October starts as fall begins. The weather is chillier as night comes sooner and the tree leaves begin to die beautifully. Halloween costumes are bought to scare or seduce. Pumpkins get gutted and carved. “Pumpkin spice” — a horror all its own — gets added to too many things. And 26 years ago in October, I was drawn into the world of haunted houses and would return to it for 7 years.
It began with an out of town stranger. A college-aged guy, who had run a haunted house in his small hometown for years, was opening a new one in my city. It was my sophomore year when he approached my high school’s drama department for volunteers. Drama wasn’t a class I excelled at. But I loved horror movies and being able to act out behind a costume, and hopefully make some friends, interested me.
My Haunted House History
I grew up going to haunted houses big and small. We often went to the biggest one in our area at the time (a “haunted warehouse”) more than once a year. I enjoyed them, but they also genuinely scared me — my imagination is pretty strong.
Haunted houses can give you the same rush as riding a great roller coaster for the first time. Also, a similar feeling after you get to the end: that you’re glad it’s over, but wish it wasn’t. But the shared experience of going through haunted houses with a group of friends is a great way to bond on its own.
It also makes people ruthless sometimes. I was usually shoved in front of the group, and made to go first, since I was bigger than most kids my age. It wasn’t much different when put with strangers either. Some mom would often grab the back of my shirt in a death grip and push me forward the whole time, so she and her kids didn’t get the first scare.
Bringing the Haunted House to Life
The haunted house’s creator was a horror buff and former drama kid. This was a new haunted house in a larger market with more competition and more potential customers to reach. He was also starting with an almost totally new crew of volunteers. For me, being a part of a brand new haunted house was pretty exciting.
There was a lot of work to be done before the costumes could come on. First, we had to help clear out left over junk from the former department store space we were using (in a small strip mall). Then, help by building the walls and covering them all with lots and lots of Visqueen — large sheets of black plastic.
It was neat to see how it came together as wires were laid for sound, and fog machines and set decorations were added to each room. Piece by piece, it came together, like Frankenstein’s monster — who was the first character I got to play in the haunted house.
Me in the Monster
Actually, my first character was Dracula but — since almost nobody got to see me — I say it doesn’t count (accidental vampire pun there). The original “scene,” and why it didn’t work, is a good example of how adaptable haunted houses have to be once real customers go through.
The scene was supposed to be in Dracula’s lair. When coming into the room, people would encounter several female vampires and a closed coffin. I was in the coffin wearing a decent mask and full costume. Side note: it was the coffin that a local late night horror movie host used in his show— which was pretty cool.
What was supposed to happen is that the coffin would suddenly open as the group entered and I would rise quickly and point to the group and say, “get them.” Then, my lady vampires would chase the group out of the room.
What ended up happening is that I couldn’t hear groups come in to know when to pop up, so I wouldn’t do my thing in time. I tried a knocking system with one of the lady vamps but it the timing was never right — partly because it was hard for me to sit up and open up the coffin door quickly. When a group did get to see me, I was too far away, and the mask made what I said sound like a shouted garble. Not the finest monster debut I wanted.
It was a bit disappointing — but still fun — experience that first night. Before the next night, scenes were changed, and rehearsed more. Those in each scene had to learn on the fly as well how to tweak what happened and their “performance.” You couldn’t worry too much about bad groups or mistakes because a different group would be coming right behind.
The Monster Squad
The haunted house was always a mix of popular characters — like Jason Vorhees or Michael Myers — and newer ones. When new horror movies came out those characters and scenes would get added if they were strong enough. It also allowed for cool ways to update classic characters after movies like “Braum Stoker’s Dracula.”
I wish I could recall all of my favorite characters to play. Jason Vorhees from the Friday the 13thmovies was one. He was great because he was more versatile with his weapons. You could put him in a small area with a machete or a large area with a chainsaw (with no chain of course). Nothing like hearing a chainsaw start up behind you in the dark to get a group moving.
The haunted house returned each year to its strip mall location and grew. Most of us kids returned to help each year as well. I became part of a small group that got to help create things for it earlier in the year. The haunted house was eventually moved back to its creator’s hometown to become a popular haunted forest that I helped with for a few years more.
What Kind of Monster Would Do This
You don’t always know who is behind the masks and makeup at a haunted house. It is not just the stereotypical horror-obsessed goth kids (or whatever that group might be called now). They draw many different kids who want to work in them. I think these things are generally important for those who do:
Being able to forget yourself: You have to commit to being the character you’re assigned to — even if it feels silly — or your going to look stupid and hinder the experience.
Have a high tolerance: You have to have a high tolerance for repetitive tasks, sweaty masks, dealing with groups that are mean, and continually breathing in fog from a machine.
Be a monster, not a jerk: There’s a certain power and guilty pleasure being able to scare and cause an extreme reaction in someone — especially anonymously. It can be fun for everyone, if you don’t take it too far by doing things like putting your hands on people to scare them. This was a no-no at our haunted house — but not a rule followed or enforced at the largest local ones the last time I tried them. Doing this takes advantage of people who are disoriented or scared, and it can lead to accidents or fights with those looking to prove how tough and “fearless” they are.
Be Afraid. Be Very Afraid.
Going to a haunted house this year? I hope you make the most of the experience on your end. Just go with and enjoy it. Don’t be the jerk that’s only there to prove he can’t be scared (that’s a terrible way to spend your money). Don’t try to have a conversation with the characters — they’re trying to perform for you then be ready for the next group.
Remember, most working as characters are passionate volunteers, unless it’s a large haunted house. They just want you to give a good time by scaring the pumpkin spice out of you.
Bad Speler. Good Writer. 
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