So far for 2011 it seems things are ramping up. Aside from Rotting Flesh Radio going to be in attendance there are such guests already announced such as Leonard Pickel, editor of Haunted Attraction Magazine, Steve Santini, an escape artist and collector of grim medieval implements of torture, Peter Loughran of Master of Illusions who has built FX for Criss Angel, and is the star of a new Hollywood horror film called Plaster Rock and more.

So as it draws closer, we know you are thinking the Haunt Season, but mark your calendar for May, 2011 for the Canadian Haunters Convention. Pre-Registration will be available so be prepared to invade Canada Haunter Style.

For more information visit: www.CanadaHaunts.ca

First up will be Shrek in Shrekless. This will be airing on October 28, 2010 and will have Fiona, Donkey, Shrek and the spending the night in Lord Farquaad’s Haunted Castle telling each other ghost stories. This will also be paired along side the re-airing of Monsters vs. Aliens: Mutant Pumpkins From Outer Space.

They may not be the holiday specials living up to the Great Pumpkin, but hey we can’t be choosy when getting some Halloween Flair for once. In addition to this they will also have a Christmas Special with Kung Fu Panda and some other goodies.

So set your DVR, sit in front of the boob tube and have some good old fashioned Halloween fun on October 28th.

Those were the moments you remember as a child, seasonal items you grew up watching right before trick or treating and so on. I have made sure to introduce many of these to our children and now we can do it in full 1080p High Definition! Today’s marks the release of It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown out on Blu-Ray.

Yes, the annual CLASSIC has returned for a new generation to enjoy. This first time release on Blu-Ray will dazzle you as the crisp crystal clear lines and true art can be seen and appreciated from the artists animation to the sound and full Halloween experience.

Aside from the crystal clear clarity of Blu-Ray it does offer some bonus features, many of which happen to be part of the previous Remastered DVD, but still remain fun to enjoy. You will be able to watch in addition to Great Pumpkin, It’s Magic Charlie Brown where a monumental thing happens in Charlie kicking the football for the first time that us as viewers ever see.

You also can enjoy the ever popular documentary We Need a Blockbuster Charlie Brown where they follow the team behind The Great Pumpkin and how it came to be.

In addition to the Blu-Ray you get the added plus DVD so you can watch it on the go, basic players in kids rooms and more.

Overall this is a must-have for any Halloween Special fan and due note that a complete Holidays Special Blu-Ray pack will hit the stores as well on October 5, 2010.

To get your copy visit: www.Amazon.com – Great Pumpkin Blu-Ray

This annual trek is a must show at for any haunt vendor wanting to make a splash and get those early sales for the 2011 Haunt Season. Once again Rotting Flesh Radio will be vending there and will have something very special to debut. But time is running out to secure your space and a good discount on it if you wish to vend in the upcoming show.

We look forward to seeing all of our friends and haunt family there so on with the details for those wanting to vend.

RELEASE:
THE HALLOWEEN & ATTRACTIONS SHOW featuring THE HAUNT SHOW

March 10-13, 2011 at the America’s Center in St. Louis, MO.

A record number of booths have already been reserved for the 2011 show – and we still not have heard from you! Take advantage of the Early Bird Discount that ends on September 15th and sign up today!! Booth price is only $1,200 per 10×10 booth, plus $100 per corner. After September 15th, booth prices increase to $1,400 per booth – NO EXCEPTIONS!

The HAAShow will be co-located with the Halloween, Costume & Party Show featuring Holiday & Special Occasion Merchandise this year. Both shows are finally back together, co-located in adjacent halls. Buyers will have free flowing access from one event to the other. This gives you, the exhibitor, multiple opportunities to cross-market your products to both the attractions/haunt industry as well as the retail market. This is a WIN-WIN situation for both shows. And you get to take advantage.

Visit our website at: www.haashow.com and see the combined floor plan. Contact your TransWorld Account Executive today to find out what booths are still available. Up until September 15th, we are requiring only $250 per booth deposit. After then, it will be 50% deposit due. There are more events, more seminars, more things to do and see at the 2011 show than ever before.

You can’t afford to miss out.

So it seems recently according to WDW Magic, Disney has been dishing out surveys to see what kind of rooms guests would like to see next in the Moderate Level Resorts. This is much like the Pirates of the Caribbean rooms that were added in recent years.

According to many of the forum and thread users at WDW Magic, Disney has been using these surveys along with concept art and asking their opinions. Now this would go beyond just a Haunted Mansion Room. There was also talk of a Princess Room, and a Royal Room etc. Here is the description for the Haunted Mansion Room:

“Come spend the night with a few of the happy haunts who play in an enchanted bedroom inspired by the Haunted Mansion. Rest atop the floating Doom Buggy beds with a couple of friendly spooks and watch glow-in-the-dark, cartoon-like footsteps mysteriously appear as the evening sets in. A sliding bookcase creates a hidden passage to the bathroom and is the perfect hiding place for a hitch-hiking ghost. Oversized furnishings with curvy lines and bright colors add to the whimsy in the room. Guests will delight in finding the hidden special effects that play up the merry, rather than scary, room ambiance.”

I know I for one would LOVE to see a Haunted Mansion room surface at the Disney Resorts. Sound off, what would you think?

(Thanks to Deadite Kevin for this find. Description/Concept Photos Courtesy of: WDW Magic

CONCEPT ART (CLICK ON ANY IMAGE TO SEE IT LARGER:

Haunted Mansion Room

Royal Room

“We are very careful about who we allow to represent our products”, commented Ron Musgrave, President of Lights Alive. “We pride ourselves in being a solution provider, not just a box dropper‚ a philosophy clearly shared by Sinister Controls”, Musgrave said.

In expressing why they chose Lights Alive products, Kathryn Ames, President of Sinister Controls LLC remarked, “With all the competition in this market one supplier stood out from the rest, Lights Alive. Lights Alive has listened to the end users and instead of parroting what was already on the market, introduced both new innovative designs as well as making major improvements on existing technology. Not content to rest on their laurels, they continue to innovate and expand their product offering”.

Sinister Controls engineer Scott Ames said “I take great pride in the quality and workmanship of the custom products we design and build ourselves. When selecting a supplier to partner with, I would not want to present a line of products to my customers that were not to our standards. With Lights Alive I have no concerns for quality, reliability, functionality, or ease of use. The Lights Alive product line has far exceeded my expectations and has now raised the bar for our own custom product line. I am truly excited about the opportunity to represent this product line”.

Sinister Controls will launch their new Lights Alive product line
offering at the National Haunters Convention in King of Prussia, PA, on April 29 – May 2, 2010, in booths 2001 & 2101. Sinister Controls LLC services the Dark Amusement Industry (haunted houses, dark rides, amusement parks, etc.) with industrial quality controls, pneumatic props, air cannons, animatronics, and design services.

Lights Alive designs and manufacturers specialty electronic products for professional haunted attractions, home haunts and other entertainment industries. For further information, contact sales@lights-alive.com.

For more on both companies visit: www.Lights-Alive.com and www.SinisterControls.com

Wednesday afternoon, June 2 buses will depart from the Hyatt Regency Columbus for the Cleveland area. We’ll tour attractions throughout the evening, spending the night in Hudson, Ohio. The next morning we’ll tour haunts in Northern Ohio; including returning to attractions toured the previous night for Lights-on tours. The Lights-on tours will give attendees an opportunity to see all the scene details and what goes on behind the scenes. The evening wraps up with additional haunt tours and a return trip to Columbus on Thursday late night.

Ticket prices for the two day tour start at $199 which includes all attractions, bus transportation, meals, snacks and hotel room. There will be five haunts with 14 total attractions.

Friday night the tours resume with shuttle buses transporting attendees to two haunts with four total haunted attractions in the Columbus area. Buses will start departing from the Hyatt Regency Columbus at 6:45 pm. Dinner stops are planned with special discounted meal options starting at just $3.99 and the haunt tours with a shuttle bus package for just $49. Buses return to the Hyatt for a Scary-Oke show starting at 11:30 pm.

The Midwest Haunters Convention offers fantastic haunt tours, outstanding educational seminars, exciting contests and an amazing costume party. The free weekend Halloween industry trade show is one of the largest in the country.

To Register and to Learn More Visit: www.MidwestHaunters.com or call Kelly at 614-203-4626.

Indy Haunt Fest 2010

Since the end of Ironstock, Indy has been without a Haunters Event now. Well, fear not there is a new event for you Haunters in Indy and surrounding areas. The All-New Indy Haunt Fest 2010 is coming June 26-27, 2010.

This all new event is going to be the First Annual Indy Haunt Fest and will feature vendors, costumes, demonstrations on prop building and performance techniques for all levels of haunt enthusiast, a haunter’s auction of new and used props, special tours of the areas creepy attractions, networking opportunities, food and much more!

Registration has begun for Vendors and Attendees and it seems like it will be shaping up to be a fun weekend and event.

Right now you can save on registration as well. If you register Before March 17 you can register for the weekend for a mere $15.00! The Weekend Pass is good for both Saturday and Sunday admission.

If purchased January 15st- midnight March 17th
Adult: $15.00, Youth: $5.00, Child: Free

If purchased March 18 – midnight May 1st
Adult: $20.00, Youth: $7.00, Child: Free

At the Gate Weekend -from May 2nd to June 26th.
No pre sale prices available after midnight May 1st, At the Gate pricing will be the only option. Adult: $25, Youth: $10, Child: Free

Daily Dose good only for one day and only available at the gate. Adults: $15.00, Youth: $7.00, Child: Free

The Vendor list is growing to be a good one as well this year including: Frighteners Entertainment, Pumpkin Pulp Productions, SCAREVANIA Haunted House, The Iron Kingdom and more.

More information will come shortly, but stay tuned to RFR for all the details in this new event in Indy. For more information visit: www.IndyHauntFest.com

8th Annual Rondo Awards

To Vote Go To: www.RondoAward.com and follow the directions to get your votes in.

ABOUT THE RONDOS:
The Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards were created by David Colton and Kerry Gammill at the Classic Horror Film Boards in 2002. The awards are fan-based, and have no connection to any commercial sponsor. Anyone in fandom can vote or propose nominees.

The ‘Rondo’ award itself, shown at right, features a bust sculpted by illustrator Kerry Gammill, and cast by modeler Tim Lindsey.

The statuette is a miniature version of the bust of Hatton seen in the Universal film, HOUSE OF HORRORS (1946). The Rondos have been praised by recipients for their quiet beauty and evocation of classic horror.

Haunts, Transportation, Food and Fun Combo:
$70 Haunted attractions, Motor coach transportation to and from Convention center, Food (Subway sub,chips and soda) and complementary Hauntworld Magazine. Motor coaches leave the front of the convention Center at 7:00 PM SHARP! (Directly after the HHA Meeting). Motor coach seating is limited so don’t delay.

Haunts Only Combo:
$40.00 – for Just the haunts

Tickets:
Online tickets on sale by Click n’ Print. Save 10% off your bus combo ticket by purchasing before Feb. 12th.

HHA Discount: 10% discount after Feb. 12th to HHA members ONLY for the bus combo. (There are no discounts for the Haunt ONLY combo).

So if you want to buy your tickets, see some great haunts in the off season and enjoy Halloween in March visit: www.ColumbiaHauntTour.com