (just the facts:room designs,decriptions etc.) or the long > > version (as if this isn't long enough!). > > Well, I for one would like to hear it all. (snip) > DJ, who always was a greedy ghoul when it came to new ideas YES, YES, Everything! YES! YES! Cliff (another greedy ghoulie) From owner-halloween-l@majordomo.netcom.com Mon Jan 20 09:05:23 1997 Date: Thu, 16 Jan 1997 06:32:33 -0800 From: Michael Marcrum To: halloween-l@netcom.com Subject: Re: Coffins Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Bob, I have to assume that this was a double pun!!! ""dig up a bargain on a "Previously Titled" "" Dig Up!!! :) Kathy the new kid on the crypt mmarcrum@ix.netcom.com From owner-halloween-l@majordomo.netcom.com Mon Jan 20 09:44:13 1997 Date: Mon, 20 Jan 1997 09:37:51 -0800 From: Spook To: halloween-l@netcom.com Subject: Re: bodies Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com John brings up a good point about insurance. ALL of our volunteers have to sign an insurance waiver before we let them even say the word "Halloween". Its a hard cruel world out there. Actually, we were going to have a display in our House that had a lawyer, but we deemed it way to scary. We put in a decapitation scene instead. As far as High Schoolers taking community service credit, the city funds a portion of our event, so we can technically call it a "Community Event". Also, as part of our contract with the city, we require them to pick up the insurance costs (One time event policy). The only real hassle with all of this is the PAPERWORK! I started this biz because I loved to do 3-D make-up. Now.... I do paperwork, and haven't worn make-up in two years. Did I miss something here? Sneaks up on you. Mark From owner-halloween-l@majordomo.netcom.com Mon Jan 20 10:25:54 1997 Date: Mon, 20 Jan 1997 10:07:30 -0800 From: Spook To: halloween-l@netcom.com Subject: Mannequins Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com There was some discussion out there concerning life-sized dummies (mannequins). What we use is electrical conduit covered with pipe insulation. Its not particularly easy, but its very cheap, and you get a manniquin that will last forever. How? First, measure the OUTSIDE measurements or your body (remember, you don't want a skeleton, you want a mannequin). Across the shoulders. Sit down, measure from the seat to your shoulders. Shoulder to elbow. Elbow to wrist. Wrist to fingertip. From where your tailbone touches the seat to the knee. Knee to ankle. Ankle to toe. And finally, across your waist. This should give you nine measurements. Cut pieces of conduit accordingly. Hammer out the ends where you want it to articulate (hinges). Drill a hole through each flattened end. Now, get some nuts (Nylocks don't come apart) and bolts and put the guy (or girl) together. Be careful with the feet. Take a look at your own feet, and you will see that your leg doesn't attach to the center of your foot. Leave about four inches of neck above the shoulders to put the head on (a wig stand with a mask works perfect). Now, get out your pipe insulation and duct tape (yea! duct tape!), and flesh out the frame. This articulating mannequin can be posed in any position. You can put shoes on the feet, and this guy will freestand without a problem. Pants are held up with suspenders. Gloves slide over the hands. Depending on the pose, you may or may not have to add a little newspaper stuffing to some parts. A VERY strong stick man! And they look cool standing around the house during the off season. You will have to tighten his nuts (don't go there!) every once in awhile (especially in the small of the back, just like real life). If this isn't clear enough, let me know. Mark From owner-halloween-l@majordomo.netcom.com Mon Jan 20 10:45:09 1997 Date: Mon, 20 Jan 1997 10:39:38 -0800 From: Bob Andrews To: halloween-l@netcom.com Subject: Re: Coffins Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Michael Marcrum wrote: > > Bob, > I have to assume that this was a double pun!!! > ""dig up a bargain on a "Previously Titled" "" > > Dig Up!!! :) Kathy, Yes, and they would refer to that as the "bargain box". ;-D -- Bob Andrews bandrews@inreach.com http://www.anaserve.com/~BoBandrews From owner-halloween-l@majordomo.netcom.com Mon Jan 20 10:47:37 1997 Date: Mon, 20 Jan 1997 13:30:31 +0000 From: Cliff Martin To: halloween-l@netcom.com Subject: Re: bodies Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Spook wrote: > > John brings up a good point about insurance. ALL of our volunteers have to sign an insurance > waiver before we let them even say the word "Halloween". Its a hard cruel world out there. > Actually, we were going to have a display in our House that had a lawyer, but we deemed it way to > scary. We put in a decapitation scene instead. (snip) What goes in an insurance waiver? and how is this "legal" - does a lawyer have to approve it? Cliff cliff.martin@saralee.net P.S. and, yes, lawyers can be VERY scary... From owner-halloween-l@majordomo.netcom.com Mon Jan 20 12:05:00 1997 Date: Mon, 20 Jan 1997 11:59:04 -0800 From: Spook To: halloween-l@netcom.com Subject: Insurance/Bodies Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Cliff, Usually, the insurance provider will provide a "Generic" waiver that you customize to your particular event. We carry two types: Adults, and Minors. I could e-mail you ours if you like. It usually says something like, "I understand that participation in this event is incredibly hazardous and can cause a lingering and painful death.... and I will not hold anyone in the entire world responsible... especially the insurance provider... " Simple... (: Mark From owner-halloween-l@majordomo.netcom.com Mon Jan 20 15:06:51 1997 From: Jacqueline Young To: "'Bob Andrews'" , "'Halloween'" Subject: RE: Listen F! Date: Mon, 20 Jan 1997 16:58:35 -0500 Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Thank you Bob I really needed that. When I stop laughing I'll send your sister that address. Jacqui jyoung@idirect.com' What a relief it was sent to the Halloween list. For one brief horrifying moment I thought my sister found my email address. -- Bob Andrews bandrews@inreach.com http://www.anaserve.com/~BoBandrews From owner-halloween-l@majordomo.netcom.com Mon Jan 20 15:12:18 1997 From: Jacqueline Young To: "halloween-l@netcom.com" , "'John P. Jeffries'" Subject: RE: Coffins Date: Mon, 20 Jan 1997 17:30:43 -0500 Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Thanks John, I'll wait until he goes to sleep tonight and start measuring. If he wakes up maybe it'll scare him so bad I'll get a regular coffin ;) Jacqui jyoung@idirect.com Humm, good question. Hope this helps. Hauntingly, (and tired) John ********************************* * Mr.Scary Productions * * http://www.mrscary.com * * E-mail: mrscary@kiva.net * * 1-812-824-8935 * * FAX: 1-812-824-9960 * ********************************* From owner-halloween-l@majordomo.netcom.com Tue Jan 21 01:46:38 1997 From: DWFWW@jazz.ucc.uno.edu Date: Tue, 21 Jan 1997 03:26:18 -0600 (CST) Subject: Truency, albeit somewhat excused To: halloween-l@netcom.com Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Greetings, Citizens of Halloween Town Well, I've been gone for too long, and after promising more contributions. For this, I ask your forgiveness. What I have been up to is the acquisition of a place for a website, and the creation of the html documents to drive it. Within the next two days, I think I will have this done. At the site will be found the proto-chapters for Phantasmechanics, along with illustrations and details on projects old and new. Rather than burden Don's busy site with more of my tomfoolery, I will archive new items for listmembers at my own facility. I also hope to make a few 'soft-toys' available, as well. If you'd like your site to be linked from mine, drop me a line and leave me your URL, and I'll gladly do just that. Coming up this week will be the next installment in the Imagineering How-to (for newbies) and a report on the haunt-providers I visited at the last NAAPA show here in New Orleans. This time, for sure, as Bullwinkle always says. I'm back to haunt you. Really, I am. No fooling. Details to follow. -Doug F. *********************************************************************** * Safety, Courtesy, Show and Efficiency: * Doug Ferguson * * The Keys To The Kingdom * dwfww@jazz.ucc.uno.edu * *********************************************************************** From owner-halloween-l@majordomo.netcom.com Tue Jan 21 06:53:37 1997 Date: Thu, 16 Jan 1997 20:59:44 -0800 From: Michael Marcrum To: halloween-l@netcom.com Subject: Re: Truency, albeit somewhat excused Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Doug, can't wait to see your new site. This list is growing out in creepy crawly vines out into the WWW!! Sort of sounds like a idea for a horror movie!!! Kathy the new kid on the crypt mmarcrum@ix.netcom.com From owner-halloween-l@majordomo.netcom.com Tue Jan 21 10:55:43 1997 Date: Tue, 21 Jan 1997 10:37:49 -0800 To: halloween-l@netcom.com From: Greg Hope Subject: Re: details Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com At 07:39 PM 1/18/97 -0600, you wrote: > O.K. I've rambled enough, as to details I need to know if you want the >short version (just the facts:room designs,decriptions etc.) or the long >version (as if this isn't long enough!). The long version would include >some personal history and some of my philosophical perspectives on haunted >houses. Hi, JD. Welcome to the group! I've already extracted name, email and city info from your previous postings for inclusion in the member list I'm compiling for group members. If you could give me a *short* comment about your specific Halloween interests, I'll include that, too. It's clear that your main focus is haunted house design, but I'll give you my standard list below, in case it mentions anything else that interests you: ---Specialties and/or areas of interest, for example, handicrafts, animated props, decorated yards, creating haunted houses, costuming, focus on children, adult parties, attending public haunts and parties, etc. List as many as apply and I will try to group members by interest.--- On another note, I am very interested in design and operation of haunted attractions. Currently, a thin sliver of my spare time goes into the creation of a business plan for something in this area. Consequently, I'm interested in hearing about your experiences and your philosophy on haunted houses. Earlier this year, there was a conversation in the group about "gore versus non-gore" and "high tech versus low tech." You'll find the group members cover the spectrum from the highly technical who design and build animated creatures, to those who simply enjoy Halloween parties and talking about creepy stuff. Also, you'll find a grateful audience here for any pictures and descriptions from your exploits that you can post on the Net for others to enjoy. Take care, Greg in Vista T (619) 945-4424 F (619) 726-2804 E ghope@mailhost.csusm.edu From owner-halloween-l@majordomo.netcom.com Tue Jan 21 12:01:59 1997 Date: Tue, 21 Jan 1997 11:43:20 -0800 To: halloween-l@netcom.com From: Greg Hope Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com The following people responded to the member list survey, but were no longer subscribed as of January 9, 1997. If you are on this list and are subscribed under a different email address, or if you know what's up with any of these people, please drop me a line. I'd hate to lose someone who took the time to reply for the list. Aaron "Shaggy" Harper adharper@hamlet.uncg.edu Colleen & Jeff Schaller cloudy@gonzo.wolfenet.com Dave Bell dbell@cup.portal.com Dean Clauson dean@mail.aros.net Jennifer Etowski etowski@clark.net Joe Dunfee jdunfee@shadow.net Roy Leach rleach@bigboy73.West.Sun.COM Steve Kirkman Steve_Kirkman_at_BI-USA@astec.com Stuart Peterson stuartp@hevanet.com Thanks! Greg in Vista T (619) 945-4424 F (619) 726-2804 E ghope@mailhost.csusm.edu From owner-halloween-l@majordomo.netcom.com Tue Jan 21 22:36:54 1997 From: DWFWW@jazz.ucc.uno.edu Date: Tue, 21 Jan 1997 23:58:28 -0600 (CST) Subject: How-to, Part 4 To: halloween-l@netcom.com Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Reminder: This series of articles is not aimed at the experienced haunt designer/builder, but at the individual who is just starting out, who wishes to learn what is involved in the process of imagineering, and would like to acquire some basic techniques which will help in bringing that process to life. Once again, feedback, both negative and positive, is welcome. ---------------------------------------------- Halloween: Just Imagine! - Part 3 - The Tools of the Trade Beginning with this chapter, we'll look at some basic skills you'll want to acquire as a Halloween 'budget imagineer'. I won't try to teach you everything, nor should I have to. There are many excellent books on electricity, 'do-it-yourself' carpentry, and the like. Bookstores abound with 'how things work' encyclopedias. One trait typical of imagineers is an eager desire to tear into things and discover for themselves what makes a thing tick. If that describes you, you have probably already begun to acquire the skills by tinkering. That's how I learned, and I believe it to be the best way. To help you along, this chapter will present exercises designed to encourage 'creative re-engineering' - that is, the process of taking machinery designed for one purpose (or no specific purpose) and putting it to work for you in the creation of the effects you wish to achieve. It is desirable that you learn not to be intimidated by projects which might seem at first to be beyond your abilities. Overcoming the fear of tackling a large project on your own for the very first time is not easy, but it's necessary. To help you practice this boldness and daring, I'm about to ask you to pick up a tool that surprisingly few people have bothered to learn to use - the humble soldering iron - and to develop a proficiency with it. If you are already expert at soldering, read through the material, and see what you think of my approach. There just may be something here that will help you, anyway. You will also need to overcome the fear of opening a mechanical or electrical device to examine and learn from it, or even to alter it to suit your needs. It may sound odd to some of my readers, but I have met a large number of laypeople who are literally afraid to investigate machinery, let alone put a wrench or screwdriver to a fastener. Years ago, I held a very simple seminar in the basics of soldering and simple electrical repair, and I was surprised how many of those in attendance had no idea how a simple lamp switch worked, much less how to fix or replace one. When I finished the teaching, the comment I heard most was: 'Gee, that wasn't hard! I was always afraid to open the socket up, because I never thought I could put it back together!' This is absolutely true for many of the techniques I will be explaining, and you will be surprised (hopefully) how easy the basic tasks of home imagineering can be. Soldering: Fun With Molten Metal This is one of the most important skills you can learn if you intend to work with electrical circuits. Not limited to making electrical connections, soldering also allows the fabrication of small metal assemblies which may become part of a special-effects device. Soldering irons come in many varieties, and you will need one that is rated at between 35 and 50 watts for general purpose wire connection and part fabrication. Select an iron that offers you multiple tip sizes, and acquire a selection of tips (usually separate purchase items) with the iron. Do yourself a favor, and go to a professional electronic supply house to make your purchase. Irons by Weller and Ungar are fine. For work on circuit boards, you will want a lower wattage iron. The one I use is rated at 25 watts, and has a fine point. Temperature-controlled irons for multi-purpose work are available, but are rather expensive, with good ones costing as much as $100. Don't purchase a soldering _gun_ for small work with electrical components. Although they offer the convenience of instant heat, their tips get very hot, and can damage small parts. They're fine for the part fabrication role, however, as long as you don't need the iron to stay on for a long time. They have a 'duty cycle' - in other words, they may be left running for several minutes, and then require a cool-down period roughly twice the duration of the 'on' cycle to keep them from damaging their own large heating elements. Accessories Before you start, you should also begin building a basic electrical tool kit. Purchase these items at the same supplier, and avoid cheap electrical tools like the plague! Wire cutters that break under heavy use, and flimsy needle-nose pliers that bend, gap and refuse to hold small wires are a true nuisance. Nothing can make you hate soldering (or any mechanical task) more than inadequate tools! I have had very good luck with the Xcelite brand, which is targeted at professional purchasers. Your tools should include: - Wire cutters, small and medium sized. - Long-nose pliers, small enough to hold tiny strands of wire tightly - Rosin-core electrical solder (Ersin Multicore is my favorite, and comes in a handy dispenser pack.) - A tip cleaner for the soldering iron. You can purchase a fancy one, or use something as simple as a small sponge or even a wet paper towel. Its use will be explained in the text below. - A rest for the iron, which will hold it securely when it is hot and not being used. Avoid the small curved-metal stands that require the handle of the iron to rest on the table-top. The one I use holds the iron much like a pen-holder holds a pen, at an angle, away from the tabletop, and shields the point of the iron from touch, while allowing ventilation for the heat. - A set of small screwdrivers of multiple sizes, and of good quality, Philips and flat-blade. - A heat sink, a clip-on plier-style device designed to conduct heat away from the delicate parts which may be attached to a wire being soldered. Medical hemostats are excellent for this purpose, as they lock closed and can be left hanging as you solder. You may want two of these. - Small vacuum-base vise to hold parts (like connectors) as they are being soldered. - A small utility knife. A kit like this may cost you as much as $100 or more, but remember that you will be using these tools regularly, and will want to add more purpose-specific tools as you get more involved. Beyond their uses in Halloween imagineering, you will find a lot of general uses for them around the home. Let's Practice To begin, find a work surface that allows plenty of room for your tools and the work. Make sure the surface does not contain flammable objects, and that it is not flammable itself, or likely to be damaged by hot objects, such as drops of molten solder. Keep any solvents away from your workspace. Much like a wood-burning tool, a soldering iron is capable of inflicting severe burns to skin. Wear clothing that covers your arms and legs, and don't neglect eye protection. Work in a well-ventilated area. Be careful, but don't be timid! Get a small spool of single-strand copper 'bell-wire' and another spool of stranded 'zip wire' for practice purposes. You can find these at Radio Shack. We'll begin by joining two pieces of single-strand copper wire in a splice. Put your iron in its holder, plug it in, and let it heat. You will want to 'tin' the tip of the iron when you first use it. Test the tip by bringing solder to touch it, and when it is hot enough, solder will flow onto the tip, coating it. The coat will most likely be uneven, and this is where the tip cleaner comes in. Let the iron 'season' for a minute or so after coating it, then use the cleaner. Wet the sponge-like material of the cleaner, but not until it is soaked - only moist. To use it, drag the tip of the iron across the cleaner (or wet paper towel, if that's what you are using.) You will find that a thin layer of solder adheres to the iron, and that the surplus has been removed onto the cleaner material in little solid globs. You will be using the cleaner from time to time as you work, to remove debris and excess solder from the tip. When you are done with your practice session, clean the spongy material and discard the waste solder (or simply throw the wet paper towel away.) Before we can join the wires, we must strip off the insulation. There are basically three ways to do this. The first is to use a utility knife, holding it at an angle, with the wire to be stripped in your other hand. Place the thumb of the knife-hand on the top of the blade, and bring the edge to touch the insulation, between 1/4 and 1/2 inch from the end of the wire. As you would when whittling a piece of wood, carefully push the blade into the insulation, and toward the end of the wire. With thin insulation, this single cut may cause the piece, or half of it, to slide off the end. If the insulation is thicker, rotate the wire and make another whittle-cut on the opposite side. This should be sufficient to allow you to pull the piece of insulation off the wire. You will need to practice, and although you must support the wire with a finger near the cut, don't allow the finger to contact the edge of the blade. You can also use the tip of the small wire cutters to nibble a cut into the insulation around the wire core, then use the cutter as a plier to slide the insulation off the end. You must practice this technique, and learn to avoid damaging the wire itself in the process. Alternately, you can actually grab the insulation with the cutters as if you were using regular pliers, grip firmly (but not firmly enough to cut through the metal) and push toward the end of the wire, snap-peeling the insulation directly off the wire. This is the most difficult technique to learn (for some,) but the quickest and easiest method, once learned. Do not use it on very thin and fragile wire, however. [For those who already have a love of stripping wire, there's a wonderful device from a German company, Weidmuller, called a _Stripax_, and it's one of my most-used tools. It looks like a mutant plier, with a jaw inside a jaw, like the Alien in the movie of the same name. You set a little switch on the outer jaw for the thickness of the insulation, then set a stop-block in the inner jaw for the length of stripped end you desire, insert the end of the wire into the jaw-set, and squeeze the handle. Instantly, in the blink of an eye, the insulation is stripped off perfectly, leaving the wire completely undamaged. It uses a perfected version of the third method described above, and will cost you over $80. However, it is _incredibly_ durable, though made of plastics, and will pay for itself _quickly_ in time saved if you do a lot of work with wire. Mine has been through several hundred thousand cycles, is nowhere near the end of its life, and still works as well as it did the day I bought it, nearly ten years ago. This device should be available at the pro electrical tool supplier where you bought your other tools, and it now comes in a smaller, mini-sized model. Warning: you will fall in love with special tools!] After you have successfully stripped two lengths of single-strand wire, twist them together, end to end, one pointing toward the other. Next, take the iron and apply heat to the wire directly. Be sure your hands are at least 6-8 inches away from the join if you _must_ hold the wire, because it will obviously get hot there, and eventually, the heat will travel to your fingers through the insulation. Preferably, hold the wire with the needle-nose pliers, and set the solder container on the table with a strand of solder sticking up, and bring the join to the solder. When the iron has been in contact with the wire for a few seconds, apply the tip of the strand of solder to the join, not to the iron itself. The solder should flow onto the copper and cover the twist. At this point, remove the heat, and keep the wire as still as possible while the solder cools. You may blow on the solder to speed up this process. If all went well, you have your first successful solder connection! When working with stranded wire, the procedure is much the same, except that you will want to 'tin' the wire itself, much as you timmed the tip of the iron when you broke it in. Tinning keeps the strands of the conductor together while you are soldering the connection. Strip stranded wire carefully, so you don't cut away the tiny strands themselves, and lose thickness. Before you tin the ends, twist the strands around one another by gripping the exposed end and turning the fingers. Stranded wire is superior to single-strand wire in that it is far more flexible, and will endure a lot of flexing before it snaps. If you are joining two bits of stranded wire, tin both stripped sections, then use the needle-nosed pliers to twist them together, and proceed as with the single strand wire method above. You won't need as much solder, since the tinned ends will automatically flow onto each other, providing a bond. Practice these splices until you become comfortable with the soldering process. In the next installment, we'll work on attaching connectors to wires. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thanks for your indulgence. I'm off to work on the website! -Doug *********************************************************************** * Safety, Courtesy, Show and Efficiency: * Doug Ferguson * * The Keys To The Kingdom * dwfww@jazz.ucc.uno.edu * *********************************************************************** From owner-halloween-l@majordomo.netcom.com Tue Jan 21 22:38:23 1997 From: DWFWW@jazz.ucc.uno.edu Date: Wed, 22 Jan 1997 00:04:58 -0600 (CST) Subject: Re: Truency, albeit somewhat excused To: halloween-l@netcom.com Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Kathy, You wrote: >This list is growing out in creepy crawly vines out into the WWW!! I'm just a mean green mother from Outer Space, and I am BAAAAAAAD! Sorry, couldn't resist. :-) -Doug *********************************************************************** * Safety, Courtesy, Show and Efficiency: * Doug Ferguson * * The Keys To The Kingdom * dwfww@jazz.ucc.uno.edu * *********************************************************************** From owner-halloween-l@majordomo.netcom.com Wed Jan 22 06:59:30 1997 Date: Wed, 22 Jan 1997 06:49:56 -0800 From: Bob Andrews To: halloween-l@netcom.com Subject: Re: How-to, Part 4 Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com DWFWW@jazz.ucc.uno.edu wrote: > > Halloween: Just Imagine! - Part 3 - The Tools of the Trade Great soldering stuff! Have you done any silver soldering with propane torches? I've just bought a torch and I could use some pointers. > Thanks for your indulgence. I'm off to work on the website! What was that URL? ;-D -- Bob Andrews bandrews@inreach.com http://www.anaserve.com/~BoBandrews From owner-halloween-l@majordomo.netcom.com Wed Jan 22 08:11:30 1997 From: Mark Heinze Subject: Re: How-to, Part 4 To: halloween-l@netcom.com Date: Wed, 22 Jan 1997 11:03:47 -0500 (EST) Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com > [For those who already have a love of stripping wire, there's a wonderful > device from a German company, Weidmuller, called a _Stripax_, and it's one Back in my college days as an EE major, I used one similar to this and it was wonderful. However, as a cheaper alternative there are also available wire strippers which are simply holes in a plier-like tool that corresponds to various gauges. You simply place the wire in the hole, close the tool, and pull - quick stripping. It's not nearly as nice as a good wire stripper, but they are usually quite cheap ($10) and are much better than trying to use a knife or wire cutters. Of course, I'm usually too lazy to grab the tool for one or two wires and end up resorting to the wire cutters, but it would be nice to list it as a cheap alternative that is nearly fool-proof. -mark Encore Computer Corporation 901 Kildaire Farm Rd. - Bldg. D Mark Heinze Cary, NC 27511 email: mheinze@encore.com Telephone: (919) 481-3730 From owner-halloween-l@majordomo.netcom.com Wed Jan 22 08:12:34 1997 To: Halloween-L From: William E Rompala Date: 22 Jan 97 10:58:10 EDT Subject: Re: Coffins Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Bob wrote: > He offered to get me a >good price on a casket. I'll ask him the price if you're interested... Did you get any pricing on the caskets, by any chance? -W William Rompala Already planning heavily for next year. From owner-halloween-l@majordomo.netcom.com Wed Jan 22 08:15:38 1997 From: DWFWW@jazz.ucc.uno.edu Date: Wed, 22 Jan 1997 09:57:27 -0600 (CST) Subject: Re: How-to, Part 4 To: halloween-l@netcom.com Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Bob wrote: >Great soldering stuff! Have you done any silver soldering with propane >torches? I've just bought a torch and I could use some pointers. Well, actually, my work has been limited to electronics, for the most part. I have used acid-core on sheet metal a few times, but never silver with a torch. Gee, you just reminded me of another tool I want to own. ;-) -Doug *********************************************************************** * Safety, Courtesy, Show and Efficiency: * Doug Ferguson * * The Keys To The Kingdom * dwfww@jazz.ucc.uno.edu * *********************************************************************** From owner-halloween-l@majordomo.netcom.com Wed Jan 22 08:16:12 1997 To: "David Janoskie" From: William E Rompala Date: 22 Jan 97 10:56:05 EDT Subject: Anticipation is the word... Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com David Wrote: >"There is no terror in a bang, only in >the anticipation of it." > Alfred Hitchcock David, consider this stolen. This quote, from the unequalled master of suspense, sums up my philosophy in the 'methodology of the scare'. Thanks helping me to find the words to describe it! -W William Rompala djan @ pop.erols.com ("David Janoskie") 01/19/97 12:07 PM To: halloween-l @ netcom.com @ SMTP cc: Subject: Places for Haunt? Hi Everybody! It's 10 degrees here in Falls Church, VA, and I don't particularly care to be outside. So, I decided to do some catching up work inside. I've been on the WWW today and I looked at Halloween Productions page ( htttp:// www.halloweenproductions.com ) and I noticed they sell complete portable haunts. At $37,000 for the simplest setup, this is a little out of my price range right now, but I was wondering if others out there would have any suggestions on securing a site for a haunt. I was thinking of going to realtors and looking for a fix-upper house for rental and trying to rent it for maybe a month or so for the purpose of holding the haunt there, but I don't know if that would be a good idea or not. Anyway, I have been following the thread of getting enough actors for the haunt and I would definitely contact the drama department of the area colleges and also if there are any local theatre groups, that may be another source of actors. Thanks for any suggestions. David Janoskie djan@erols.com From owner-halloween-l@majordomo.netcom.com Wed Jan 22 09:02:43 1997 From: DWFWW@jazz.ucc.uno.edu Date: Wed, 22 Jan 1997 10:16:08 -0600 (CST) Subject: Re: How-to, Part 4 To: halloween-l@netcom.com Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Mark, You wrote: >However, as a cheaper alternative there are also available wire >strippers which are simply holes in a plier-like tool... Thanks for mentioning this! I left out a few other things that friends pointed out to me, which I will include in the next segment. I was up late writing the article, and my state of mind was not the best for remembering details. ;-) -Doug *********************************************************************** * Safety, Courtesy, Show and Efficiency: * Doug Ferguson * * The Keys To The Kingdom * dwfww@jazz.ucc.uno.edu * *********************************************************************** From owner-halloween-l@majordomo.netcom.com Wed Jan 22 10:48:52 1997 Date: 22 Jan 1997 16:36:23 -0000 From: "kreig denniston" To: halloween-l@netcom.com Subject: cemetary Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Hi all, About 3 2/3 months ago, I got expelled from school for the rest of the school year because I pulled a knife out on a kid at school. Now i'm in a stay-in-school program, which is right across the street from a cemetary. Every once in a while they have funerals there after i get out of school, and they actually let me stay there for the service. and i walk around in the cemetary and take pictures of headstones and crypts. it's a nice place to relax and read a book. BOO!!! kreig denniston cybervampyre@hotmail.com --------------------------------------------------------- Get Your *Web-Based* Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com --------------------------------------------------------- From owner-halloween-l@majordomo.netcom.com Wed Jan 22 11:00:37 1997 Date: Wed, 22 Jan 1997 12:43:13 -0600 To: halloween-l@netcom.com From: njg@cc.UManitoba.CA (Nick Gloor) Subject: Re: How-to, Part 4 Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com >DWFWW@jazz.ucc.uno.edu wrote: >> >> Halloween: Just Imagine! - Part 3 - The Tools of the Trade > >Great soldering stuff! Have you done any silver soldering with propane >torches? I've just bought a torch and I could use some pointers. for what its worth: it somewhat depends on the composition of the solder, silver solder comes in differing alloys, some require more heat than others. The stuff I used to use required two torches on the joint to bring it up to temp, the stuff I have now requires just one. I prefer the former, its much stronger. Basically from my experience its just about the same as any kind of soldering. Enough heat, clean clean clean surfaces, lots of flux and no mechanical movement whilst the joint is cooling down. Apply the heat to the joint to bring it up to temp, remove the flame and apply the solder till it flows into the joint, more is not better. If you try and apply the solder while toasting the join, it tends to melt off and fall on the floor or inside your sneakers. The silver solder I am using now has a flux core rather than applying the flux as a paste prior to heating. I am not sure which I prefer, i suspect for joins where the surface is not visible and you are sweating the solder in i might prefer the paste first, join then heat method rather than trusting there is enough flux carried in the solder. However this is based on feeling rather than experiment. Nick Gloor njg@cc.umanitoba.ca From owner-halloween-l@majordomo.netcom.com Wed Jan 22 11:01:10 1997 Date: Wed, 22 Jan 1997 10:48:37 -0800 From: Bob Andrews To: halloween-l@netcom.com Subject: Re: Coffins Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com William E Rompala wrote: > > Bob wrote: > > He offered to get me a > >good price on a casket. I'll ask him the price if you're interested... > > Did you get any pricing on the caskets, by any chance? > > -W > William Rompala > Already planning heavily for next year. William, I haven't asked, but he did volunteer the wholesale price of Batesville's "Promethian" http://www.batesville.com/products/bproducts_promethean.html . $18000! -- Bob Andrews bandrews@inreach.com http://www.anaserve.com/~BoBandrews From owner-halloween-l@majordomo.netcom.com Wed Jan 22 11:22:16 1997 Date: Wed, 22 Jan 1997 14:01:36 -0500 From: ROGER ALEXANDER To: halloween-l@netcom.com Subject: Re: How-to, Part 4 -Reply Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com >>> Mark Heinze 1/22/97 11:03 am >>> *snip* It's not nearly as nice as a good wire stripper, but they are usually quite cheap ($10) and are much better than trying to use a knife or wire cutters. Of course, I'm usually too lazy to grab the tool for one or two wires and end up resorting to the wire cutters, but it would be nice to list it as a cheap alternative that is nearly fool-proof. <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Hey, you want cheap, just use your teeth! ;-D --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Roger Alexander Phone: 812-854-4748 Naval Surface Warfare Center Fax: 812-854-3508 Bldg 64 Code 111RA Crane, IN 47522 INTERNET: rda413@smtp.nwscc.sea06.navy.mil Supporting the Fleet through Supply! From owner-halloween-l@majordomo.netcom.com Wed Jan 22 11:49:49 1997 To: Bob Andrews From: William E Rompala Date: 22 Jan 97 14:39:23 EDT Subject: Re: Coffins Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com >William E Rompala wrote: >> Bob wrote: >> > He offered to get me a >> >good price on a casket. I'll ask him the price if you're interested... >> Did you get any pricing on the caskets, by any chance? >William,. > I haven't asked, but he did volunteer the wholesale price of >Batesville's "Promethian" >http://www.batesville.com/products/bproducts_promethean.html . $18000! I'll keep that in mind in case I need to bury a hubcap from my Rolls in the near future. ;-) Thanks Bob, -W From owner-halloween-l@majordomo.netcom.com Wed Jan 22 12:07:02 1997 Date: Wed, 22 Jan 97 14:49:46 EST To: halloween-l@netcom.com From: Bill Lewis Subject: Re: How-to, Part 4 Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com At 10:16 AM 1/22/97 -0600, you wrote: > >Mark, > >You wrote: > >>However, as a cheaper alternative there are also available wire >>strippers which are simply holes in a plier-like tool... > >Thanks for mentioning this! I left out a few other things that >friends pointed out to me, which I will include in the next segment. >I was up late writing the article, and my state of mind was not the >best for remembering details. ;-) Tools, tools, you want to know about tools, what to include? the list is long, but I have a pretty good background in tools (but so does denny I'll bet). How about the $25000 wire stripper I saw/used once. It was more like a little robot box, did an absolutely awsome job on wires, even coax. Mostly for high volume/production work but totally portable. It was very cool to watch/use it. Everyone should have one of these things :> Now on to something useful... There are a myriad of strippers out there. Or stripper/crimper combinations. My favorite style all purpose stripper/crimper type has the strippers on the opposite side from the handle. They're a little harder to find but easier to use when you are doing more stripping than crimping. The more commonly available style has the crimpers "outboard", and the strippers "inboard", not as convenient IMO. These type of combination tools also have a nice little cutter built into the pivot that can cut small bolts (machine screws) quite cleanly. Any of these type are really not suited well for finer smaller gage (higher number e.g. 22ga. < 14 ga. w.r.t. diameter) wire, Sure they'll do it, but often they will also nick the wire causing an early failure of the connection. Particularly where the joint may be "worked", in say, an animated prop. If you are working with really fine wire you can often strip it using your soldering iron by melting the insulation and pulling it off. You are guaranteed a virtually nick free strip job. A lighter or match can also be used, but not without parental supervision. If you get some of those little adjustable strippers, the kind with the little screw in a slot that allows you to "set" the cutting depth, here's a trick/tip for checking your strip job and setting. When pulling the insullation off (stranded wire, not solid) twist AND pull the insulation at the same time. This will tell you if your setting is correct by the number of strands that break off. If you have it set up perfect you will not only not have any strands come out, but also have a nice twisted wire ready to tin. I could go on. But I really should read what Doug wrote to wee if he covered any of this already. (how about shrink tube?) P.S. to BobAndrews, now that we've thawed out a bit, and the day's are getting a touch longer, and they've taken the Xmas decorations off of it, I should be able to get that picture to you very soon. If you don't remeber what I mean, Then it'll be a surprise. Later Bill Lewis lewisb@erols.com lewisw@oasys.dt.navy.mil From owner-halloween-l@majordomo.netcom.com Wed Jan 22 12:09:06 1997 Date: Wed, 22 Jan 97 14:53:59 EST To: halloween-l@netcom.com From: Bill Lewis Subject: Re: cemetary Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com At 04:36 PM 1/22/97 -0000, you wrote: >Hi all, > About 3 2/3 months ago, I got expelled from school for the rest of >the school year because I pulled a knife out on a kid at school. Now i'm in a >stay-in-school program, which is right across the street from a cemetary. >Every once in a while they have funerals there after i get out of school, and >they actually let me stay there for the service. and i walk around in the >cemetary and take pictures of headstones and crypts. it's a nice place to >relax and read a book. > > BOO!!! > kreig denniston > cybervampyre@hotmail.com Have you ever seen the movie "Harold and Maude"? From owner-halloween-l@majordomo.netcom.com Wed Jan 22 12:09:41 1997 Date: Wed, 22 Jan 1997 11:59:59 -0800 From: Bob Andrews To: halloween-l@netcom.com Subject: Re: How-to, Part 4 Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Nick Gloor wrote: > > >DWFWW@jazz.ucc.uno.edu wrote: > >> > >> Halloween: Just Imagine! - Part 3 - The Tools of the Trade > > > >Great soldering stuff! Have you done any silver soldering with propane > >torches? I've just bought a torch and I could use some pointers. > > for what its worth: > > it somewhat depends on the composition of the solder, silver solder comes > in differing alloys, some require more heat than others. The stuff I used to use > required two torches on the joint to bring it up to temp, the stuff I have now > requires just one. I prefer the former, its much stronger. Basically from > my experience its just about the same as any kind of soldering. Enough > heat, clean clean clean surfaces, lots of flux and no mechanical movement > whilst the joint is cooling down. Apply the heat to the joint to bring it > up to temp, remove the > flame and apply the solder till it flows into the joint, more is not better. If > you try and apply the solder while toasting the join, it tends to melt off > and fall on the floor or inside your sneakers. The silver solder I am using > now has a flux core rather than applying the flux as a paste prior to > heating. I am not sure which I prefer, i suspect for joins where the > surface is not visible and you are sweating the solder in i might prefer > the paste first, join then heat method rather than trusting there is enough > flux carried in the solder. However > this is based on feeling rather than experiment. > > Nick Gloor > njg@cc.umanitoba.ca Nick, Thank you. I've heard that silver solder required more heat than a propane torch provided, but I never thought about using two torches. Bob -- Bob Andrews bandrews@inreach.com http://www.anaserve.com/~BoBandrews From owner-halloween-l@majordomo.netcom.com Wed Jan 22 12:12:05 1997 Date: Fri, 17 Jan 1997 16:09:11 -0800 From: Michael Marcrum To: halloween-l@netcom.com Subject: Re: Coffins Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com For that price you should be able to bury the whole darn car!!!!! K. From owner-halloween-l@majordomo.netcom.com Wed Jan 22 12:15:38 1997 Date: Wed, 22 Jan 1997 12:03:20 -0800 From: Bob Andrews To: halloween-l@netcom.com Subject: Re: Coffins Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Michael Marcrum wrote: > > For that price you should be able to bury the whole darn car!!!!! > K. Kathy, But did you see it? It makes you want to die just to try it out! -- Bob Andrews bandrews@inreach.com http://www.anaserve.com/~BoBandrews From owner-halloween-l@majordomo.netcom.com Wed Jan 22 12:31:03 1997 Date: Fri, 17 Jan 1997 16:33:01 -0800 From: Michael Marcrum To: halloween-l@netcom.com Subject: Re: Coffins Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Bob, I am really starting to worry about you?? I just found out we have a metal scrap yard about 15mins. away so this weekend we are going to see if they have any coffins. I can just see the guy at the counter and the look I am going to get. Kathy the new kid on the crypt mmarcrum@ix.netcom.com From owner-halloween-l@majordomo.netcom.com Wed Jan 22 12:36:08 1997 Date: Wed, 22 Jan 1997 15:46:28 -0500 To: halloween-l@netcom.com From: "John P. Jeffries" Subject: Coffin banter Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com >>> Bob wrote: >>> > He offered to get me a >>> >good price on a casket. I'll ask him the price if you're interested... >>> Did you get any pricing on the caskets, by any chance? >>William,. >> I haven't asked, but he did volunteer the wholesale price of >>Batesville's "Promethian" >>http://www.batesville.com/products/bproducts_promethean.html . $18000! > OUCH! I do hope that was $1,800.00 not $18,000.00. From work experience, and the passing of a family member, I have come to know some prices. 18g is what's called being "rip"ed off. With research one will find some Funeral homes crank up the prices to the limits! I think 60 Min did a show on it a few years back. I have a URL that has some interesting stuff: http://www.erinet.com/doc/tmhc/ It's the Margret Heart Company. Look under FACTS, there you will find not only some disturbing things about the "here after", but what places do to those that lost a loved one. There are several places that build coffins, but it's tough to get one for the needs of Halloween. Many Casket manufactures sell to the public on a basis of a Funeral. On the other hand, there are businesses that can get some quality coffins (usually toe pinchers) for the Haunted House use. I'm not tooting a horn here but check with Denny at B.T. Productions and inquire on them. I carry a couple of models myself, but make my own for our attractions. I say that meaning no-one should get a loan on their house to buy a prop. But it's good to know that you don't have to pay Funeral Home Cost once "that time" comes. I'll more than likely be placed in something I made either by choice or necessity:) I have also seen on the 'Net a couple of places that sell "blueprints" to make your own. I have found that 3 sheets 3/4" plywood is enough to make one adult size, and one child size. With some standard trim and hardware from a store and a coat of paint (black of corpse), they look pretty darn good. And anyone with a skill-saw, screwdriver, and simple tools can make them. (I paid under $150.00 for materials including fabric.) Plans you ask? Scope out some old westerns, or those "Time Life" books on the Old west that are gathering dust on the shelves. They will have tons of pictures of them! Build to what looks good to you. After all, it's your display. :) John. ********************************* * Mr.Scary Productions * * http://www.mrscary.com * * E-mail: mrscary@kiva.net * * 1-812-824-8935 * * FAX: 1-812-824-9960 * ********************************* From owner-halloween-l@majordomo.netcom.com Wed Jan 22 12:42:07 1997 Date: Wed, 22 Jan 1997 15:56:37 -0500 To: halloween-l@netcom.com From: "John P. Jeffries" Subject: Re: Coffins Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com At 04:33 PM 1/17/97 -0800, you wrote: >I just found out we have a metal scrap yard about 15mins. away so this weekend >we are going to see if they have any coffins. >Kathy >the new kid on the crypt >mmarcrum@ix.netcom.com > I found a treasure at a yard here too. Apparently a funeral home bought all new equipment and trashed all the "body hoists", Portable "Funeral, no parking" signs and some other stuff. They are few and far between, but when a Funeral home gets rid of stuff, it's worth it. Make a poster for the foreman; "WANTED, CREEPY STUFF" they will call you FIRST when they get things in. Take a truck, you might find old fence gates or something to take home:) John ********************************* * Mr.Scary Productions * * http://www.mrscary.com * * E-mail: mrscary@kiva.net * * 1-812-824-8935 * * FAX: 1-812-824-9960 * ********************************* From owner-halloween-l@majordomo.netcom.com Wed Jan 22 13:04:14 1997 Date: Wed, 22 Jan 1997 12:50:45 -0800 From: Bob Andrews To: halloween-l@netcom.com Subject: Re: How-to, Part 4 Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Bill Lewis wrote: > P.S. to BobAndrews, now that we've thawed out a bit, and the day's are > getting a touch longer, and they've taken the Xmas decorations off of it, I > should be able to get that picture to you very soon. If you don't remeber > what I mean, Then it'll be a surprise. Bill, Of course I remember! You should take a look at my hearse page now. Lot's more pics. -- Bob Andrews bandrews@inreach.com http://www.anaserve.com/~BoBandrews From owner-halloween-l@majordomo.netcom.com Wed Jan 22 13:06:07 1997 Date: Fri, 17 Jan 1997 17:00:29 -0800 From: Michael Marcrum To: halloween-l@netcom.com Subject: Re: Coffins Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com John, I never thought about gates. I know they have some of those there!! I will have a great time shopping!! This place is huge, I mean acres of stuff!!! Fun Kathy the new kid on the crypt mmarcrum@ix.netcom.com From owner-halloween-l@majordomo.netcom.com Wed Jan 22 13:38:16 1997 Date: Wed, 22 Jan 1997 13:33:25 -0800 From: Bob Andrews To: halloween-l@netcom.com Subject: Re: Coffin banter Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com John P. Jeffries wrote: > OUCH! > > I do hope that was $1,800.00 not $18,000.00. No, that's $18,000.00, *wholesale*. Troy told me he wanted to sell one of those in his life before he retires. -- Bob Andrews bandrews@inreach.com http://www.anaserve.com/~BoBandrews From owner-halloween-l@majordomo.netcom.com Wed Jan 22 13:42:12 1997 From: Steve_Kirkman_at_BI-USA@astec.com Date: Wed, 22 Jan 1997 12:49:05 -0800 To: halloween-l@netcom.com Subject: How-to, Part 4 - Banter Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Roger Alexander wrote: >Hey, you want cheap, just use your teeth! ;-D Hey, that's always worked for me, and I nearly always have them with me! ;) Steve From owner-halloween-l@majordomo.netcom.com Wed Jan 22 13:53:50 1997 Date: Wed, 22 Jan 1997 15:43:47 -0600 From: David Kiihne To: halloween-l@netcom.com Subject: News Story: Halloween Murders sentencing Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com A news item that I think will interest many on this list: CNN reports that 3 gang members were given the death penalty yesterday for killing 3 teen-aged trick-or-treaters on Halloween night, 1993, in Pasadena, California. They were also given sentences of life in prison for the attempted murder of the 5 other trick-or-treaters who survived the attack. The attack was a case of mistaken identity; the murdered children had no gang connections. More information about this story can be found on CNN's web site. http://cnn.com/US/9701/21/briefs.pm/halloween.html Granted, it's a 3-year-old crime, but it's frightening (not the fun way) in its implications for our favored holiday. (Sorry if this is a "downer," but I figured many on the list would find it of interest.) Dave - daveki@nebfef.com From owner-halloween-l@majordomo.netcom.com Wed Jan 22 14:12:18 1997 From: Steve_Kirkman_at_BI-USA@astec.com Date: Wed, 22 Jan 1997 13:49:36 -0800 To: halloween-l@netcom.com Subject: Re: Coffin banter Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com John, You wouldn't happen to have the URLs of those places with the blueprints would you? Sure would like to take a look. Steve ______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________ ------------------------ 8< MAJOR SNIPPAGE ------------------------------ I have also seen on the 'Net a couple of places that sell "blueprints" to make your own. I have found that 3 sheets 3/4" plywood is enough to make one adult size, and one child size. With some standard trim and hardware from a store and a coat of paint (black of corpse), they look pretty darn good. And anyone with a skill-saw, screwdriver, and simple tools can make them. (I paid under $150.00 for materials including fabric.) Plans you ask? Scope out some old westerns, or those "Time Life" books on the Old west that are gathering dust on the shelves. They will have tons of pictures of them! Build to what looks good to you. After all, it's your display. :) John. ********************************* * Mr.Scary Productions * * http://www.mrscary.com * * E-mail: mrscary@kiva.net * * 1-812-824-8935 * * FAX: 1-812-824-9960 * ********************************* From owner-halloween-l@majordomo.netcom.com Wed Jan 22 14:36:25 1997 Date: Wed, 22 Jan 1997 17:27:15 +0000 From: Cliff Martin To: halloween-l@netcom.com Subject: Underwater Monster Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Hi All, Going through past messages in the archive, I had an idea that may go along with the pop-up skulls (pop-up via water sprinkler head) - an "underwater monster". It goes something like this: Guests pass near a small body of water (or over a low bridge). Suddenly a 'something' begins moving quickly at them underwater! Construct a moving line about 4"-6" below water level and about 5'-20' long. Attach a 4"-6" funnel to the line (painted black or other dark color). When triggered, a motor moves the underwater line and drags the funnel along, simulating a large object moving just under the surface. Motor speed sets the intensity. Use a drive belt & pulley assembly to keep the motor above water level (lets see: water+electricty=fireworks). Perhaps a rubber V-groove belt drive from surplus auto parts. Really bad ascii art of underwater monster idea: ------- | | |Motor| | | ------- || drive --water level -- || belt || \ funnel ---- __________\________________ ---- / || \ / / || \ <-(really bad wheels) | || | / | || | \ / _______________________ \ / ---- ---- pulley Enhancemets: add the water sprinkler pop-up skulls at the end. scene example- guests are on a rickety bridge crossing over the "swamp", when they see something just under the water coming at them! just as the 'thing' gets next to the bridge, it disappears (building suspense), then the skulls jump up supported by blood (red water) gushing out from the bottom, mouth & eyes! Loud ‘skull screaming’ sounds accompany the skull's jump up. Use 3 or 4 'swimming skulls' coming from multiple directions to really scare ‘em! When the creek melts, I'm gonna try it - I'll let you know if/how well it works.... What do you think? Cliff cliff.martin@saralee.net From owner-halloween-l@majordomo.netcom.com Wed Jan 22 15:09:43 1997 Date: Wed, 22 Jan 1997 18:08:07 -0500 To: halloween-l@netcom.com From: "John P. Jeffries" Subject: Casket URLs Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com At 01:49 PM 1/22/97 -0800, you wrote: > John, > > You wouldn't happen to have the URLs of those places with the > blueprints would you? Sure would like to take a look. > Here are the ones I am posting on the new web site, if you find any others, please let me know. I will look around to see if I can find the other place that has Plans. The first URL is tough to hit, most of the time it says:DNS not found...Keep trying, it's there:) http://www.volcano.net/~johnstone/caskhome.html (Homemade Caskets) http://www.erinet.com/doc/tmhc/ (Margret Heart Casket Co.) http://www3.sympatico.ca/susan.carey/ (The Casket Store) http://www.auroracasket.com/ (Aurora Casket Co.) http://www.globalnt.com/ataudes/english.html (Mexican Casket Co.) http://plainfield.bypass.com/stone/ (Everlasting Stone, Pet Caskets/Headstones) http://www.batesville.com/cgi-bin/gate2?batesville~index1.html (Batesville Co.) http://www.illinoiscasketco.com/ (Illionis Casket Co.) http://www.menina.si/index.htm (Menina Casket Co.) Hauntingly, John ********************************* * Mr.Scary Productions * * http://www.mrscary.com * * E-mail: mrscary@kiva.net * * 1-812-824-8935 * * FAX: 1-812-824-9960 * ********************************* From owner-halloween-l@majordomo.netcom.com Wed Jan 22 17:16:12 1997 Date: Wed, 22 Jan 1997 16:56:26 -0800 From: Spook To: halloween-l@netcom.com Subject: Chicago Trade Show? Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Anyone out there going to the Chicago trade show in March? Any chance of getting together for some drinks? Mark From owner-halloween-l@majordomo.netcom.com Wed Jan 22 18:37:24 1997 Date: Wed, 22 Jan 1997 22:10:58 -0800 From: "K. Long" To: halloween-l@netcom.com Subject: Re: Chicago Trade Show? Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Spook wrote: > > Anyone out there going to the Chicago trade show in March? Any chance > of getting together for some drinks? > > Mark I myself am working on going. I've called and gotten prices for the flight and hotel stay. For total package for me it looks like about $1000 for flight and hotel. I'll know for sure by the end of this week if I'm going to go for sure or not. Keith From owner-halloween-l@majordomo.netcom.com Wed Jan 22 19:15:13 1997 Date: Wed, 22 Jan 1997 20:57:39 -0600 (CST) From: John Dolan To: halloween-l@netcom.com Subject: details Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Well its wed. and I'm back.Thanx to everyone for the greetings. Btw someone from address unkmown has e-mailed me privately stating "I also run a haunt and would like to share room ideas".I don't know if this person got my name from this list but if they did my answer is "sure" but why not on the list.I'm sure there are others out there who might also be interested and some feedback and/or conributions concerning possible improvements/modifications would be useful.I don't understand why some (thankfully not many) haunt operators treat their productions as if it were a magic show and refuse to discuss their "secrets".I personally don't share this viewpoint because let's face it the chance that a patron of my haunt in Bloomington IL.is going to visit another haunt in N.Y.,L.A.,or for that matter Olney IL. are infinitesimal.So I don't really be- lieve that if someon uses an idea of mine that it will suffer from any kind of "over-exposure".I will gladly share any of my own ideas with anyone who cares to ask.O.K. I will step off my soap box and I promise that "details" are coming. JD jdolan@titan.iwu.edua From owner-halloween-l@majordomo.netcom.com Wed Jan 22 19:22:58 1997 From: DWFWW@jazz.ucc.uno.edu Date: Wed, 22 Jan 1997 20:55:26 -0600 (CST) Subject: Re: How-to, Part 4 To: halloween-l@netcom.com Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Bill, You wrote: >I really should read what Doug wrote to wee if he covered any of this >already. (how about shrink tube?) No, I hadn't covered these finer points. It's more than I was trying to feed beginners right up front, but upon reflection, it should be added before the material is revised into the chapter for the book. Shrink tubes, spaghetti, and strain relief, as well as flexing will be touched upon in the next installment. --- By the way, all, I appreciate the responses you have given me on this series of articles, and all of your information has been helpful! I have taken to heart your suggestions, and they will help shape the final versions. -Doug *********************************************************************** * Safety, Courtesy, Show and Efficiency: * Doug Ferguson * * The Keys To The Kingdom * dwfww@jazz.ucc.uno.edu * *********************************************************************** From owner-halloween-l@majordomo.netcom.com Wed Jan 22 19:25:34 1997 Date: Wed, 22 Jan 1997 22:00:33 -0500 From: Nightmare To: halloween-l@netcom.com Subject: Re: Chicago Trade Show? Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Spook wrote: > > Anyone out there going to the Chicago trade show in March? Any chance > of getting together for some drinks? > > Mark I will be there for Thursday through Sunday! Let's all get together sometime while we're up there! Allan From owner-halloween-l@majordomo.netcom.com Wed Jan 22 19:49:26 1997 Date: Wed, 22 Jan 1997 22:46:34 -0500 To: halloween-l@netcom.com From: "John P. Jeffries" Subject: Re: Chicago Trade Show? Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com At 10:00 PM 1/22/97 -0500, you wrote: >Spook wrote: >> >> Anyone out there going to the Chicago trade show in March? Any chance >> of getting together for some drinks? >> >> Mark Show yes, but the HH seminar I'll pass on this year. Who's buy in' first? :) :) :) Hey, I know! Let's charge it to Denny! ;) John ********************************* * Mr.Scary Productions * * http://www.mrscary.com * * E-mail: mrscary@kiva.net * * 1-812-824-8935 * * FAX: 1-812-824-9960 * ********************************* From owner-halloween-l@majordomo.netcom.com Wed Jan 22 20:50:46 1997 Date: Wed, 22 Jan 1997 23:26:35 -0500 From: Nightmare To: halloween-l@netcom.com Subject: Re: Chicago Trade Show? Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com John P. Jeffries wrote: > > At 10:00 PM 1/22/97 -0500, you wrote: > >Spook wrote: > >> > >> Anyone out there going to the Chicago trade show in March? Any chance > >> of getting together for some drinks? > >> > >> Mark > > Show yes, but the HH seminar I'll pass on this year. Who's buy in' first? :) Hey John was the HH seminar worth it last year? I am going to it this year and I see they raised the price. Allan From owner-halloween-l@majordomo.netcom.com Wed Jan 22 20:59:55 1997 Date: Wed, 22 Jan 1997 22:44:23 -0600 (CST) From: John Dolan To: halloween-l@netcom.com Subject: Trade show Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com I'm also skipping the seminar this year but will be attend- ing the Chicago trade show sat.,sun., and possibly fri. From owner-halloween-l@majordomo.netcom.com Wed Jan 22 21:00:00 1997 Date: Wed, 22 Jan 1997 20:40:57 -0800 From: Spook To: halloween-l@netcom.com Subject: Re: Chicago Trade Show? Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Well, tell you what.... I'll volunteer to keep track of who's going, and who's staying where, etc., then sometime in late February, we'll get together and firm up a meet. If that works, send me your details as you get them. Mark From owner-halloween-l@majordomo.netcom.com Thu Jan 23 01:03:31 1997 From: DWFWW@jazz.ucc.uno.edu Date: Thu, 23 Jan 1997 02:52:09 -0600 (CST) Subject: Phantasmechanics Online To: halloween-l@netcom.com Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com Well, groovy ghouls, adfter 10+ hours of angst and labor, the Phantasmechanics web-site is up and running: http://members.aol.com/phanmech/index.html If I've accidentally left anyone's site off the links page, don't be afraid (well, be afraid if you wish) to write me and inform me. Hope you enjoy it. It will be expanded soon. -Doug *********************************************************************** * Safety, Courtesy, Show and Efficiency: * Doug Ferguson * * The Keys To The Kingdom * dwfww@jazz.ucc.uno.edu * *********************************************************************** From owner-halloween-l@majordomo.netcom.com Thu Jan 23 03:09:40 1997 Date: Thu, 23 Jan 97 06:05:33 EST To: halloween-l@netcom.com From: Bill Lewis Subject: Re: How-to, Part 4 -Reply Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com At 02:01 PM 1/22/97 -0500, you wrote: >It's not nearly as nice as a good wire stripper, >Hey, you want cheap, just use your teeth! ;-D > Plus it saves having to floss. Bill Lewis NSWC Carderock Division Code 6060 (301) 227-2742 lewisw@oasys.dt.navy.mil From owner-halloween-l@majordomo.netcom.com Thu Jan 23 03:11:27 1997 Date: Thu, 23 Jan 97 06:07:28 EST To: halloween-l@netcom.com From: Bill Lewis Subject: Re: How-to, Part 4 Reply-To: halloween-l@netcom.com At 11:59 AM 1/22/97 -0800, you wrote: >Nick, > Thank you. I've heard that silver solder required more heat than a >propane torch provided, but I never thought about using two torches. > >Bob What about using MAPP gas instead. It burns hotter than propane. Bill Lewis NSWC Carderock Division