File puptcrit/puptcrit.0909, message 356


Date: Fri, 25 Sep 2009 19:20:50 -0500 (CDT)
From: Charles Taylor <cecetaylor-AT-verizon.net>
To: puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org
Subject: [Puptcrit] =?utf-8?q?Halloween_Haunt_at_Knott=E2=80=99s_Berry_Far?=


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Halloween Haunt at Knott=E2=80=99s Berry Farm

Knott=E2=80=99s Berry Farm was the original home of the Boysenberry which gave Walter Knott and his wife Cornelia enough wealth to buy original ghost town buildings from all over the South West and transport them to their berry farm to give visitors to his famous chicken dinner restaurant something to wander through while waiting for their reservations.  It has been over a seventy year tradition.  It=E2=80=99s located on Highway 39, Beach Boulevard that connects Huntington Beach to the Tehachipi Mountains.  Those of us who are =E2=80=9Colder=E2=80=9D remember it as a delightful, FREE, sleepy place to visit during the thirties, forties and fifties.  But because of nearby Disneyland, it had to compete and put in rides.  The Knott=E2=80=99s heirs sold their interest to Cedar Fairs Corporation.  Now, it cost money to attend the park.

Oh, The Knott=E2=80=99s Boysenberry jams that you may purchase at your favorite grocery store used to be made in a large building where the prop department now exists.  You might ask, =E2=80=9CThen where is the jam now made?=E2=80=9D   The answer is, =E2=80=9CIn Ohio!=E2=80=9D You can learn more about the history of Boysenberry and the Knott's by looking it up through google.  It is very interesting.

I=E2=80=99ve been busy the past couple of months working with Larry Gilleland in the props department at Knott=E2=80=99s Berry Farm in Orange County of California. At the beginning of the summer we got up at four in the morning to be at work by six and worked until two thirty in the afternoon. But just a few weeks ago the schedule was changed so that most of the crew arrived at two in the afternoon and worked into late at night during the cool hours.

The people I=E2=80=99ve been working with have been talented and delightful.  Having spent forty five years in education, it was even  more enjoyable  using my dormant art skills for a change.  I have every reason to believe that I will be invited back for another season. Apparently my puppetry skills have ingratiated me  to the designers and they implied that they are excited in exploring those abilities and include more puppets in not only the mazes but also  the antique Bird Cage Theater that puts on shows for young people and =E2=80=9Cyoung at heart=E2=80=9D adults.  I made three puppets for the play they are presenting in the Bird Cage, a barn like theater with a tent ceiling.


Through my friend and neighbor, Larry Gilleland, I was hired as a sculptor and began working on various props for the Halloween Haunt mazes.  Finally last night everything was in place and the Haunt opened to the public.  I was quite impressed with the massive scale of hundreds of =E2=80=9Cmonsters=E2=80=9D hired to fill the mazes.  What impressed me most was that despite of all our work preparing the ambiance it was hardly noticeable with the =E2=80=9Cbusiness=E2=80=9D of the monsters. Their makeup, masks and costumes are incredible.

It will be one giant Halloween party every evening until October 31.  I have learned that the best nights are Wednesdays and Thursdays.  Those days are not as crowded and less expensive. But as we get closer to October 31 the price of tickets goes up.  I also heard that one can get discount vouchers at Ralph=E2=80=99s market or Burger KIng.

In the very first maze I toured, while my attention was taken by a monster=E2=80=99s movement, I failed to see another coming directly at me. When I turned my head forward, I was so surprised I let out a shriek and fell backwards.  Thanks to  Eddie, another prop man behind me, I was caught and prevented from falling to the floor.  Of course I laughed and enjoyed every scary moment.  Lesson learned was to go with someone that you can hold on to. It=E2=80=99s perfect for young lovers!

In the London Terror Maze, I looked for an angel with spreading wings that I made. But there was so much activity, I could hardly focus on my art work. Which reinforced what I had been told: =E2=80=9CIf anyone notices an imperfection in your sculpting, it means we aren=E2=80=99t doing our mazes right!=E2=80=9D   I had a difficult time believing that until I actually experienced walking through the maze.  NOW I UNDERSTAND!  In the future, I shall truly enjoy the work with out fretting over perfection!

There are thirteen mazes and each individually designed and fun! But my favorite was Dais de los Muertos, The Day of the Dead, celebrating an Hispanic cultural holiday.  It=E2=80=99s beautifully done  and not nearly as scary as the other mazes.  Larry Gilleland and I built two marionette skeletons based on one by Ren=C3=A9 Zendejas.  I was quite pleased with it and a five foot Aztec god sculpture and some jaguar heads.  A lot of black light paint was used and for the best effect one should purchase the one dollar 3-D glasses to see the full effect.  I discovered that the blue colors recede while the red colors come forward.  Some of the red lettering appears to float and move. 

All in all, if  you are in the Southern California area, I highly suggest you attend this yearly event.     

Charles Taylor              
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