Baltimore's Spookiest Show On Earth

Article by Athena Schaffer      October 2007, Event

Twice a year, Baltimore, MD, is the setting for “The Spookiest Show On Earth” aka Horrorfind Weekend. Many folks in our beloved Gothic community are very familiar with Horrorfind, the Horror and Halloween Search Engine – a virtual treasure trove of information and links! And every March and August, the folks behind the Web site bring the experience to life with some of the biggest names in horror films and books (and even music) making appearances and signing autographs. There are also screenings, seminars, and vendors galore!

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his event is a Destination, bringing horror and Halloween fans from all over the country to Baltimore, with so much to do and so many people to meet that there’s never a dull moment from start to finish.

“As Count Gore De Vol's TombKeeper, my job is to review books for the Creature Feature Weekly Web Program and interview authors, so when I accompany the Count to Horrorfind each year, I'm allowed an insider's view of the convention,” writer/reviewer and Horrorfind fan J.L. Comeau shares. “My heroes are writers, and it's been my good fortune to have interviewed the likes of Richard Matheson, Brian Lumley, Douglas Winter, F. Paul Wilson and so many others. Since the Creature Feature crew is always stationed in the Celebrity Room, I get to meet all of my horror movie idols, too. I'm an life-long horror fan, so I feel comfortable among other horror fans. And the point of any convention is to convene with your cosmic posse, right? So I'm in heaven at Horrorfind.

“There are always funny stories to take home. One year, the hotel booked a formal wedding on the same day that Horrorfind opened. Accompanied by a group of vampires, zombies and other assorted horror folk, I stepped into an elevator where the mother of the bride and the maids of honor--all dressed in pretty pastels--had already boarded. That was the quietest elevator ride of my life, and I'm sure the bridal party members are still talking about it, as am I. Worlds in collision, what fun!”

Horrorfind Weekend 8 combined Horror and Halloween in a big way – by pumping up the excitement for Rob Zombie’s remake of the classic Halloween, which was due to be released a couple weeks after this event. Many of the movie’s stars were on hand: Malcolm McDowell, Udo Kier, Sybil Danning, Ken Foree, Danielle Harris, Scout Taylor-Compton, Kristina Klebe, Courtney Gains, Ezra Buzzington, Lew Temple, and Dee Wallace Stone.

“Horrorfind is the one event I look forward to the most every year, well, besides going to a movie premiere!” said actor Chris O’Brocki, currently featured in the movie Fear of Clowns 2. “It's the one place where everyone can come together and relate to one thing: Horror! It's crazy fun, just to walk in there wearing a HALLOWEEN t-shirt or even a Michael Myers costume, or whatever horror villain you love to support, and suddenly you’re bombarded with fellow fans eager to chat with you about their favourite things in the horror genre.





"The celebrities that join every year have been real champs, their having just as much fun as you are, or at least they should be! Horrorfind weekend is something I hope is gonna be around for a while!”

Ernie Hudson – from The Crow and Ghostbusters and other great films – was there, as was “Pinhead” himself from the Hellraiser franchise, Doug Bradley (who also lends his distinct voice to many Cradle of Filth albums!). FX artists extraordinaire Tom Woodruff Jr. (the man responsible for the creatures

in Alien vs. Predator, Pumpkinhead, and many more), and Tom Savini (Dawn of the Dead, From Dust Til Dawn, Grindhouse and many more) showed off some of their amazing artistry.

"Horrorfind is just one of the most fan AND celebrity friendly horror conventions I've ever attended. Everyone has a good time.....or is dead!" enthused Count Gore.

Kathleen Kinmont - from Halloween 4, Bride of Reanimator, Mortal Kombat: Conquest, and others – was there, along with Caroline Williams of Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 & 3, and Charles Cyphers of the original Halloween. John Franklin of Children of the Corn made an appearance, along with Texas Chainsaw Massacre’s Marilyn Burns. One of the best of all-time Horror Hosts was on hand – Count Gore de Vol - who started out on Washington D.C.’s long-running Creature Feature and now has that show and much more online at countgore.com.

“It's one of the best horror shows on the east coast--I was at the very first one they did, and I've been to it just about every year since,” said Producer/Director/Writer Kevin Kangas. “You get all the best horror fanatics in one place, and the high point of this year was the party we threw in my room Saturday night -- everybody was stopping by. Courtney Gains (from Children of the Corn) hung out most of the night with us, and the only downside was the hangover on Sunday. It's just a great time--meeting a lot of people who have contacted me through email, seeing all the great things to buy there. I look forward to it every year.”

Fear of Clowns 2, filmed in Maryland, had a strong presence in the Celebrity Room, too. Producer Kevin Kangas of Kangas Khan Films was personally on hand, as were some other folks involved in the movie including actor Chris O’Brocki. They were raising the adrenaline level for the film’s World Premiere later that very week at the Senator Theatre also in Baltimore.

"Managing the FEAR OF CLOWNS 2 table was quite a rush for me,” Chris O’Brocki commented. “It was an honor to even be in the celebrity room on the other side of the table for once. I was just there to support the movie that we all worked very hard on, and suddenly I had people asking for my autograph and they knew my name. Now that was a real surprise! I'm new to this! But throughout the day I enjoyed the time even more as I chatted with the lovely Dee Wallace (since her table was accross from mine), shared some laughs with Scout-Taylor Compton, and shot the breeze with Danielle Harris and Courtney Gains. In the end, it was one of the best times I've ever had, and hopefully there will be more to come. It just shows that no matter how famous an actor or an actress gets, most of them are the most down to earth people you could ever meet."

Over 40 horror-genre authors whose works have made many of us sleep with the lights on were there – including Michael Laimo, J.F. Gonzales, Jack Ketchum, Theresa Bane, Elizabeth Massie, Gord Rollo, and many more. Many of the authors had readings scheduled throughout the weekend, which was fun in itself. Many Halloween/Haunt/Paranormal experts were also there – including The Patient Creatures, Patrick Lynn Burns, Rich West, Allen Green, Leonard Pickel, and others.

There was live music provided by Deviljoy, an Industrial/Metal/Experimental band hailing from Chesapeake, VA. Ego Likeness’ Donna and Steve were there with a vendor’s table spreading their delightfully dark music, as was Midnight Syndicate. Now, if opportunities to meet the folks there wasn’t a full enough of a weekend – and trust me, it was! - there were plenty of other events happening as well! There were open invitations to the Horrorfind Haunted House, paranormal seminars, seminars on creating haunted houses or haunted museums, an art show, Frankie and Vinnie’s Werewolf Inn bar, something called “Cthulu the Musical” (which somehow I unfortunately missed!), and the all-important Costume Contest!

“I've been producing and co-hosting these costume contest for seven years and nothing has been an much fun as this last one!,” said Count Gore. “The fans were great and the judges, particularly Udo Keir, were outrageously funny!"

Movie screenings included An Evening Giallo, Dracula’s Mother, Mr. Buttons, Pleasures of the Damned, Ghouligans, Chill, Café Death Presents- Better Living Through Killing, Skeleton Key 2, Los Locos vs. Zombie Squad, and Anchor Bay movie trailers.

horrorfind.com

athena (at) gothicbeauty (dot) com