Horror night creeps over Universal
Campus Times
October 17, 1997
It has its own entrance, its own ticket and its own time. Universal's
Halloween Horror Night dares those who feel physically capable to join them
in the biggest Halloween party to watch the night creep over Universal City.
The nightmare began Oct. 9 as Universal Studios Hollywood brought back
to life the monsters they first introduced to the big screen; Dracula, the
Frankenstein monster, the Mummy and many other diabolic characters.
"It is my first time ever experiencing such a phenomenon and I
think I love it," said Luz Martinez who won tickets from KLVE, a Spanish
radio station in Los Angeles.
Martinez is not the only one that seemed to enjoy herself.
Adults over the age of 21 walk with alcoholic drinks in their hands
through the mazes.
"This is great, I can drink while in line or even as I go through
the maze," said Alex Partida, a visitor at the theme park.
Guests are haunted throughout the theme park with the special effects
and state of the art make-up that Universal Studios is known for providing.
"I think they [Universal Studios] did a good job as far as creativity,"
said KROQ staff member Patty Martel.
Michael Burnett said in Universal's press release, "Instead of
playing baseball like the other kids, I would sit in front of the mirror
putting latex all over my face."
He is the person behind the scenes who made the characters a grotesque
nightmare and is Halloween Horror Night's creative consultant.
The creepiest Halloween party entertainment includes the Universal Classic
Monster maze where visitors will travel through a creepy black and white
world and encounter Dracula, the Werewolf, and Frankenstein.
In another maze called Area 51, access to a chemically activated pass
is required in order to explore the governments secret specimen from another
world.
Crypt Keeper's film vault maze will turn his guest into extras for his
own personal film "Tales of the Crypt."
The Creature's Monsterquarium sea monsters will take visitors through
an aquatic experience and try to feed its guest to the sea ogres. It is
staged in the 1.4 gallon WaterWorld arena.
March of the Zombies, a ritual that proceeds in three different areas
of the theme park will lead victims to a stage where Boogie Nights, a '70s
disco flashback, will make ghostly souls boogie until they drop dead.
Diana Verduzco, a sophomore at the University of La Verne who attended
Universal's Halloween Horror Night, said, "I was expecting to be yelling
and getting scared the majority of the time, but I guess I was wrong."
Verduzco is not the only one to sound disappointed by the event.
"I give Universal Studios credit for their creativity but as far
as their event being frightening it is not going to be possible. The parking
lot lighting is not going to help them," said John Banuelos a guest
at the Halloween Party.
According to Banuelos, some of the haunted mazes are set up in the parking
lot and the lighting must stay on at all times.
Universal Studios continues to carry the crown when it comes to creativity.
Leave the television set alone for a while and experience an event that
only a soul can determine whether it is worth the drive.
Along with these frightful events, Universal City Cinemas at City Walk
will present horrific movies whose rooms will be accompanied by restless
spirits. Movies will be playing only Fridays and Saturdays.
The event is presented Oct. 17-18, 23-26 ,30-31 and Nov. 1.
Operation hours are Thursdays and Sundays, 7 p.m. to midnight and Fridays
and Saturdays, 7 p.m.-1 a.m.
Tickets are $32 and are now available at Ticketmaster locations, at
Universal City, in Hollywood or via the World Wide Web (http://www.universalstudios.com).
