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handa Inner circle Pittsburgh, PA 1357 Posts |
I'm getting the opportunity to work on a version of a "closet of curiosities" for our haunted attraction this coming fall. It will be called the "Experimentorium" and will be a Victorian-inspired lab with one central "experiment" (magic effect already chosen for the venue) and lots of cool eye candy to fill the halls, one major room (16X12) and two smaller booths, as well as "tanks" set into the walls of the hallways to house other experiments.
I have the feeling that some of my things from Doug and Mark are going to be on loan for the lab, but we're looking for any other suggestions or inspirations. I already have a couple of Mers, a Chup, and some mutant alligator heads. We're thinking about pieces from some inspirational resources such as Lovecraft, Hammer/Universal Films, THE TINGLER, LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, AND FIEND WITHOUT A FACE (a personal favorite). We're doing our best to avoid overly gory or gross, so I'm trying to avoid fetuses in jars if we can. Any other suggestions, either for specific experiments or resources for inspiration. Thanks, Chris |
Todd Robbins V.I.P. New York 2922 Posts |
Get a crate and put some chicken wire over the top. Make a hand made sign (with a few bloody fingerprints on it) saying: DANGER-Killer Bats! Put a tape player behind the crate with a grind tape that says, "See the miniature killer redwood bats. From the forest of California come this deadly killers. Don't let their small size fool you. They can kill a full grown man in seconds. See them if you dare. Miniature killer redwood bats." Of course, the crate contains a couple of small baseball bats painted red.
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handa Inner circle Pittsburgh, PA 1357 Posts |
Since we have "hand rails" and "footers" made of skeleton arms/hands/legs/feet, putting something like this in a corner of the area may fit the spirit of the attraction. Considering the fact that our owner is a die-hard fan of the Bronx Bombers, maybe some "imported Yankee Bats" may work for the scene.
Thanks Todd! Chris P.S.--From what I've been following, the Yankees need to bring all of their bats up from the basement and into the batter's box, but we'll try to backorder them if nothing else. |
Doug Higley 1942 - 2022 7152 Posts |
Todd's Coney Root is hanging out...
Reynolds went the other way and had a Giant Killer Bat! (it is HUGE!) (No double meanings intended.) My personal favorite (and I'm sure I mentioned this somewhere)...is the Gen-U-Ine Fly'n Saucer...(a china saucer with a dead Fly in it.) I can do your Tingler and Fiend Without A Face or anything else you can think of...I just made a Deadly Atomic Rat that I'm sure you'ld like....plus there is the Lifesized Werewolf Head Trophy mount. I'm having a hell of a time finding some Silver Bullets though for the display. I did find a nice handcarved Pentagram. As to the Rat...I never get to make something that is unspoken for...but in the middle of getting 7 Mermaids done this week and to avoid screaming out the window for relief, I freeformed and came up with a cool rat. He will be very Natural History-ish when completed. Give a call anytime Chris and we can brain storm...or brain fart...what ever your choice.
Higley's Giant Flea Pocket Zibit
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Todd Robbins V.I.P. New York 2922 Posts |
The original version of the gag was Giant Killer Bats, but the miniature bats are easier to carry around. That *** bat Bobby had weighed a ton.
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Harley Newman Inner circle 5117 Posts |
I was mascot for the indianapolis Clowns one season, and can attest to the weight of the big bats. I had to use one every game.
Now if the Yankees could get the swing right with them, there problems would be over. When they connect, the ball just goes.
“You can’t depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus” -Mark Twain
www.bladewalker.com |
handa Inner circle Pittsburgh, PA 1357 Posts |
I did the "man eating bread" (our version of the six foot man eating chicken) stunt one entire summer for a camp program.
I started the pitch at the opening program on Sunday to get people to come up to visit my program area. We did announcements at meal time with "man eating bread" facts and did a big push on Wednesday at our mid-week campfire. During the week, I staked out a small snow fence w/ a milk crate (and later on bread tray) in the area w/ a sign that read "reserved for the man eating bread." Friday was visitor's day and I never had a problem lining up a "guest man eating bread" in any week. On shorter weeks or if there were other technical errors, the MEB came out under a blanket or running out of the woods during our closing campfire. The most interesting part of our little silliness was that somebody actually remembered all of the bally jokes from the stunt and met me at a formal event years later. His group actively promoted and participated in the MEB stunt, guessing that it was a fun joke. He told me that it was his most memorable week of camp ever, and that both the kids and adults really got into the whole idea of the stunt. They even started chants for me prior to meals so that I didn't forget to make the announcements! Chris P.S.--Thanks for the ideas so far. Keep em' coming. I have quite a bit of linear feet and three areas to fill with stuff! |
Doug Higley 1942 - 2022 7152 Posts |
Todd: The original version that I remember (well before your time) was at Steeplechase at Coney...there was a stand alone staircase one had to climb...at the top of the staircase was a small platform with a chicken wire covered box. At the bottom of the stairs was a sign: "SEE The California Red Bats!" with an arrow pointing up the stairs. I would guess this was in the late 40's and remained till the 50's but my Mother had said it was left over from the 30's...these were little miniature baseball bats...3 or 4 of them painted red. It was my first 'gotcha' and vividly remembered.
Higley's Giant Flea Pocket Zibit
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handa Inner circle Pittsburgh, PA 1357 Posts |
What is the setup for the one with two bricks in a box?
Chris |
camikesrd Regular user Richmond,Virginia 103 Posts |
What about a horse with his tail where his head ought to be.
Mike |
camikesrd Regular user Richmond,Virginia 103 Posts |
What about a horse with his tail where his head ought to be.
Mike |
thegreatnippulini Inner circle of Hell because I've made 2582 Posts |
Then there's the famous "Blivit".... a blivit is 10 pounds of manure in a 5 pound sack.
The Great Nippulini: body piercer, Guinness World Record holder, blacksmith and man with The World's Strongest Nipples! Does the WORLD care? We shall see...
http://www.greatnippulini.com |
Steve V Inner circle Northern California 1878 Posts |
When I was a lil' punk we crossed the desert around Death Valley and there were signs about "Baby Rattlers" at a gas station. We begged to stop and my father thinking there was always a chance one of us could get bit did stop. We saw the box with the wire over it and approached...there were three blue baby rattles in the box. Inside they sold the ol' rattle snake rattlers which were really paper clips attached to rubberbands that would rotate when the envelope openned and scare the heck out of ya.
Steve V |
Marvello Inner circle It's amazing how little I can say in 1612 Posts |
I saw the Baby rattlers gag at the Circus World Museum in Baraboo when I was a kid- very funny.
Never criticize someone else until you have walked a mile in their shoes. Then, when you do criticize them, you will be a mile away from them and you will have their shoes.
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Harley Newman Inner circle 5117 Posts |
Baby rattlers are in the same league as another walkaround gag. Clown walks around with a suitcase that's labelled "Best Seat in the House", trying to sell tickets, and occasionally opens the case. There's a toilet seat inside.
“You can’t depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus” -Mark Twain
www.bladewalker.com |
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