Do you love a good scare? If so, you’ve probably looked forward to the month of October the entire year, and it’s finally here! Both TV and movie screens are jam-packed with horror movies and shows this time of year, but you may be seeking a more interactive experience.
If you truly want to scare yourself silly this Halloween season, visit one of the local haunted houses or corn mazes. When exactly did professional haunted houses begin?
London Theater Productions
In 1802, Marie Tussaud opened an exhibit of wax sculptures made of the decapitated French elite, including Marie Antoinette, King Louis XVI, and Robespierre. Truly realistic in their depiction, Toussaud used the death masks she created for these people to create the sculptures.
This gruesome exhibition was so popular that Toussaud set up a permanent exhibition, and the decapitated heads were located in the “Chamber of Horrors.” Supposedly, this room also contained an Egyptian mummy and a guillotine replica.
The Spiritualist Movement
In 1848, the spiritualist movement began in the US, a movement in which people would hold seances to communicate with the dead. One of the most famous spiritualists were the Fox sisters in Rochester, New York. Later on, one of the sisters would admit that their seances were a hoax. However, this movement of communicating with the dead proved to be wildly popular with the public.
The Grand Guignol Theater
Around the turn of the 20th century, the theater productions at the Grand Guignol Theater in Paris gained notoriety for showing graphic dismemberment scenes. Rumor has it that the theater’s director, Max Maurey, judged the effectiveness of his plays by how many people passed out in the audience.
Keeping American Kids Out of Trouble
During the Great Depression, groups of families created Halloween-themed haunted houses in their basements, and local children would travel from house to house. In an effort to curtail the property damage created by wayward pranksters, these haunted houses quickly became popular.
Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion
In 1969, Walt Disney debuted his Haunted Mansion attraction in Disney World. Immediately, this attraction was a hit, with 82,000 people passing through in one of its first days open. Perhaps the most famous room in this house is the Grand Hall, a huge room filled with dancing ghosts.
Jaycees Take Over
In an effort to raise money, the United States Junior Chamber, or Jaycees, opened their own haunted houses, which were extremely successful.
Other Amusement Parks Catch On
Popular amusement parks such as Six Flags and Knott’s Berry Farm created wildly successful Halloween-themed attractions, which ran for weeks. Creating a serious boost in attendance, Halloween is one of the biggest times of year for amusement parks today.
The Influence of Horror Movies
In the late seventies and eighties, horror movies such as The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Friday the 13th, Halloween and Nightmare on Elm Street gained notoriety. All across the country, more haunted houses opened up and featured actors dressed in the likeness of Freddy Krueger and Jason.
Haunted Houses in New York
Dr. Morbid’s Haunted House
If you enjoyed the story about Marie Tussaud’s wax creation, then you’ll love this spooky waxwork factory located in an old mansion. If you happen to be vacationing in nearby Lake George, check out this establishment, which is infamous for using truly sinister methods to create wax statues.
The Trail of Terror
Located in Volney, you will encounter all kinds of frightening creatures in the cursed forest and the 5,000 square foot haunted house. If you are a fan of horror movies, you can enjoy your favorite slasher flicks on the huge outdoor screen.
The Last Ride
Not only is this a haunted house, but it also includes a haunted hayride through a terrifying forest filled with creatures of the night. Indulge in a hearse ride complete with open casket seats. Freddy Krueger, Jason, and Michael Myers are likely to visit you in the 2,000 square foot house.
Frightmare Farms
According to legend, the maniacal Professor Whitaker collected supernatural relics worldwide and also performed terrifying experiments on helpless souls. The resulting creatures from his experiments and his mysterious relics reside in a labyrinth in Palermo, New York.
After visiting some of these haunted houses and other ghoulish attractions, you might not be able to sleep. We recommend staying up in front of your propane fireplace watching non-scary movies until you can once again fall asleep. Make sure that you never run out of propane by signing up for our automatic propane delivery services at DiSanto Propane. Contact our propane suppliers in upstate New York today to get started.