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Letter to the editor

Universal scares up trio of Halloween headliners

The theme park hikes price to see horror heroes.

By Mark Albright, Times Staff Writer
Published June 28, 2007

Universal Orlando on Wednesday upped the ante in the annual Florida theme park Halloween battle by signing Freddy Krueger, Jason and Leatherface for its PG-13 gorefest.

"We scored the hat trick of horror," said Jim Timon, senior vice president of entertainment for the Orlando resort, where the 23-evening Halloween Horror Nights has been expanded this year by four nights for a Sept. 28 through Nov. 3 run. "They have a huge fan base."

Universal also increased the price by $5, to $64.95 plus tax. There are no prices for children because you must be 13 to get in. Several cut-rate deals will be offered to Florida residents, such as a promotion with Coca-Cola good for up to a $30 discount.

New Line Cinema licensed Universal to use its gruesome, but familiar horror film stars in their first appearances in a real world setting at its parks in Orlando and California. Although two of them appeared in one film, it's the first time the trio of headliners of Nightmare on Elm Street, Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Friday the 13th all have appeared together.

Universal dreamed up the event to prop up the slow fall tourist season 17 years ago. Some of the early features: a chainsaw drill team and a lady who reclined in a coffin while live rats clambered over her, licking bits of peanut butter hidden in her clothes. Last fall, the park decked out seven haunted houses and several scare zones where various creatures would sneak up behind people and scare the living daylight out of them.

The idea was quickly copied by virtually all Florida and warm-weather amusement parks, and developed its own cottage industry of production companies. Even Walt Disney World has its own "Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween" fete.

Universal produces its own theme-park show, but Universal Studios' horror film stable is relatively tame by today's standards with Dracula, the Wolfman and Frankenstein. So the park created its own cast of blood-thirsty types such as The Director and Jack, a crazed clown.

"We sprinkle in some of the old guys each year because they have fans of their own," said Timon.

Mark Albright can be reached at albright@sptimes.com or (727) 893-8252.

[Last modified June 27, 2007, 23:06:12]