Gear and Props
Device control
All of our active spook zones are controlled by a device called the Scare-O-Matic
7000. The Scare-O-Matic allows for programming and replay of arbitrary
event sequences, including:
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Starting and stopping sound sources
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Triggering strobe flashes or other momentary events
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Direct switching of any AC or DC device
-
Switching any AC device through house wiring using the X-10 protocol,
or by a Graphical User Interface.
For detailed information about how the Scare-O-Matic
works, click here.
Sensors
One pair of infrared photoelectric detectors inform
the Scare-O-Matic when guests approach the house from either direction
along the sidewalk. Another such sensor uses an infrared beam across
the driveway, which is broken when guests are approaching the house more
closely; for example, to *heh* get free candy. A third sensor
is activated when guests are just about to step onto the porch.
Animatronics
Trash Can Trauma -- an
innocent-looking plastic garbage can unexpectedly comes to life as visitors
walk past!
Lighting
Black lights:
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3 - 24" single-tube fixtures
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10 - 48" dual-tube fixtures. These are painted black to be unobtrusive,
and the bulbs are enclosed in wire mesh for ruggedness.
Strobe lights:
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1 - 750 watt strobe (Bad Weather)
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3 - 75 watt strobes (Bad Weather)
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2 - 50 watt strobes (Garage O' the Damned)
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1 - Plain old Radio Shack strobe (Garage O' the Damned)
Spotlights:
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3 - green pinspots (Front yard ambience)
Intelligent scanners:
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2 - Martin RoboScan 218 Pro scanners
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1 - Martin 2308 light controller
Fog
A single large fogger in the garage generates the large clouds of fog for
Garage O' the Damned. Two smaller foggers in the front yard provide
an ambient fog level by periodically emitting bursts under the control
of Scare-O-Matic Panel 1.
Sounds
Three independent stereo systems belt out the following:
-
Eerie swamp ambience (Sound Ideas General collection, disc 6039, track
47); mixed with the Bad Weather soundtrack as necessary
-
Bad Weather soundtrack
A second stereo system in the garage provides the Garage O' the Damned
soundtrack.
A third stereo system on the porch provides the Spectre soundtrack.
Props
To see some of our props, check out the cast page.