Scarehouse Podcast

We're back! Our first new podcast episode of 2013 features Jennifer Braverman, President of Transworld Trade Shows, who joins us to preview this year's massive trade show for the haunted attraction industry! For the last 17 years, TransWorld’s annual Halloween & Attractions Show featuring the Haunt Show, Holiday and Special Occasion Merchandise has been a “must attend” event in the Halloween & Haunt industries. During these four days in March, thousands of people from the Halloween and Haunt industry will gather to network, generate new ideas and opportunities, purchase state-of-the art effects and costumes, and have a great time! Jennifer joins hosts Laura Kelly, Rob Johnston, and ScareHouse Creative Director Scott Simmons for a preview of this year's seminars, special events, haunt tours, vendors, and more... including an announcement about a special guest from Syfy's hit series FACE OFF! Transworld's Halloween and Attractions Show takes place March 7th through the 10th at America's Center in St. Louis. Vis

It's the last night of the 2012 season at ScareHouse, and the last 2012 episode of the ScareHouse podcast! Rob Johnston and Laura Kelly take you backstage to hear from the owners, the cast, the crew, and other members of the "ScareHouse Family" in the final moments before opening. It's a bittersweet farewell to the ScareHouse Family, and you're invited to hear all the stories you've haven't heard about this amazing season. Plus, a preview of our annual "Turn Out The Lights" glowstick event. This is the last bi-weekly episode of our podcast in 2012, but stay subscribed for new episodes next year as our Scream Team prepares for next year's attraction. Did you enjoy the podcast this year? Please leave positive feedback on iTunes! And remember that you can stay connected to ScareHouse, and go "behind the screams" of our production, all year long on Facebook, YouTube and you can also follow Creative Director Scott Simmons on Twitter. Special thanks to Rob Johnston, Laura Kelly, the cast and crew from our "ScareHou

Pittsburgh's Ultimate Haunted House is making national headlines! Find out why and how the ScareHouse PR team generates so much creative content and media coverage with the latest episode of our FREE podcast. Rob Johnston joins Laura Kelly, "Scare Specialist" Margee Kerr, Creative Director Scott Simmons, and intern Kayleigh Smith for a fast and fun conversation about our year-round commitment to marketing, multimedia content, customer engagement, public relations, and connecting with fans via social media. They share stores and secrets about YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, and the impressive marketing power of putting a guy in a dress.... Like ScareHouse on Facebook.Follow ScareHouse on Twitter.Watch ScareHouse on YouTube. ScareHouse, Pittsburgh's Ultimate Haunted House, has been ranked as one of “America’s Scariest Halloween Attractions” by Travel Channel and featured in multiple online and print publications including USA TODAY, Forbes, AOL News, Yahoo, Funworld, and Money magazine. Subscribe today for new epis

What is fear? Why are we so scared of clowns, zombies, and creepy dolls? And how did a PHD in Sociology lead to a job as "Scare Specialist" with one of America's Best Haunted Houses? Dr. Margee Kerr, senior manager at ScareHouse and host of our new SCARE U video series, joins hosts Rob Johnston and Laura Kelly to talk about the science of fear. Watch ScareHouse on YouTubeCheck out other episodes of SCARE U Dr. Margee Kerr, who holds a doctorate degree in sociology, has studied the science of fear for years, and has been sharing her expertise with The ScareHouse since 2008. In the Scare U series, she invites us to go deeper into fear, discovering how our brains and bodies are reacting to the things that scare us. ScareHouse, Pittsburgh's Ultimate Haunted House, has been ranked as one of “America’s Scariest Halloween Attractions” by Travel Channel and featured in multiple online and print publications including USA TODAY, Forbes, AOL News, Yahoo, Funworld, and Money magazine. Subscribe today for new episodes of

It's go time! ScareHouse opens for business on Friday! Just days before the doors open, podcast hosts Rob Johnston and Laura Kelly take you behind the screams with our design and construction staff. ScareHouse Creative Direct Scott Simmons and his creative team spend the year coming up with and designing these cutting-edge scares. This year’s guests can expect to find zombies constructing their Primanti’s Bros. sandwich, lovely little dolls turned demonic, and something other than presents under the Christmas tree. Subscribe and download this extended episode of the ScareHouse podcast! ScareHouse, Pittsburgh's Ultimate Haunted House, has been ranked as one of “America’s Scariest Halloween Attractions” by Travel Channel and featured in multiple online and print publications including USA TODAY, Forbes, AOL News, Yahoo, Funworld, and Money magazine. Subscribe today for new episodes of our ScareHouse podcast. Help us reach new listeners when you leave positive reviews and feedback on iTunes. THANK YOU for your s

Would you like to explore ScareHouse in the dark with no lights on? Our friends Tall Cathy from 96.1 KISS and Katie O'Malley from Pens Tv join podcast co-host Laura Kelly accepted our challenge, and agreed to be locked in the dark at ScareHouse. Is this a serious and in-depth investigation of paranormal activity? Not exactly. Is it a terrifying journey into absolute horror? Not really. Is it a hilarious record of three ladies laughing, singing, and freaking themselves out? Absolutely. Want to know more about the history of our nearly 100 year-old building? Check out the "Behind The Scenes" page at scarehouse.com Subscribe and download this extended episode of the ScareHouse podcast! Help us reach new listeners when you leave positive reviews and feedback on iTunes. THANK YOU for your support! ScareHouse, Pittsburgh's Ultimate Haunted House, has been ranked as one of “America’s Scariest Halloween Attractions” by Travel Channel and featured in multiple online and print publications including USA TODAY, Forbes,

ScareHouse Podcast Co-Host Laura Kelley shares many passions with her friends Tall Cathy from 96.1 KISS and Katie O'Malley from Pens Tv ... a love of Pittsburgh radio, the Penguins, and late night karaoke...and total hatred of horror, haunted houses, and Hugga Bunches. So why not invite them into The ScareHouse and see what happens? Rob Johnston talks to Cathy, Katie, and Laura about their friendship, the challenges of working in the male-dominated fields of radio and sports broadcasting, and why they love living in Pittsburgh. It's a fast and fun episode that may or may not feature singing, fart analysis, and tales of "the hockey funk." And join us next time for Part 2: when Cathy, Katie, and Laura explore ScareHouse in total darkness! ScareHouse, Pittsburgh's Ultimate Haunted House, has been ranked as one of “America’s Scariest Halloween Attractions” by Travel Channel and featured in multiple online and print publications including USA TODAY, Forbes, AOL News, Yahoo, Funworld, and Money magazine. Subscribe

What's it like to scare thousands of people every night at ScareHouse in Pittsburgh? This short, bonus video episode of our podcast, features veteran cast members from Pittsburgh's Ultimate Haunted House. Watch more behind the scenes videos. ScareHouse, Pittsburgh's Ultimate Haunted House, has been ranked as one of “America’s Scariest Halloween Attractions” by Travel Channel and featured in multiple online and print publications including USA TODAY, Forbes, AOL News, Yahoo, Funworld, and Money magazine. Subscribe today for new episodes of our ScareHouse podcast. Help us reach new listeners when you leave positive reviews and feedback on iTunes. THANK YOU for your support! Like ScareHouse on Facebook.Follow ScareHouse on Twitter.Watch ScareHouse on YouTube.

In 1990, Scott Simmons met his future wife Barb while working at a volunteer haunted house fundraiser in Pittsburgh... now, along with Scott's dad Wayne, they are the owners of one of America's best known haunted attractions: ScareHouse. For the first time, Barb and Scott join ScareHouse Podcast Co-Hosts Rob Johnston and Laura Kelly for an extended conversation about two decades of haunted house history. They reveal the stories you haven't heard about the early years of ScareHouse, address the challenges of balancing haunting with "the real world," and reveal how they turned a love of Halloween into a full-time career. Plus, really embarassing and personal stories that they will probably regret sharing with our international podcast audience! ScareHouse, Pittsburgh's Ultimate Haunted House, has been ranked as one of “America’s Scariest Halloween Attractions” by Travel Channel and featured in multiple online and print publications including USA TODAY, Forbes, AOL News, Yahoo, Funworld, and Money magazine. Subs

What is Sleep No More? It's an interactive and immersive theatrical experience created by British theatre company Punchdrunk, produced within 100,000 square feet of converted warehouse space in Manhattan. It's a self-guided journey through the dark and mysterious secrets of the McKittrick Hotel, in which guests are encouraged to explore an antiquated lunatic asylum, doctor's offices, children's bedrooms, a cemetery, indoor courtyards, shops, a padded cell, a ballroom, taxidermist's menageries, and much more. It's a dramatic production in which few words are spoken by the performers, and audience members must remain silent and masked at all times. It's primarily the story of Macbeth, but it has also been compared to the works of David Lynch, Stanley Kubrick as well as Lost, BioShock, and Disney's Haunted Mansion. It's a voyeuristic journey into the depths of a "1940's noir nightmare." It's... pretty hard to describe actually. ScareHouse Sound Designer Glenn "Delirium Dog" Ricci, a frequent guest of the McKittr

Shocktoberfest (located near Reading, Pennsylavnia) is a 30 acre "scream park" featuring an elaborate hayride, multiple haunted attractions, a midway, and much more. It has been named as one of the scariest attractions in America by Travel Channel, Haunted Attraction magazine, and Richard Christy of the Howard Stern show. Pat Konopelsi, owner of Shocktoberfest and president of The Haunted House Association, joins us for an extended conversation about his 20 year career in the haunted attraction industry. We talk about the challenges of scaring contemporary audiences and find out how a simple Halloween hayride in a picnic grove expanded into one of the country's most elaborate haunted events. Visit www.shocktoberfest.com to find out more about Pennsylvania's Premier Haunted Scream Park: featuring the Biohazard Hayride, The Unknown, Club Shock, Monster Midway, and the 50,000 square foot Prison of the Dead. ScareHouse, Pittsburgh's Ultimate Haunted House, has been ranked as one of “America’s Scariest Halloween A

This extended episode of our podcast (which was originally recorded and posted in 2012) features a rare and guided tour behind the scenes of Anthrocon, the World's largest Furry convention, which takes place in Pittsburgh every summer. What is Anthrocon? It is the world's largest convention for those fascinated with anthropomorphics, which are humanlike animal characters. It is a collection of nearly 5,000 artists, animators, writers, costumers, puppeteers, and just everyday fans who enjoy cartoon animals and their kin. Approximately 20% of attendees don specialized animal costumes, often based on original characters, and enjoy role-playing and interacting with both fellow attendees and bystanders. So what really happens at Anthrcon? What kind of people are performing underneath all of that fur? And why is Pittsburgh the perfect home for thousands of Furries? Programming director John "Kuddlepup" Cole takes Katie "Dudders," Margee Kerr, and ScareHouse Creative Director Scott Simmons on a guided tour of the co

When there's no more room in hell, the dead will walk the earth... and probably visit the Zombie Museum at Monroeville Mall. George A. Romero's epic zombie film, Dawn of the Dead, is arguably the most influential and critically acclaimed zombie movie of all time. The 1978 film is the middle chapter of a trilogy of walking dead films shot in and around the Pittsburgh area from 1968 thourgh 1985 that has contributed to our city's international reputation of "Zombie Capital of The World." For approximately four months, Pittsburgh's Monroeville Mall was used as the primary filming location for countless scenes of mayhem and gore involving hordes of flesh-eating zombies. Now, nearly 35 years later, two local horror fans have created a year-round tribute to our living dead legacy with Monroeville Zombies: a themed attraction located featuring a museum, gallery, min-golf, a gift shop, and more. Join us for a private tour of the museum, personal memories from the sets of Romero's films, and exciting news about the up

Ian Trischler is a haunt manager at ScareHouse, a veteran drag queen performer, and Miss Gay Pittsburgh 2012. Ian, who performs as "Ann Fu Young," joins us for a fun and frank conversation about Pittsburgh's LGBT community, the secrets and misconceptions from the local drag scene, and the upcoming Pittsburgh Pride Fest. Plus: a shout out to Sharon Needles, secret methods of hiding leg hair, and the hidden agenda of "The Breakfast Club." Join us for fun and informative conversations with our designers, cast, and crew - as well as extended interviews with other haunters, Pittsburgh icons, Ghost Hunters, and alternative artists and performers. ScareHouse, Pittsburgh's Ultimate Haunted House, has been ranked as one of “America’s Scariest Halloween Attractions” by Travel Channel and featured in multiple online and print publications including USA TODAY, Forbes, AOL News, Yahoo, Funworld, and Money magazine. Subscribe today for new episodes of our ScareHouse podcast. Help us reach new listeners when you leave posit

Former "home haunters" Tim and Anne Marie Gavinski turned their Halloween hobby into one of America's best haunted attractions. Their creation, the Wisconsin Feargrounds, was recently ranked as the #1 "Must See Haunts" in the country by Haunted Attraction Magazine. So how did an elaborate yard display grow into an enormous annual production with more than 150 employees? How do Tim and Anne Marie create such elaborate haunted attractions with such a limited amount of time for installation, production, and teardown? And what's with the Squeaky Cheese Curds? "Timmer" and Anne Marie join hosts Rob Johnston and Laura Kelly, and ScareHouse Creative Director Scott Simmons, for a VERY lively and fun episode of the ScareHouse podcast. Please subscribe and THANK YOU for the positive feedback. ScareHouse, Pittsburgh's Ultimate Haunted House, has been ranked as one of “America’s Scariest Halloween Attractions” by Travel Channel and featured in multiple online and print publications including USA TODAY, Forbes, AOL News,

ScareHouse has released their first teaser video for our new haunt in 2012: Creepo's Christmas in 3-D! Visit www.youtube.com/thescarehouse to check it out! Rob Johnston was on the set as our team came together for one of the strangest video projections ever. He gets the inside stories behind the concept for the haunt and the video, the technical challenges of writing and recording "Creep The Halls" with a chorous of singers, and how our team continues to produce such innovative and iconic videos and images. This Fall, The ScareHouse presents three terrifying haunts for just one price: The Forsaken, Pittsburgh Zombies, and new for 2012: Creepo's Christmas in 3-D!  Subscribe to our FREE podcast for regular updates and conversations with our team, our fellow haunters, and the people who make Pittsburgh such a great place to live. THANK YOU for the positive feedback! ScareHouse, Pittsburgh's Ultimate Haunted House, has been ranked as one of “America’s Scariest Halloween Attractions” by Travel Channel and featured

Veteran ScareHouse actors Tori Benacquista and Steve LaRussa have portrayed zombies, steampunk warriors, creepy Victorians, and ... a meteorologist? Steve and Tori join hosts Rob Johnston and Laura Kelly to talk about working inside Pittsburgh's ultimate haunted house, interacting with thousands of local fright fans, and the variety of iconic characters they've portrayed in the haunt and in our videos and commercials. Plus, the secrets of being a good zombie! ScareHouse, Pittsburgh's Ultimate Haunted House, has been ranked as one of “America’s Scariest Halloween Attractions” by Travel Channel and featured in multiple online and print publications including USA TODAY, Forbes, AOL News, Yahoo, Funworld, and Money magazine. Subscribe today for new episodes of our ScareHouse podcast. Help us reach new listeners when you leave positive reviews and feedback on iTunes. THANK YOU for your support! Like ScareHouse on Facebook.Follow ScareHouse on Twitter.Watch ScareHouse on YouTube.

Jonathan Wander is the Vice President of written communications and social marketing for Z Brand, one of Pittsburgh's newest and most successful design and marketing communications firms. He is an accomplished writer with more than 20 years of experience in advertising and public relations. His career is highlighted by successful campaigns in all media including websites, televison, radio, print, and outdoor for a variety of clients including those in technology, education, industry, retail, and non-profit. Jonathan also contributes regularly to Pittsburgh magazine, is a an active member of Pittsburgh's social media community, and is on the board of directors for Haitian Families First. Jonathan joins host Rob Johnston and ScareHouse Creative Director Scott Simmons to talk about "old school" PR stunts from Pittsburgh's past, social marketing, viral videos, and the mistakes that many companies make when engaging with customers online. Plus: sugar packets! ScareHouse, Pittsburgh's Ultimate Haunted House, has be

Leonard Pickel has amassed a lifetime of Haunted Attraction Design and operational experience, with October seasonal events to year round haunted attractions, museums and dark rides. He has designed over 100 successfully creative events since his first attraction in 1976 and has provided consultation for hundreds more. In 1994, Leonard co-founded Haunted Attraction Magazine, the premier publication for the dark amusement industry, striving to provide information vital to the success of the industry, with in-depth articles on the country’s major attractions. Leonard joins Rob, Laura, and Scott to talk about his 35+ years of experience in the haunted attraction business and offers a preview of the 2012 HAuNTcon: The Haunted Attraction National Tradeshow and Convention that's coming to Pittsburgh this May! Visit www.hauntcon.com to find out more about the tours of Pittsburgh haunts and Halloween events, makeup demos, how-to workshops, business seminars, tradeshow floor, and social gatherings. HAuNTcon takes plac

Ghost Hunters star Amy Bruni joins us for an extended conversation about the upcoming season of America's #1 paranormal tv show. She talks about Grant Wilson's final episodes, upcoming paranormal investigations, life on the road with the TAPS team, and the upcoming Steel City Paracon in Pittsburgh. What really happens when the cameras aren't rolling? How did Amy get started as a paranormal investigator? How did she draw the attention of Jason, Grant, and The Atlantic Paranormal Society? What really scares her? And does she still have a crush on Jareth the Goblin King? It's a fun and often off-topic conversation with our good friend Amy Bruni, a frequent guest of ScareHouse and no stranger to receiving weird questions from podcast hosts Rob Johnston, Laura Kelly, and ScareHouse Creative Director Scott Simmons. Amy - along with fellow Ghost Hunters stars Steve Gonsalves, Dave Tango, and Adam Berry - will soon join other paranormal experts and fans for an intimate paranormal conference at The Renaissance Hotel i