Mae

Oh, I think you scared the evil out of me one night! It was the middle of the run, the 17th, 615 or so. I screamed so loud that I scared the OPs person! Mae

So, I've been thinking about this house. I think that the majority of the ghosts we see in this house are actually innocent people that were claimed by the asylum. There's always some...doctors used to send people to asylums all the time, for any and every reason. That's why the nurse was there,I believe; she truly was a victim. Most of the ghosts seemed to be reaching for you instead of popping up in your face. A few were the old-school, agressive kind, but mostly it was sad sad spirits who just seemed to want to go home. Anyway, that's what I was thinking. Ta. M

I would have wanted to work in this zone. There was a shadowy figure in one of the coffins on the 27th and they got me, good. I loved the interaction with all of the Calaveras and Catrinas. In fact, I'd really like to see this zone return some day. Mae

I just have to jump back in here and tell you guys that you were incredible. I'll never know how you all managed to maintain that level of intensity for the whole run, it was amazing! Well done and well deserved!!! Mae

Psst!!! Miss_B!!! Your distraction on Halloween night set me up so good I got lost in the house!!!! Thanks!!! Mae

Odd that I would read about this street having not so good zones, as it's had 3 or 4 of my favorites in the recent past. I adored American Gothic and Blood Masquerade, WotLD was always fun (and got me screaming during daylight!), even the adorkably silly add-on zone from 2007 was fun. I think that it is a better setting for an official scarezone than Central Park, it's very narrow and for some reason the fog stays better there than anywhere else in the park (outside of Sting Alley). It feels closed in, even though it's as open as Hollywood or Mel's Diner areas. I think it all has to do with the height of the buildings and the restrictive width. I liked The Coven because it felt sort of old-fashioned, even with the Bob Mackie costumes! Mae

The last week of the run that smell was horrid! I almost threw up on the 27th, seriously, and it's just not something I do. I actually had to hold my shirt over my nose and mouth, which, in retrospect, was probably why I got scared so much that night. Not having your hands free to ward off danger is one of those kooky panic triggers for most people, even if it's your actions that cause it. Sneaky house-makers... Mae

Me, too. Your street was way cool, dude. M

This was either the 27th or the 31st. Everyone went to watch movies at Paolo's place!! Mae

One of the BEST HHN moments, EVER! Mae

Hidy! Tis Mae and I'm finally back for part 2!! I think that the 27th was my favorite night of the 5 I made it to; I had the best scares, the most laughter and a surprisingly uncrowded park. We did the right hand curve first, to get those that were my faves done early so that I could revisit them later! 20 Years of Fear started off right, with The Creature (Omega, I think?) waiting at the fence for us. I showed him the doll and he took her through the fence. He did give her back, but I think he liked her. Miss Strict also had a photo with Miss Stein (the doll), and there were a few others throughout the night! (I'll try to post any of those that I didn't get in the picture/video thread this week.) The Hallow'd Past was still amazing. Both casts were amazing but the 955 troupe... you guys were so on it. I STILL get scared in the Dead Exposure rooms! David did, too, which didn't help my nerves any, I tell you. There was a new zombie that I hadn't seen before, right at the last door, who startled both of us and murmured close to my ear as I passed "I'll be your worst nightmare" (Gatoralex in a pinnacle of creepy!). Yeah, I shivered. It was that good. Then I got scared immediately as we entered the Frightanic scene! The Collectors are eating up their fangirl attention. These guys are almost as popular as the CDT! There was a run of icons at the end, I think I got Julian, Elsa, and Jack in rapid succession...screaming all the way. OMG Catacombs! Just, holy sh*t, that was one helluva trip through there at 650-700! Again, you guys got David, and more than once, on this trip through...a record. Honestly, he used to work in houses down in Sarasota and he's so hard to scare. That I actually heard him yell made it even more sweet! Havoc and Orfanage had NO LINES at 700 and 720. None. I have photos somewhere, I'll keep looking for them! We got in to Zombiegeddon around 740. I hadn't been too scared the other time I'd been through, so maybe I got a little cocky. Or maybe it was the HNN shirt. Maybe some of you are recognizing my very round face. Who knows why, but THIS time I was TERRIFIED. It wasn't just the very very large zombies in the carnival game area that chased us and the fact that hands and arms came out of EVERYWHERE while we were passing....there was an added and very potent smell. It was extremely effective, triggering the immediate and automatic response to putrescense, which is to say, GTFO. NOW. I give all you zombies (go me for The Hooters reference!) much respect for working in that, and working well. Bravo! I was able to pick up the crash in the house so it all made perfect sense this time, too. Next, at 840, we entered Hades. This house had a benefit that most of the other houses did not; costumes. Yes, the other houses had costumes, but these were so enveloping that I believe they offered the actors total emmersion in their roles. They were very into what they were doing, and you could somehow sense the pleasure they felt at scaring us thoroughly even without seeing a smile. As magnificent as the 'A-List' scares were (Medusa, Charon, the Cyclops and Witches) the simple scares of the soldiers at the beginning and end were the highlights to me. They blended in magnificently and seemed to ooze out of the walls. Perfect for scaring. I do agree with the reviewer who said that the 'ceiling' could have been covered for more atmosFEAR, but it was a small thing. One small thing in the midst of so many larger-than-life scares is just fine for me. We spent the rest of the night wandering the scarezones, taking pictures of my Frankie Stein/Monster High doll with various scareactors and in scenes of fun. We also stumbled across FUBAR and Akdar! I've been talking to them, on and off, since...2000? (Egads!) Finally to meet in person was so great. (Missed Bsquared, tho. )It was such a wonderful night! The only thing that could have made it better was going through Psychoscarepy...but I didn't know! Darn, darn, darn... We did make it on Halloween, though, and it was with great pleasure that I was completely distracted by Miss_B! She was so charmingly batty that I did not notice the other inmate stalking up beside me until it was too late. The scare was so perfect that I got lost, which turned out to be pretty cool because David freaked out when he discovered I was no longer behind him! Awesome sauce. I tried to take a picture of the Harlequinn in Hallow'd Past on Halloween night, but he chastised me so I didn't. Sigh. Sometimes I wish I had a more rebellious spirit. While waiting for one more trip through Catacombs a very very tall young man asked if he'd scared us silly earlier in the week. Why, yes, he did! I believe it was the very very large zombie that chased us through the Zombiegeddon carnival! (Please forgive me, I cannot remember your name.) Halloween night was twice as crowded as Wednesday had been, but it was worth it to see so many HNN-ers. I wish I'd had enough sense to hang out with you all a little more. There were so many to meet! BlackMask was there, Dr Jimmy, Trioandan....but I still did not get to meet you all. Next year.... There are so many other things to talk about! It's a good thing we have the forums to ensure that we can share the memories as they come. Mae

OMG that rocks! Mae

In Zombie Gras there was a version of Iko Iko that I didn't recognize; it wasn't the Belle Stars but it was a female vocalist. I have the Dr John version at home, if anyone is interested. Also, while he may not have been played at the event, there are quite a few songs of his that would appeal to lovers of atmospheric and creepy music. Try "Gris-Gris Gumbo Ya-Ya" and "Walk On Guilded Splinters"...both of them are awesomely spooky. Thanks for all of you guys' hard work! Mae

I know the last two are dark, but they look so cool I thought I'd share them, anyway. Mae

My eyes look gold in this one...maybe I'm one of the angels in Constantine? Mae

That's a great pic. The area seems to lend itself to that dreamy look, what with the fog, trees, sunset and pumpkins, doesn't it? Mae

This picture is just awesome.