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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 30, 1998)
Halloween Party \ Sat. Oet. Sf 8 pm to 1 am / "Costume Contest at 10:30 Cash Prizes & Trophies • \ Balloon Drop at Midnight S / Prize Coupon in Every Balloon ( V "Drink Specials 8 pip to Midnight \) ( At The K ? Rock v RoB with Royal Grove ( 340 W. Cornhusker Hwy.( Rockin' Fossils Lincoln, NE 474-2332 ( ....—.^ J^^^ajoow^oMAiiaE mot w^p^ooeruue^ I-_-1 JUICE SHOTS $2.50 LONG ISLANDS 1325 “0" STREET 435-1717 v; S? W • '~:' .isSfe' ■ .-.-■ P.O. PEARS r with /, , Friday Costurri°ct*30tli (Contest ^*<0/"\ Win a 74 u<5 Cutlass t2? s 9th Supreme ^ ^in Haunted houses becoming science in scares, safety By Sarah Baker Senior staff writer From the outside, it looks like just another dilapidated brick building grac ing the streets of downtown Lincoln. But from the inside, it’s a carefully calculated fright machine just waiting for the next unsuspecting teenager to walk through its doors. Once upon a time, haunted houses -.were most often amateurish, sheet draped, black-lit productions; now they have become businesses that include carefully orchestrated and choreo graphed scenes, all of which guarantee to scare the pants off of anyone willing to pay seven bucks. Tomb of Darkness, located at 16th and O streets, is, one of the newest hous es in Lincoln. And in keeping with the new standards in haunted houses, Owner Jason Egan said he doesn’t allow just anyone to scare the visitors in his house. “The first thing I focus on is acting experience,” Egan said. “I make (the applicants) do a skit and try to scare me. I make them show me, because the mon sters are what make the house.” Although for most haunted houses there are general requirements, such as age specifications, houses also have detailed requirements that have the potential to make the visitor’s experience even more horrific. “If they are into makeup or have taken classes about special effects, it can really lead to a lot of neat stuff,” Egan said. Although actual acting experience is helpful, a simple love for all things scary also can be beneficial. Tom Harvey, one of the monsters in Tomb of Darkness, doesn’t have any act ill£ CApCllCIl^C, UUl I1C pUb sesses a passion for costum ing and makeup effects. “I grew up with comic books and horror flicks, plus I am a big Kiss fan, so this is an extension of all that,” Harvey said. “The realism is important to me, not just the fantasy.” Harvey, who portrays a horned-skeletal monster in the dungeon room and maze in Tomb of Darkness said although his headdress consists of a mask, he still wears makeup underneath. “I want to look the same even when I take the mask off,” he said. “It would be Jonathan Houghton/DN more comfortable not to wear STRANGE CHARACTERS aren’t just inside the the makeup, but I want tol haunted house. Tomb of Darkness co-owner play the part to its fullest. Jason Egan said this man hangs around outside 1 like to play off of oth the house occasionally, playing haunted house ers em0tl0ns’ he added I . , _ .. am very fascinated with act SOngs on a harmonica for customers. Egan said • andtheater art - this was the first time the man displayed his den- " Eean said most of his tures for the crowd. employees provide their own a ■ IWC’s presents... I Live Karaoke with Shithool Costume Contest! $400 in cash and prizesil Penny Pitchers All Night! I Sat. Oct. 31 8 p.m. - close I No cover with costume! $2 without costumJ