Last Witness
2005 Haunts

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As I hope you can imagine, these pictures cannot portray the psychological and narrative elements we were able to achieve during this haunted attraction. Maybe at some point I'll upload some of the sound effects music I composed and arranged, and have it play on this page. And maybe I'll even upload some of the scented oils we used to get that extra spooky effect, but that might be bad for your computer. Ha. Ha ha. Ha!
According to the hordes of people gathering outside each night in the parking lot to talk about what the hell they just went through, and people literally pissing their pants (even an adult, I heard), and a couple of us having to take our masks off on occasion to guide some poor kids who simply would not go any further, and people begging us to do it again next year, The Magalia Murders was a smash hit. Fun was had by all. There was not one negative complaint. Having been in the entertainment arena for as long as I remember, I thought this fact was odd, even unbalancing...not ONE complaint? Ok. Well, I'll take that. Hehe. This, of course, is discounting the usual "overcompensatingly brave" teenagers who tend to try to crash haunted houses from time immemorial.
On behalf of Gary and Spike, I want to thank Sue, Candy, Cynthia, our actors/helpers from Paradise High, the folks who donated their props and labor, and all the others who helped in the cause. You know who you are.

Poster
The Magalia Murders poster, Magalia, CA, 2005.
Magalia Murders
You know the rules...
Magalia Murders
Gary and I went crazy incorporating old local myths and forging "archives." FUN! Not too different from our News media now, huh.
Magalia Murders Dead Journalist
Inside joke. A la Monty Python. "Journalist found deaaaa..." haha.
Nico Holthaus, Magalia Murders Alien
Man did I scare people with this one. Hybrid alien. I even ran sideways across a hallway.
Nico Holthaus, Magalia Murders Alien
Nico, as the Alien. Lucky photo capture as a strobe went off to show all this. But you can imagine what it "normally" looked like ;)
Nico Holthaus, Magalia Murders Bloodbath
Bloodbath, ha.
Nico Holthaus, Magalia Murders
What ER had come to. Dr. Spike (Vierek) and Cynthia (not so patient patient).
Nico Holthaus, Magalia Murders graveyard
Some of the hand-sculpted gravestones by Spike.
Nico Holthaus, Magalia Murders disused sanctuary
The disused sanctuary.
Nico Holthaus, Magalia Murders den
Sue in the den.
Nico Holthaus, Magalia Murders thing
I've had this mask since 1981, and it just looks better every year time dissolves the latex.
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