Well, it's Fall...and that means it's time for Knott's Berry Farm's annual "Halloween Haunt" event (a.k.a., Knott's Scary Farm).
I clipped this advertisement out of the October 5, 1980 issue of The Los Angeles Times. Back then, Knott's Halloween Haunt was held for only 6 nights (two three-day weekends). Unfortunately, I did not go to the event that year.
I didn't actually go to one of Knott's Halloween Haunt nights until 1982, which was also my first year of working at Knott's. Normally, we could go into the park on our days off, by just showing our employee I.D. at the exit gate. However, we weren't allowed into the park for the Haunt events, unless we were working those nights. They did offer us a discount on a ticket, but only for the first night of the event. Since I had always wanted to go to Knott's for one of their "Halloween Haunts," I bought discounted tickets for myself and my friends.
This is the map for 1982, which was Knott's "10th Annual Halloween Haunt." That year, the event was held for only five nights!
Elvira, Mistress of the Dark was appearing at Knott's for the very first time. The
only thing I remember about her "Ghoul Revue" is, that she sang her song, "3-D TV," which she had debuted on her television show ("Movie Macabre") in May of that same year. And she also sang a parody of
Toni Basil's, "Mickey," which had been released in January of that year, and would go on to become the number one song on "Billboard's Hot
100" list (the week of December 11th). Elvira's
version, "Frankie," was about Frankenstein's monster, of course.
Also in 1982, there were only two walk-through mazes; "The Terrifying Trail Of Jack The Ripper," and "The Mysterious Corridors." The map did have "Knott's Scary Tales" listed as a "maze," but that was actually a "ride-through," in the space normally occupied by the "Knott's Bear-y Tales" attraction. The Calico Mine Ride and the Log Ride were also transformed into "scary" rides that year, but for some reason, they weren't mentioning that anywhere on the map. One other thing that I remember about that night is, that the band performing at Fiesta Plaza ("X-Caliber"), was singing a cover of the song, "Don't You Want Me," by Human League. That song had been the number one song on "Billboard's Hot
100" list for three weeks in row (in July of that same year).
The 1983 Halloween Haunt was my second year of working at Knott's, and I was still working at the same location for which I had been hired, the Cable Car Kitchen. The Cable Car Kitchen was divided into three sections; an ice cream parlor, a fast food section, and a buffet line. The fast food section was unofficially known as "Center," because it was in the middle of the building, between the buffet and the ice cream parlor. Over the years, this section has been renamed, Simply Grand Foods, Viva La Coasters, Pink's Hot Dogs, and finally back to Cable Car Kitchen. It was even a temporary location for Mrs. Knott's Chicken To Go, while the Chicken Dinner Restaurant was being remodeled in 2016.
These first four photos from 1983, were taken behind the food service counter of "Center." That year, our theme for the entire building was "pirates" and the Flying Dutchman ghost ship.
Every year, top management expected the employees of all the food locations, to choose their own themes and decorate their own workplaces themselves, both inside and out. And they expected employees to volunteer their own time to do this. Employees were not paid for this time. (And some people assume that Knott's must have been a wonderful place to work, under the ownership of The Knott Family!) Not everyone had to volunteer, but someone had to, otherwise your location would not get decorated and that was unacceptable. The park's decorating department, which put up the decorations everywhere else in the park, were not supposed to help us out in any way, with the exception of giving us unlimited access to "spider web" material (cheesecloth).
The employees were also expected to provide their own costumes. Legally, they couldn't really force everyone to do this, but it was STRONGLY suggested by management, and you did feel the pressure to do so.
Funny, I still remember the first and last names of every single employee in this photo:
Here are a few interesting factoids about the people in this next photo....the employee on the far left had a boyfriend, who volunteered to do everyone's makeup that year. A few years later, she ended up dating and eventually marrying, one of the park's top Vice Presidents. And at some point after this photo was taken, the employee on the far right, ended up "stealing" the boyfriend of the employee who she is "choking." That's just some 41 year-old Knott's employee gossip, for anyone who is interested!
One end of Cable Car Kitchen's fast food counter was partitioned off with a glass wall and door, and designated as "The Sandwich Shop." (I had been told by an older manager, that this section had been a doughnut shop at one point.) After the Knott's Lagoon area closed in January of 1983, the snow cone and cotton candy machines from the Lagoon's little food stand were moved over to the Sandwich Shop, and the space was renamed, "The Depot." This photo was taken in "The Depot." You can see that the employees in this photo are actually sitting on the cutting board/food prep counter, where the sandwiches were made. How unsanitary!
There was some bad "photo composition" taking place that year! I had cut off the head of the guy in the photo above, and then someone cut off my head in this next shot. This one was taken in the Cable Car Kitchen's Ice Cream Parlor. Note the price of an ice cream cone, back in 1983. It was only .65 cents for a single scoop, and $1.20 for a double scoop! Someone who worked in our location, took the time to hand paint temporary menu boards for the entire building, just so they would fit in with that year's theme.....and it was done "off the clock," so they didn't get paid one single penny to do it!
Just above that wooden railing and to the right, was this display of a skeleton "at the helm of a ship." Once again, this was created by employees who worked in our building. By the way....in a pinch, a double eyepatch works just as well as a white oval!
I had purchased my feathered pirate hat in Disneyland's Pieces of Eight Shop, just a few weeks earlier. I originally wore "skull" makeup for the very first weekend of the Halloween Haunt, but it caused my skin to break out, so I decided to forego the makeup for the following weekend. I wish I had gotten a photo of myself with the makeup!
Incidentally, 1983 was the year that a Halloween Haunt guest jumped to his death, from the top of the 20-story high "Sky Jump" attraction. The guest was 18 year-old Donald Day, of Glen Avon, California. I was working that night, but the Cable Car Kitchen was completely on the opposite side of the property as the Sky Jump. Still, it didn't take very long for the news to reach us. Sadly, some of the guests in that area didn't believe that it was real, and thought it was just another one of the park's many forms of scary entertainment.
Starting in 1985, we were given "Haunt" buttons that were exclusive to employees. They did not sell any of these earlier Haunt buttons to guests. Unfortunately, we weren't given Haunt buttons for the first three years that I worked at Knott's ('82, '83, and '84).
This first one is undated, but it is from 1985:
The 1986 button:
1987:
1988:
Going back to that newspaper ad from 1980.....I ended up using that artwork for a project at school.
In my ceramics class, one of our assignments was to make a ceramic "box." Since we were working on this project in the month of October, I decided to give mine a Halloween theme.
I eliminated the "halo" from above the jack-o-lantern representing "Jubilation" night at the park.
And I eliminated the cowboy hat from the one representing Knott's "Country Music" night. I had given him a "stem" on top of his head, but it got chipped off before it was time to "glaze" the piece.
A very safe and happy Halloween to all.....and to all a good fright!
A great post as always TokyoMagic!!! It’s pretty impressive that you remembers your coworker’s names that you worked with forty years ago, I can’t even remember coworkers names that I worked with fifteen years ago.
ReplyDeleteI’ve always loved Knott’s Scary farm, I remember going to the Haunt in my high school years beginning in 2000. Me and my best friend would go every year, we were hooked!! Some of my favorite mazes back in the day were Malice in Wonderland, The Asylum and the Carnival of Carnivorous Clowns.
I remember one of those years, I went through a maze and two girls were so scared that they grabbed a hold of me tightly the whole maze through. Needless to say, I was a young kid feeling like he was on top of the world that night. I think I went each year up until 2008.
Yesterday was my first trip to the event in sixteen years. My son has been getting into the haunt maze scene so I invited him to go, it was his first time. We had a blast and the top mazes of the night were Mesmer, Widows and Cinema Slasher. I was a little disappointed to learn that they no longer do scary “maze” style versions of the Mine Ride and Log Ride, those were two of my favorites back in the day
Mike, my closest friend today, is someone I met while working at the Cable Car Kitchen. I think the fact that we have been able to reminisce for all these years about the people we used to work with, really helps to reinforce the memories, as well as the names of all those former co-workers.
ReplyDeleteI never saw the "Malice in Wonderland" maze, but I heard really good things about it. I like it when Knott's pokes fun at something, which most people associate with Disney. They did that again with the "Pinocchio Unstrung" maze. And there was a maze some years ago, that had a "mini" Elvira at the exit, telling people to "Huuuuuurry Baaaaack!"......or something similar to "Little Leota's" line, in DL's Haunted Mansion.
I'm glad to hear that you and your son had a good time at this year's Haunt. I believe that Knott's stopped doing extensive decorating of the Mine Ride and Log Ride, after their Garner Holt overhauls. But I have seen them do some minor decorating and effects in them. But like you said, they no longer make them "scary," unfortunately. Those scary versions of the rides were my favorites, too!
Cool post, TokyoMagic! You have an amazing memory of the details of your time working at Knott's. And these pictures are great! I love when people put efforts into something because they care, not just because they're getting paid to do it--like the hand-painted menus. Though as you mention, it probably would've been nice to have been paid...
ReplyDeleteAnyhow, the staff of the Cable Car Kitchen deserves a "best in show" for stand decorations, though I guess I never saw the other ones!
I would love to go back to these early days of Halloween Haunt when everything was campy and home-brewed. How crazy that you remember that tragic Sky Jump incident. I'm guessing that influenced their decision to remove the ride later.
Speaking of Knott's poking fun, have you seen this year's rendition of the Hanging? It begins with two actors representing Six Flags and Cedar Fair dancing to "The Circle of Life," then there's a battle between "animatronic" Walt and Lincoln. Really crazy, and I love that the writers have so much freedom with it.
Wow, Kennywood has a maze called Malice in Wonderland!
A fun and interesting post, Tokyo! I think I like the 1985 button best, with the '88 button coming in a close second. I like the mottled, decayed finish you put on your ceramic box. Even with the chipped-off stem on that one pumpkin we can still see the stem... or see where it was anyway. I hope you got a good grade on the box!
ReplyDeleteSitting on a prep counter is definitely a no-no. It says so in the food handlers manual. Then again, if yer gonna serve recycled popcorn and corndogs, what's a little counter sitting gonna hurt? ;-)
Thanks, Tokyo!
Andrew, thanks! I do feel pretty fortunate to remember as many details as I do, about past events in my life.
ReplyDeleteThere always seemed to be employees who were interested in coming in on their days off, and helping with the decorating. I guess management was pretty darn lucky to have employees who did care, and who were willing to come in and work for free. Somehow, I have a feeling that not as many people would be willing to do that, today. Also, I'm pretty sure management would not be able to get away with even asking people to do it. I remember some years, we had employees climbing around on the rooftops, in order to secure some of the decorations to the exteriors of the buildings. I wonder what would have happened if they had been injured, but had not been officially "on the clock."
As for that Sky Jump incident, I'm not sure if that did influence their decision to close the attraction. It did remain open for another 16 years after that, without any other major incidents. Maybe as time passed, and guest behaviors changed, they did become worried of something else happening. Of course, they also opened Supreme Scream the year before they closed the Sky Jump. It is 10 stories taller than the Sky Jump tower, but they "strap" you in, so you can't climb out!
I haven't seen this year's "The Hanging" show. But now that you have pointed out those details, I will definitely be looking for footage of it. I remember back in 2012, they "hung" Kristen Stewart who had starred in the non-Disney Snow White film that year. They had the person who was portraying her in the show, wear the Disney version of the "Snow White dress." I'm sure Disney doesn't like those kind of jokes about their I.P.s, which of course, makes me like them even more! Thanks for the heads-up about this year's show!
JB, the 1985 button was/is my favorite, too! I remember being disappointed in that 1987 version. It was basically the same design as the one from the year before, but not as detailed. It just seemed like very little effort went into that one. I realize it's kind of a minor thing, but hey....we didn't get many "freebies" from the company, so it was something to look forward to. I know today, the employees are given an exclusive Haunt t-shirt. And they can wear that shirt when they work the nights of the Haunt, instead of having pressure put on them to provide their own costume. In fact, costumes are no longer allowed, unless the employees are working in a specific job where it is provided for them.
ReplyDeleteSo, the Sandwich Shop/Depot was closed during the nights of Haunt, but when it opened up the next day, who got the very first sandwich that was made on that cutting board? ;-) Maybe it got wiped down by the "opening person." I can't remember if wiping everything down was a part of the opening procedures or not. Gee....today, everyone in food service wears food-handling gloves. Whenever I see that, I always think back to how we touched all of the individual ingredients with our bare hands, when making sandwiches, hamburgers, etc. Maybe it added extra flavor to everything? ;-)
I received an "A" on my ceramic box! I remember the teacher suggesting that I give it that "mottled" or textured look, instead of it having just plain smooth sides. There was a metal tool that helped create that look.
I’ve never been to the Halloween Haunt (aka the Scary Farm), but I wish I had. My girlfriend always talks about going, but then chickens out because she’s worried that it will be too frightening (yes, we even talked about going this year).
ReplyDeleteI’m not sure if Knott’s was the first amusement park to go “full in” on Halloween, but it has become a huge part of their business, my understanding is that key nights sell out very early. But you can go on November 3rd if you want (who wants to do that??)!
I would have been thrilled to see Elvira, Mistress of the Dark. Maybe I’ve mentioned it before, but I used to work at a place in Burbank that had two “urban” radio stations in the building, and sometimes a celebrity would show up to be interviewed. Beyoncé! Matt Damon! I never saw those two, but I got to work early most mornings, got into the elevator, and a pretty woman got in after me. I realized that it was Cassandra Peterson. It was just her and me! I didn’t talk to her, I got the impression that she did not want to be bugged. Or maybe she was just trying to psych herself up for her interview.
I’ve read some stuff about the earliest years of the Halloween Haunt, including TV horror host “Seymour”, who I would have LOVED to see!
Your photos are awesome, and I recognize you, even with two eye patches. I’m astonished that the employees had to “choose their own themes and decorate their own workplaces”, with no additional compensation. Almost everybody in your pictures is wearing some form of white greasepaint, was that just a coincidence? Some of the “skull” makeup is actually not bad.
Who the heck would take the time to hand-paint that ice cream sign? I guess I lack “team spirit”, because I would balk at the extra effort for no extra pay. Did you bring your own stoneware jug? Or was that a prop that they provided? I hardly own any stoneware jugs.
The pinback buttons are fun, I’ve seen some on eBay, but I figured that all I needed was to start a new collection.
Your ceramic box is cool, when I was in high school it seemed that most boys made things that could be used as a bong.
Major, I believe that Knott's was the first amusement park to go "all in" for Halloween, and everyone else copied that model.
ReplyDeleteElvira's shows were always wonderful. She disappeared from the Haunts for a while, but her last run was from 2013 to 2017. I sat behind her at a play in Los Angeles, about eight or nine years ago. Afterwards, I really wanted to say something to her or ask for an autograph, but I decided to just leave her alone!
Last year, Knott's was celebrating the 50th anniversary of Haunt, and they actually had some "Seymour" merchandise, and a special wax figure of him in one of the shops....at least, I think it was wax.
As for the makeup, we didn't get help with that from Knott's, either! The lady in the one photo, with the skeleton "rib cage" painted on her chest had a boyfriend who was experienced with theatrical makeup. He volunteered to come each night of the Haunt, to do everyone's makeup. He taught a few others the basics, so that everyone didn't necessarily have to wait for him to apply their makeup. This was another case of someone working and not getting paid. He actually wasn't even a Knott's employee. He hung out in our breakroom those nights, and did the makeup for us, as we showed up for our individual shifts. He did my makeup that first weekend of Haunt, but as I mentioned in the post, it made my skin break out, so I decided not to wear the makeup for the second weekend of Haunt. At least they couldn't force us to do that!
We had to provide 99% of our own props, so I actually brought that jug from home! My parents had driven across the country within their first year of marriage, and picked that jug up in one of the southern states. Now I need to go look in my mom's garage, to see if it's still around!
.....when I was in high school it seemed that most boys made things that could be used as a bong.
I seem to remember a warning from the ceramics teacher at the beginning of the school year, about not attempting to make such things!
Yes, Knott's was the first theme park/amusement park to do Halloween.
ReplyDeleteI love the graphics on the Oct 5, 1980 L.A. Times Haunt advertisement. Very iconic Halloween images.
I think for Halloween there should be a "White Oval" mask available for purchase. That would be truly scary.
That's a really nice ceramic box you made. I'm amazed you still have it. I made a few ceramics in school and they are long gone in the dust bin of my life.
Thanks for another fun post, T.M.!
Ken, I love the graphics on that newspaper ad, too! I guess that's why I pulled that page from the newspaper, and have kept it all these years.
ReplyDeleteGee, I wonder if I could trademark a "White Oval" mask? ;-)
That's a really nice ceramic box you made. I'm amazed you still have it.
Thanks, Ken. I took "ceramics" in both my junior and senior years, and I still have every single piece that I ever made during those two years!
TOKYO : I can’t believe management expected all that decorating and work to be done “off the clock” did they at least give the departments a budget of sone kind? …. Other than “cobwebs” I’ve been to Knott’s Berry Farm thousands of times …. But to Knott’s Scary Farm twice … once in the late 80’s and once in 2007. I have a memory of eating at the Cable Car Kitchen Buffet once with my grandparents when I was about 5 - I had a garden salad with my food that was excessively SLATHERED in a blue cheese dressing and I ended up throwing up shortly after … for years the thought of blue cheese dressing (BLEAU) made me nauseous…..And the smell of funnel cake …. Which really may have been the reason I got sick,
ReplyDeleteMike, yes....I forgot about that until you asked the question. They did give each food location a budget of $50, to use for things like that plastic skeleton behind the "ship's wheel," construction paper, paint, etc. But yes, they also expected people to volunteer and do it all "off the clock." Even at the age of 17, I knew that it was wrong and that they were taking advantage of us. I don't think they could get away with that today.
ReplyDeleteI bet you got that salad in the Cable Car Kitchen's Buffet! That's where the Dough Knott's shop is located, today. And I see that the former Buffet dining room, which for many years was the California Shop, has just been turned into a Wescom credit union. I think that is a VERY strange thing to open at a park, that just went "cashless" a couple years ago! Who is going in there for money?