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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 30, 1998)
___ Jonathan Houghton/DN TOMB OF DARKNESS EMPLOYEES Shelby Follis (left) and John Miller put on makeup before heading to their spots inside the haunted house. Follis, a senior film and art major at UNL, does makeup for several of the Tomb of Darkness workers. costumes and makeup, although he does have a vast collection of costumes to offer each worker. "It all depends." Egan said. "1 have eight or nine who have their own cos tumes. Sometimes they like to intermix some of what 1 have, and then go shop and see w hat they can find on their own.” Before the hired ghouls ever have the chance to scare one person. Egan said, they are required to go through extensive training classes. The meetings include lessons on makeup, costuming, safety and “scaring tactics." After working in many haunted houses. Egan said he has a feel for “what works and doesn't work." During the classes, the employees all have a chance I to try out their scare tactics on the other monsters in a sort of trial run. “We just don't throw them in there,” Egan said. “They go into character. They are a monster.” Keeping things safe while also keep ing them scary is instrumental in a haunt ed house. Besides fire safety, Egan said the most important rule is no touching. "The visitors are warned four times before they enter the house not to touch the monsters either," he said. “We are one of the safest haunted houses in Nebraska.” Tomb of Darkness is high-tech in more respects than just its special effects. The safety system includes a voice acti vated fire system, handicapped access, 1 I and a staff of employees who have been thoroughly educated on all safety proce dures. “This is not your average haunted garage,” Egan said. “We take the codes strictly. One bad thing could cost a for tune.” Jack Bruns, Lincoln fire investigator, said all haunted houses have to be prop erly inspected and licensed before they are ever allowed to open to the public. He said the houses are inspected for adequate emergency exits, emergency lights and sprinkler systems. "We just make sure everything is up to snuff," Bruns said. He said problems with haunted hous es have been rare in the past few years. “Once we get them right the first KflMitti let scared Tomb of Darkness ay. 7 p.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday through Halloween Admission is $7 at the door. The Edge of Darkness 61st Avenue and Grover, Omaha 7 p.m to 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday. 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday Admission is $7. The Fright Zone 1711 California St.. Omaha 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday,;6:30 p.m. to 12:30 im. Friday and Saturday: Admission is $8, a $2 discount is available on Sunday withacan of food or with a Baker's Value Card from Monday through Wednesday. Academy of Terror Haunted Barracks 11000 N. 72nd Si.. Omaha. 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, 7 p.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday Admission is S6. Chambers Of Horror 812 S*FbitCfoo.\Roaa. one bloek: south of GaiitSskerRoac in Bellevue. Through tfaPoween. 6 p.m. to 1 am Enday and Saturday 11 . Admissbn is $7 for adults. $5 for people 15 and under Jon Frank/DN time, there is rarely a need for going back again.” Egan said it takes about 25 employ ees to staff the house on a typical night, but he employs about 40 total. Most work on a rotating basis, but Egan said he lets the monsters make their own schedules. “Some of them work every night,” he said. “They get good incentives, like free passes to other houses or free pizza. Plus they make new friends ” Haunted house monsters aren’t nec essarily assigned to only one portion of the haunted house, and sometimes have the chance to get a little variety in where they scare. Harvey’s plan of attack consists of blending into the wall at first, then “pop ping out” under a black light, where his monochrome costume begins to eerily glow. “People have actually stopped me in the middle of the damn maze and said ‘Hey, that’s cool! How do you do that?’ I tell them to move along,” he said, laugh ing. “But the response is great. I love it.” Afraid that you'll miss the big game? (That would be the Nebraska vs. Kansas St. game, in case you were wondering.) The Daily Nebraskan can place an ad for tickets in the Kansas State Collegian. Just call us at 472-2588. m CANDY IS OVERRATED. The house with the real tricks and treats lingerie • swimwear • dancewear • adult novelties • video rentals and sales • personal massagers • body lotions • massage oils • gag gifts • games • toys Priscilla s adult novelties • where fuu&faitasr meet 2929 T Street 477-C5CC ivicswt or vMVBWfoi.ro rrmsOrl "Vsrfr^ ? » #=-ggy..„^ ^ - «JS" is* _. ROCKY HORRoh PICTURE SHOW! POOR -:’ POCK : F^fCK _<?>_ T* _ T*7 __ IQ T> . rf ._MTOWfOMT _ SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31 JOYO THEATER 6102 HAVELOCK AVE. 466-2441 g «
