Or should I say- a Scare Boss to be?

Many years have gone into the research that this aspiring Scare Boss has put into the business of Haunted Attractions.

The logical place to start is defining what a Haunted Attraction is. We'll start with the Wikipedia definition. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haunted_attraction

A haunted attraction or dark attraction is a venue which simulates the experience of visiting a structure or outside space that is inhabited by what appear to be supernatural beings—such as ghosts or entities. They can also be venues featuring other frightening subjects such as crazed animals or escaped murderers. The illusion—created by actors, animatronics, theatrical sets, sounds, lighting, and other special effects—is designed to frighten patrons who typically purchase tickets for the privilege. These events are open to the public and commonly held throughout the month of October, leading up to Halloween. However there is a small sub-set of dark attractions that are open all year long. Over the years, dark attractions have expanded their scope beyond the "haunted house" format to include any place that is either ominous or foreboding, such as abandoned factories, old prisons or early 1900s-era hospitals/asylums.

This is a great definition and I'll delve even deeper into this unique business venture. Time for a little history.

Discoveries have been made that ancient societies; Egyption, Greek, and Roman; developed the first attractions for their citizens. Statues of gods were 'automated' to move and speak. Doors were made to open on their own. Mazes and labyrinths were created for entertainment, protection from enemies, and even religious rituals. Soothsayers, prophets, and fortune tellers made a business of "contacting the dead" for answers to the questions from the wealthy, royalty, and elite. Most of these contacts or mystical spells and rituals were done as a show for the customers. The master of these ceremonies would use props, magic tricks, special effects, and actors to make their paying customers believe they were making contact with the 'other side'. In that day and age they had to be believable, because if these entertainers were found to be faking or fraudulant, they could very well pay with their lives. If you were a master of your trade though, you could be become quite powerful and wealthy. Many of these masters used their showmanship for good and evil. They were able to manipulate the decisions of rulers. They could turn family members against their own kin. They could cause the death by execution against innocents. Some could even turn the citizens against the highest rulers in the land. Some were not above being bribed or paid to 'make things happen'. A person with wealth could easily gain political power by having one of these prophets eliminate any adversity. Seems unbelievable, right? Did you know that this still happens in modern day society? There are leaders across the lands that still get advice from modern 'master entertainers'. There are whole societies that put stalk in messages and directions from prophets who 'talk to the dead'.

We jump forward in time and we find these masters filling theatres, stadiums, and halls putting on seance shows with special effects, sound and lighting. They would pack their venues to the point of standing room only, selling out entire theatrical runs. And this took place in the 17 and 1800s. Freakshows, oddities, and carnivals travelled the lands charging patrons to walkthrough and witness real and fake freaks of the natural and supernatural world.

Eventually these walkthrough attractions led to the 'DarkRide'. Leon Cassidy of the Pretzel Amusement Ride Company patented the first single-rail electric dark ride in 1928. Historically notable dark rides include Futurama at the 1939 New York World's Fair and Pirates of the Caribbean at Disneyland. -wikipedia-

My second installment will continue with more history starting with Darkrides!

McZomburger- Scareboss