March 7, 2025

SPECIAL - The 2025 OSCARES Awards: Honoring the Best in Haunted Attractions

SPECIAL - The 2025 OSCARES Awards: Honoring the Best in Haunted Attractions

The 2025 OSCARES Awards celebrated the top vendors, haunts, and industry leaders during TransWorld’s Halloween & Attractions Show in St. Louis. As producers of this year’s ceremony, we had a front-row seat to the energy and excitement, from the...

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The 2025 OSCARES Awards celebrated the top vendors, haunts, and industry leaders during TransWorld’s Halloween & Attractions Show in St. Louis. As producers of this year’s ceremony, we had a front-row seat to the energy and excitement, from the debut of the Spirit of Leadership Award to the Lifetime Achievement honor for Timothy Gavinski. This episode features the FULL, UNEDITED recording of the ceremony, so you can experience every acceptance speech, surprise moment, and industry recognition. Read more about the OSCARES here. Support for this episode comes from Gantom Lighting and Controls. See what you’re missing with a free demo. Subscribe to everything from the Haunted Attraction Network here.

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The twenty twenty five oh Scares Awards brought together the

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biggest names in the haunt industry to celebrate innovation, creativity,

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and leadership, from emerging vendors to legendary haunts. This year's

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ceremony even introduced a brand new award that's all coming

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up on today's show. Welcome to the show. I'm Philip,

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and at the Haunted Attraction Network, we bring you the

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news and information you need to prepare for Halloween. This

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podcast is just one part of what we do. Our

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best coverage lize in our free weekly industry newsletter, so

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check that out at the link in our show notes. Tonight,

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we're bringing you the full unedited recording of the twenty

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twenty five oh Scares Awards presented by the Haunted Attraction

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Association during Transorild Halloween and Attractions Show. As producers of

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this year's ceremony, we had a front row seat to

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the energy, excitement, and well deserved recognition that filled the room.

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The event was staming room only, with the first one

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hundred attendees receiving swag bags courtesy of our co chair.

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This year, a brand new award category, the Spirit of Leadership,

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was introduced, recognizing Spencer Terry's impact on the industry. Throughout

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the night, we celebrated vendors, home hunters, and attractions from

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across of the world. If you miss the Oscars live now,

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it's your chance to experience the full ceremony and if

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you're feeling inspired, nominate somebody for next year's awards. By

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the way, we have a video version of this. It's

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going to be available this weekend, so keep a lookout

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for that on our YouTube. So grab a drink, settle

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in and relive the biggest night in the Haunted attraction community.

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Here we go in three two one.

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Hello everyone, and welcome to the Oscars.

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How y'all doing.

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I love the fact the Oscars happened later in the

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show because we all get more and more what's the

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word I'd use, comfortable as the show goes on, So

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we are all here to have a good time tonight.

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Welcome to the Oscars. It is my privilege to once

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again be the host of this incredible award show.

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My name is Scott Swinson. I'm with Scott Swinson Creative.

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Development and I've been involved with the heart of attraction industry,

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in the theme park industry, and the various another attraction industry.

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For him in years.

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And I am so excited to be here because this

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event is probably one of my favorites of the entire year,

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because this is where we get to come together as

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a community, as an industry, and we get to applaud

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those people who've gone above and beyond. Now, I want

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to say that just the people who come up here

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on stage, those aren't the only ones that deserve our

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praise and our credit. Everybody in this room deserves a

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round of applause for working your butts off to make

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the Haunted Attraction industry what it is today. So now

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that you've all, in essence taken home your own award

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with a little bit of applause and a little bit

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of attention, we are going to focus a little bit

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more on the people who are going to be coming

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up here on stage and getting these really cool trophies

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over here. But before we do that, there's a couple

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other thank yous we need to make. First of all,

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the premier sponsor for tonight is, of course, Froggy's Fog.

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We would also like to thank the production supervisor Philip,

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and of course the Hunted Attraction Network so there's Philip

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over there. So, like I said, tonight, we are here

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to say kudos to those folks who have done things

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that have either invigorated the industry, shown consistency within the industry,

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or are true legacies within this industry. It's exciting because

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we get to see people that some of you have

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only heard of or seen online. We get to meet

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people who have provided products to you for years and

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all of a sudden you.

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Go, oh, you know, they did a really good stuff.

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That's cool.

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So it's it's just a night where we get to

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kind of celebrate our own and as I firmly believe,

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what's good for the industry is good for each of

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us individually.

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So it is not a question of oh, they won

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and I didn't. By the way, I'm not taking home

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an award tonight.

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It's okay, no, But it's all really about let's say

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thank you to people who make our jobs easier, who

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make our industry better.

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So we're going to dive right in.

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We're going to start off with our Vendor Excellence Awards. Now,

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once again, these awards fall into three basic categories. There

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is the New Vendor Award, the Established Vendor Award and

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the old guy, I mean the Legacy Award.

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So it is one of those situations.

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As an old guy standing up here, I can say

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that the truth is it is a legacy award, and

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we don't take that lightly because legacy truly does mean

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that they have contributed so much to this industry for

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so many years that they have to be recognized for

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all of their hard work. But let's start off on

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the other end of the spectrum. Let's start off with

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our our New Vendor Awards, the Vendor Excellence Awards for

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New Business which is under five years. This year goes

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to and if I mispronounce this, I am so sorry.

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Scython. Was I close close? Scithon. Scithon got it.

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Founded in twenty twenty one, Scython has rapidly emerged as

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a leader in actor management with a comprehensive platform that

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includes actor recruitment, scheduling, communication, and more. The founder, Justin Blackburn,

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has fourteen years of Haunt industry experience as a scare

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actor manager and consultant.

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This is thy Scython. See now I can't say it

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now that I know how to say it.

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This is Scython's second year at trans World, showcasing the

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platform at booth twenty one to eleven. Please let's take

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a quick look at a little bit more about this

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amazing new company.

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Are you tired of the stress and chaos that comes

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with managing a professional haunt? The actors, the schedules, the costumes.

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It can all be overwhelming. But what if we told

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you there's a solution introducing Scython, a modern, all in

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one actor management platform that streamlines the entire process and

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makes managing your monsters abreeze. With features such as recruiting, scheduling, communication,

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background checks, time tracking, awards tracking, and costume management, Scython

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is everything you need from the palm of your hand.

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Say goodbye to the hassle of juggling multiple apps or

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spreadsheets and Tello to a seamless and organized experience. Sign

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up for a thirty day free trial at scython dot

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io and start managing your monsters like a pro.

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All right, So, any of you have ever worked with before,

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you know that the actor, in my opinion, is the

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heartbeat of any good haunted attraction, and the ability to

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manage them is sort of like hurting cats. So we

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have been able to find this incredible new program. Please,

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ladies and gentlemen, welcome justin to the stage.

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I'm entering into the app. I should have introduced him sooner.

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Oh no, that's fine. Congratulations, thank you up here?

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Wow, thank you?

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Can we hear me?

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Awesome? First Off, a huge thank you to h Chack.

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This off.

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A huge thank you to the HAA and Oscars and

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everyone that made this event possible. This industry is full

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of a lot of creative and passionate and hardworking people

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and to be reconnized here is really an honor, so

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thank you. So Sytone started with a simple goal. We

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wanted to make actor management easier. But what's made this

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journey even more special is all of the support that

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we have received from all of our amazing customers. Your feedback,

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ideas and challenges have pushed us to improve and grow,

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and we would not be here without you, so truly,

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thank you. I also want to recognize my amazing team

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that came with me to Transworld this year, which includes

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my mom who is sitting in the back and has

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worked tirelessly behind the scenes to make all of this possible.

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Your dedication and hard work has made this really become

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a dream and personally for me, after thirteen years in

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the hot industry, from acting to management to now building

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tools for other haunts, it's incredible to see this all

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come and become a reality. If you haven't stopped by yet,

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you can find us at Booth twenty one eleven. We'll

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be there again tomorrow and you can learn how to

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manage your actors like a pro or manager monsters like

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a pro.

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So thank you again.

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There you go.

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All right, let's have another hen for Justin. That was great.

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I do you know, since since Justin took a moment

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to thank some folks, I did forget to thank some

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really important folks. For those of you who got swag

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bags when you came in, Let's have a big round

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of a plus for everyone who donated the content for

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those swag bags. Pretty cool stuff there. Does anyone else

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smell burnt toast or taste pennies?

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I just.

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Maybe I was having anyway?

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All right, So.

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It never fails.

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There's always at least one moment where something weird happens

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during this event. Weird over and above the sweater that

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I happen to be wearing. I don't know whether you

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noticed this or not. This is the only event where

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it's not just an ugly sweater contest. This is actually

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on brand, all right. Moving on to our next Vendor

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Excellence Award. This is for the established vendor. So this

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is sort of that mid range, not quite new guy,

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not quite legacy.

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This is this.

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Vendor Excellence Awards for established vendor goes to Cyclone Signs.

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You can applaud for them. That's great.

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Founded in twenty eighteen and based in Dallas. Cyclone Signs

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creates custom, creatively themed signs for the entertainment industry. Now,

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unfortunately Cyclone Signs was unable to be here this evening.

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I hope that's not a sign of something.

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Thank you so much.

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This will be my last hosting of the Oscars.

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Peace out. Okay, no, but I would like to I

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would like to thank thank.

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The industry, and to thank the Haunted Attraction Association on

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their behalf and I will be taking home their trophy.

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So I did get an award, yes, unfortunately, just doesn't

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have my name on it.

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That's the bummer, all right.

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So now our final Vendor Excellence Award is for a

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company that has consistently delivered to our community for over

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twenty years, which, by the way, is no small feat.

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The twenty twenty five Legacy Vendor Excellence Award goes to

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Distortions Unlimited. And I think everybody applauding right now has

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a Distortions product somewhere in their hunt.

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So.

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Founded in nineteen seventy eight by ed Edmunds, joined in

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nineteen eighty eight by Marsha Tob Edmunds, and supported by

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a super talented crew, Distortions Unlimited has been a force

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in the industry making monsters for over forty six years.

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Truly a legacy.

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So let's take a quick look at some video snippets.

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Head and Marcia get the DeLorean. Mercia, how about we

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go thirty years into the future.

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What do you think.

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There's a lot of a gest.

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You're a little crazy, Yeah, let's go make monsters.

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I don't know about you, but as we're watching that video,

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those are some iconic products.

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Those are things that we have all seen embraced and

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when they.

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Came out they were revolutionary, and that now that they

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are here, they are truly a legacy. Things that we

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all continue to use, continue to respect, and continue to

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think are absolutely amazing.

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Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome to the stage. Edin Marcia.

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We are truly honored. You know, this happened when we

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were I guess the first day of the show.

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There's all these.

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Wonderful people around and we're in our booth and I'm

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just looking around and I'm like that old Talking Heads song.

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I think it was, how did I get here? You know,

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this is not my life, and you know, I was

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just a nerd kid, monster loving kid growing up in

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Long Grove, Illinois, and somehow it became this.

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And so I'm not going to say a whole lot.

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You know, we went overlengked on our video, but I

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just I couldn't edit it anymore.

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It was so hard.

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Well, anyway, thank you guys so much, and I wanted

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to thank trans World. You know, we've been at trans World.

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Since the beginning.

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I don't know what year that was, maybe eighty three,

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I don't know, but I couldn't do it without you guys,

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and we tried to get our crew up here. These

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guys have been These are some of our key people

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right here. We've got a lot of people still working

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at home, but these guys have been here twenty thirty years.

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So anyway, thank you.

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Yeah, but first we would like to get a round

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of applause for trans World. These guys are phenomenal.

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Yeah really, so anyway, thank you all very much, and

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thank you Crue.

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This is listen.

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This is a wonderful industry with beautiful people, and we

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have done nothing.

252
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It's like this show is like a love fest.

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I mean really, it's just everybody is like family and

254
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it's beautiful and we really really appreciate it.

255
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Thank you.

256
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So I just learned something.

257
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I grew up in Buffalo Grove, which is like right

258
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next to Long Grove, so maybe it was in the water.

259
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I don't know. So hopefully someday maybe I'll get one

260
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of those. That'd be great. All right, So.

261
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That's all for our Vendor awards. Next is our Home

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Haunter Award. Home Hunters are a vital part of our community,

263
00:17:53.000 --> 00:17:56.119
fostering a love for Halloween in their neighborhoods and motivating

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folks to explore more. The next winner truly embodies that spirit.

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The twenty twenty five Home Haunter Award goes to Rotten

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Apple nine oh seven. So Rotten Apple nine oh seven

267
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has become a must see home haunt in southern California,

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known for elaborate painting, prop building, and ever changing themes,

269
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featured in documentaries like The Haunters movie, The Epic Home Haunts,

270
00:18:26.440 --> 00:18:29.079
and they have raised now get this number, kids, they

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have raised over seventy eight thousand dollars for local charities.

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The power of the boo is what that is.

273
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Diane and Preston, the masterminds behind Rotten Apple nine oh seven,

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have also helped grow the local haunt community through their

275
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work with cal Haunts. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Diane

276
00:18:52.279 --> 00:18:59.319
and Preston to the stage.

277
00:19:02.279 --> 00:19:03.920
As they make their way up to the stage.

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Let's take a quick look at a video showing you

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a little bit of their incredible work.

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Oh word, he.

281
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Quite killing, haven't we? Always? Stranger is in my kidd

282
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who don't worry about him.

283
00:19:53.960 --> 00:19:58.559
He's going to be chopped up shortly. About you? You

284
00:19:58.839 --> 00:20:01.759
look like you be good for the pots.

285
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See your labor.

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00:20:11.720 --> 00:20:28.400
In your dreams. Once again, please welcome Diane and Preston.

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We want to.

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Thank Ha and all trans world for this. We've been

289
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at it for thirty five years doing walkthroughs, and of

290
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course we did our displays before then, but our love

291
00:20:51.599 --> 00:20:57.000
of Halloween and our love to be able to help

292
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the community to enjoy things and get some light in

293
00:21:01.960 --> 00:21:06.680
their lives is what basically drives us. It gives us

294
00:21:06.720 --> 00:21:10.880
an excuse to build an almost full scale locomotive, a

295
00:21:10.920 --> 00:21:19.319
seven foot dragon, you know, better than sitting around watching TV. Yeah.

296
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We've striven for realism in what we do, which of

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course makes it easier for our customers to fall into

298
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the suspension of disbelief because we're doing a show, and

299
00:21:34.279 --> 00:21:37.200
the easier it is to make them believe that they're

300
00:21:37.240 --> 00:21:40.920
really experiencing what it is, easier it is to get scares,

301
00:21:41.839 --> 00:21:44.480
and that's kind of what we're here. I made a

302
00:21:44.480 --> 00:21:48.759
comment to one of the local newscasters that was interviewing

303
00:21:48.839 --> 00:21:51.319
us when he asked me, do you ever get tired

304
00:21:51.359 --> 00:21:54.960
of doing this? And I said, well, yeah, at the

305
00:21:55.119 --> 00:21:59.400
end of the build, you know, why are we doing this?

306
00:22:00.039 --> 00:22:03.319
But then I said, the first scare of the season though,

307
00:22:03.640 --> 00:22:10.680
and it's all okay.

308
00:22:07.680 --> 00:22:10.880
Yeah, after the first scare, we're starting to plan what

309
00:22:10.920 --> 00:22:15.799
we're doing next year. In those thirty five years, we

310
00:22:15.880 --> 00:22:19.559
have had thirty five different themes. We change our theme

311
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every single year, and we don't want we're going okay,

312
00:22:24.880 --> 00:22:26.880
we don't want to one year. Actually we kind of

313
00:22:26.960 --> 00:22:29.680
kept the front the same, but we changed the hole inside.

314
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And we still felt like we were cheating the people,

315
00:22:33.200 --> 00:22:35.960
I mean, and they're getting in for free. So I

316
00:22:36.000 --> 00:22:39.200
don't know why we're you know and stuff, but it

317
00:22:39.279 --> 00:22:43.759
is truly for COVID. We did a yard display and

318
00:22:44.000 --> 00:22:47.599
instead of a walk through, because we felt like we

319
00:22:47.680 --> 00:22:53.279
needed to bring some something to the community, and so

320
00:22:53.359 --> 00:22:55.960
we did the whole social distancing. I mean, we have

321
00:22:56.200 --> 00:22:59.759
our block, our neighbors don't like us very well, and

322
00:23:01.440 --> 00:23:04.519
so they called during COVID, they called the city three

323
00:23:04.599 --> 00:23:07.039
times saying that we were doing a haunted house and

324
00:23:07.079 --> 00:23:09.240
trying to get us in trouble. And we talked to

325
00:23:09.279 --> 00:23:11.359
the city, no, it's not, it's just a yard display.

326
00:23:11.359 --> 00:23:15.000
We're putting social distancing, you know, the whole routine. Then

327
00:23:15.039 --> 00:23:19.720
they called what was it the county County Health Apartment,

328
00:23:19.799 --> 00:23:22.400
County Health Department because we had people out there working

329
00:23:22.440 --> 00:23:26.839
without masts, and the police department came and you know,

330
00:23:27.240 --> 00:23:29.079
so but we managed to pull all off.

331
00:23:29.319 --> 00:23:30.039
They all kind of.

332
00:23:29.960 --> 00:23:33.440
Know us now and after thirty five years of doing this,

333
00:23:33.480 --> 00:23:39.119
they all kind of know us. And that night we

334
00:23:39.279 --> 00:23:43.440
had more people thank us for what we did because

335
00:23:43.839 --> 00:23:46.519
they couldn't do anything. It was they were shut in.

336
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I had one guy that worked in the industry and

337
00:23:50.519 --> 00:23:55.039
said he was laid off and he's he was in tears.

338
00:23:55.599 --> 00:23:58.440
He says, thank you, you literally saved our lives, my

339
00:23:58.559 --> 00:24:02.680
life tonight and stuff. So it was that's why we

340
00:24:02.759 --> 00:24:05.759
deal that this. Thank you very much, guys, thank you.

341
00:24:12.160 --> 00:24:14.839
How many of us have had that exact same feeling

342
00:24:14.880 --> 00:24:15.519
in what we do.

343
00:24:16.319 --> 00:24:18.759
Let's be honest. We do it for love. We do

344
00:24:18.839 --> 00:24:21.279
it for you know. Yes, it's nice to earn money

345
00:24:21.279 --> 00:24:23.640
every now and then, but we do it for love.

346
00:24:24.000 --> 00:24:27.119
And there's not a single person in this room who

347
00:24:27.200 --> 00:24:29.039
hasn't felt exactly what they just shared.

348
00:24:29.039 --> 00:24:31.119
So let's have another round of applause for the folks

349
00:24:31.119 --> 00:24:32.480
for Rotten Apple nine oh seven.

350
00:24:38.039 --> 00:24:39.839
So now we're going to move on to the awards

351
00:24:39.880 --> 00:24:43.039
for Haunted Attractions, and just like the vendor awards, they

352
00:24:43.039 --> 00:24:46.720
are broken into three basic categories. There is the New

353
00:24:47.119 --> 00:24:50.680
Haunted Attraction Award, the Established, and of course the Legacy.

354
00:24:51.240 --> 00:24:54.079
So let's start off at the very beginning. It's a

355
00:24:54.160 --> 00:24:55.200
very fine place to start.

356
00:24:56.359 --> 00:24:59.480
The Board of Directors Award for a first year Haunt

357
00:24:59.559 --> 00:25:01.920
Goes to Harrah's Nightmare.

358
00:25:09.160 --> 00:25:13.480
Debuting in Westminster's Town Mall, this Haunt introduced three unique

359
00:25:13.559 --> 00:25:18.440
experiences powered by cutting edge effects, animatronics, some of them

360
00:25:18.480 --> 00:25:25.200
probably from distortions, and immersive storytelling. Guests faced post apocalyptic

361
00:25:25.279 --> 00:25:30.720
zombies in Contaminant X, witnessed witnessed underworld battles in the

362
00:25:30.759 --> 00:25:33.599
Reign of Darkness, and traveled back in time with the

363
00:25:33.640 --> 00:25:37.720
Curse of Hexan Hollow. Inspired by visiting over thirty Haunts

364
00:25:37.720 --> 00:25:42.000
in twenty twenty three, owner Carlos Revus.

365
00:25:42.240 --> 00:25:43.759
Did I say that, right? Okay?

366
00:25:43.759 --> 00:25:44.359
Good?

367
00:25:44.680 --> 00:25:48.519
Always have to check, you know, designed each attraction to

368
00:25:48.599 --> 00:25:52.599
deliver a distinct and terrifying experience. Let's take a look

369
00:25:52.759 --> 00:26:08.200
as Carlos shows us around some of this Haunt facts.

370
00:27:13.200 --> 00:27:15.079
You know it's a good video when haunters look at it.

371
00:27:15.039 --> 00:27:18.359
And go, yeah, that's good.

372
00:27:18.400 --> 00:27:29.400
Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Carlos to the stage.

373
00:27:32.079 --> 00:27:36.880
This is so uncomfortable. I can't believe we actually won

374
00:27:36.920 --> 00:27:39.559
this award. When we first started this, or when I

375
00:27:39.559 --> 00:27:42.759
had this idea of a Haunt four years ago, I

376
00:27:42.799 --> 00:27:45.359
didn't think i'd be here yet. I was hoping, you know,

377
00:27:45.599 --> 00:27:48.799
ten years down the road fifteen years down the road twenty.

378
00:27:48.960 --> 00:27:50.400
You know you guys would acknowledge me.

379
00:27:51.960 --> 00:27:55.480
So I just want to thank everyone, the Ahha Committee,

380
00:27:55.599 --> 00:27:58.640
trans World and all you fellow Haunters, because you guys

381
00:27:58.640 --> 00:28:04.000
inspired me to do this and it's just incredible. Honestly,

382
00:28:04.039 --> 00:28:06.920
the Haunted attraction wouldn't be what it is without my team,

383
00:28:07.000 --> 00:28:09.440
my staff, which I have some of them here, Brittany

384
00:28:09.480 --> 00:28:10.000
and Ariana.

385
00:28:12.000 --> 00:28:12.119
Uh.

386
00:28:12.400 --> 00:28:17.240
The Haunt Harrah's Nightmare isn't just a haunted house. It's

387
00:28:17.240 --> 00:28:20.240
a family. And you know we're only we've only been

388
00:28:20.240 --> 00:28:24.079
together for one year. But the team and the actors

389
00:28:24.119 --> 00:28:26.160
is what really brings it to life. And I want

390
00:28:26.160 --> 00:28:27.640
to give if we can all give them a round

391
00:28:27.640 --> 00:28:29.279
of pause to actors, the team.

392
00:28:29.559 --> 00:28:35.519
Yeah, thank you guys.

393
00:28:35.599 --> 00:28:37.680
If you guys are in Maryland, feel free to stop

394
00:28:37.680 --> 00:28:39.519
by this Haunt season. We want to go bigger and

395
00:28:39.559 --> 00:28:41.680
better and we want to push the limits and we'll

396
00:28:41.680 --> 00:28:42.640
see where he goes from here.

397
00:28:42.680 --> 00:28:43.359
But thank you guys.

398
00:28:49.079 --> 00:28:51.200
I just want to reinforce you know, we all have

399
00:28:51.319 --> 00:28:53.680
these great memories of being here at Transworld and this

400
00:28:53.720 --> 00:28:56.599
incredible show and the incredible camaraderie that we build here,

401
00:28:56.839 --> 00:28:59.240
and that's a perfect example, how about how that translates

402
00:28:59.359 --> 00:29:02.680
into brand new haunters who are bringing this industry yet

403
00:29:02.680 --> 00:29:03.880
again to the next level.

404
00:29:03.880 --> 00:29:05.920
So that's great. Another round of applause for Carlos. That

405
00:29:05.960 --> 00:29:06.359
was awesome.

406
00:29:11.640 --> 00:29:15.119
So the Board of Director's award for an established haunt

407
00:29:15.480 --> 00:29:18.640
goes to Traumatica Festival of Fear.

408
00:29:20.680 --> 00:29:24.559
Okay, give them a round of applause. They deserve that.

409
00:29:29.759 --> 00:29:33.400
This aunt started in two thousand and seven as Tenzi

410
00:29:33.640 --> 00:29:36.480
Horror Nights with a single haunt and fewer than eight

411
00:29:36.559 --> 00:29:41.240
hundred guests nightly. Nineteen years later, Dramatica has seven haunts,

412
00:29:41.400 --> 00:29:45.400
a stage show, an ice show featuring international artists, after

413
00:29:45.480 --> 00:29:51.400
hours experiences, and two nightclubs, attracting over seventy thousand visitors

414
00:29:51.440 --> 00:29:55.960
each season. It's now one of Germany's largest Halloween events.

415
00:29:56.319 --> 00:29:57.880
And for those of you who haven't been lucky enough

416
00:29:57.920 --> 00:29:59.799
to check it out, here's a video to share with

417
00:29:59.839 --> 00:30:00.880
you some of their highlights.

418
00:31:38.920 --> 00:31:39.759
Now it's my turn.

419
00:31:40.680 --> 00:31:45.400
Yeah, that was very cool. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome

420
00:31:45.440 --> 00:31:47.640
to the stage and this and the team from Traumatica.

421
00:32:01.880 --> 00:32:03.599
I'm taking your word over here.

422
00:32:12.839 --> 00:32:17.880
I guess I'm the translator. So we've been doing this.

423
00:32:18.160 --> 00:32:22.559
We're in our nineteenth season. So I'm sure most of

424
00:32:22.559 --> 00:32:24.160
you have never even heard of us because you're not

425
00:32:24.640 --> 00:32:29.440
in Germany. However, I would like to thank everybody here

426
00:32:30.119 --> 00:32:35.319
because this is an American tradition that we've brought to

427
00:32:35.400 --> 00:32:39.200
a country. Nineteen years ago with one house. We had

428
00:32:39.319 --> 00:32:41.960
thirty five visitors the first night we had a house

429
00:32:42.000 --> 00:32:50.880
called Hell's In and they were calling to book a room.

430
00:32:51.599 --> 00:32:55.519
So you understand what we had to do, what we

431
00:32:55.559 --> 00:32:57.839
had to do to change the mindset of the people.

432
00:33:00.519 --> 00:33:02.519
It was quite a journey, and now we're up to

433
00:33:02.920 --> 00:33:11.440
around about one hundred thousand a season. So I would

434
00:33:11.440 --> 00:33:14.720
like to thank Michael Mack, the owner of the park,

435
00:33:14.839 --> 00:33:18.359
for letting us bring our particular brand of entertainment to

436
00:33:18.440 --> 00:33:26.000
their family park. Obviously, Enis and Alex they're actually the

437
00:33:26.000 --> 00:33:30.160
brains of the operation. Enis is the one who organizes everything.

438
00:33:31.079 --> 00:33:34.720
But most importantly, again I think everybody knows the heart

439
00:33:35.000 --> 00:33:37.759
of what we do is our actors. I think we

440
00:33:37.839 --> 00:33:41.720
all know that, and anytime we get any award, it's

441
00:33:41.759 --> 00:33:42.880
for them.

442
00:33:42.559 --> 00:33:43.200
So thank you.

443
00:33:53.319 --> 00:33:55.279
So I was actually lucky enough I got a chance

444
00:33:55.359 --> 00:33:57.759
to see to get a video glimpse of that a

445
00:33:57.799 --> 00:34:02.519
while back. Because they've also been nominated and recognized by

446
00:34:02.599 --> 00:34:06.400
IAPPA as well. So they're an incredible really an incredible experience.

447
00:34:07.599 --> 00:34:09.840
So and by the way, when you all are watching

448
00:34:09.840 --> 00:34:11.880
those videos, are you doing what I'm doing? You're taking

449
00:34:11.960 --> 00:34:13.320
mental notes, going that's really cool.

450
00:34:13.360 --> 00:34:13.760
I could do that.

451
00:34:14.880 --> 00:34:16.960
Yeah, Okay, just want to make sure I wasn't the

452
00:34:17.000 --> 00:34:20.000
only one, all right. So now it is time for

453
00:34:20.079 --> 00:34:23.920
the Legacy Haunt Award. The final Board of Directors award

454
00:34:24.039 --> 00:34:27.480
is reserved for a haunted attraction or haunted attractions that

455
00:34:27.559 --> 00:34:31.039
have become legends in their communities. This award is for

456
00:34:31.079 --> 00:34:34.079
the best of the best. The twenty twenty four Board

457
00:34:34.119 --> 00:34:47.599
of Directors Award for Legacy Haunt goes to Field of Screams, Montana.

458
00:34:47.760 --> 00:34:51.199
Field of Screams, Montana has been a staple of Montana's

459
00:34:51.199 --> 00:34:54.280
haunted attraction scene. What began in two thousand as a

460
00:34:54.320 --> 00:34:58.159
simple corn maze has become a full fledged Halloween tradition

461
00:34:58.760 --> 00:35:02.320
run by a family of six. This attraction blends creativity

462
00:35:02.440 --> 00:35:09.360
and resourcefulness, transforming inexpensive materials into immersive scares, which kind

463
00:35:09.360 --> 00:35:12.679
of defines the hont industry. We turn cheap into terrifying,

464
00:35:12.679 --> 00:35:18.960
which is great by day visitors enjoy the hay ground

465
00:35:19.559 --> 00:35:21.880
and hay rides. It looks better in print. I tried

466
00:35:21.880 --> 00:35:24.880
to say it as best I could. While nighttime brings

467
00:35:25.039 --> 00:35:28.679
bone cutters, the famous Shrinking Tunnel, ghost Town, and the

468
00:35:28.760 --> 00:35:32.320
all new Gateway manor Haunted House Field of Screams, Montana

469
00:35:32.320 --> 00:35:36.559
continues to deliver unforgettable thrills, making it a must visit

470
00:35:36.840 --> 00:36:06.000
fall destination. Let's take a look, no mysterets.

471
00:36:07.480 --> 00:36:09.360
Number four exacsion.

472
00:36:35.119 --> 00:36:43.559
All right, please welcome Quinn Sandy and Ethan Kirkland to

473
00:36:43.599 --> 00:36:44.840
the stage to accept their award.

474
00:36:58.599 --> 00:37:03.000
Wow, oh my gosh, Like we're not worthy.

475
00:37:04.119 --> 00:37:05.599
That's all I can think of right now.

476
00:37:07.159 --> 00:37:08.679
So we are super honored.

477
00:37:08.679 --> 00:37:09.079
Thank you.

478
00:37:09.559 --> 00:37:14.199
We are super honored to receive this legacy award. So,

479
00:37:14.199 --> 00:37:16.159
if you have never actually heard of us, we are

480
00:37:16.159 --> 00:37:21.119
in Montana. The abbreviation is empty, and so what's empty,

481
00:37:21.920 --> 00:37:24.480
So that that helps you out any We are a

482
00:37:24.559 --> 00:37:29.360
fall destination and people come from over two hundred miles

483
00:37:29.360 --> 00:37:32.000
plus around to come and see us. Since that makes

484
00:37:32.079 --> 00:37:35.880
us feel really good, we strive to make it the

485
00:37:35.920 --> 00:37:37.440
best experience.

486
00:37:36.960 --> 00:37:38.599
Possible for all of our.

487
00:37:39.960 --> 00:37:45.559
All of our victims or guests that come. We really

488
00:37:45.599 --> 00:37:48.239
do have a small, small budget, but it is amazing

489
00:37:48.320 --> 00:37:51.480
what you can actually do with the little bits and

490
00:37:51.480 --> 00:37:54.519
pieces that you find around on the road or at

491
00:37:54.719 --> 00:38:00.719
estate sales or you guys know, right, And so we

492
00:38:00.840 --> 00:38:05.480
really want to thank this community, all of you for

493
00:38:05.519 --> 00:38:09.000
helping us and for supporting us. You really have no

494
00:38:09.079 --> 00:38:14.199
idea how much that you've actually helped us. We are

495
00:38:14.239 --> 00:38:18.119
still thankful for this trans world and for haw Association,

496
00:38:18.360 --> 00:38:22.320
and for those bus tours and for opening up your

497
00:38:22.320 --> 00:38:26.039
haunts to us. It's just it's such a it's an honor.

498
00:38:28.320 --> 00:38:30.880
If it wasn't for you guys, we would probably still

499
00:38:30.920 --> 00:38:35.000
be in the Stone Ages with our black tarps and

500
00:38:35.360 --> 00:38:41.360
duct tape and yeah, so yeah, so now we've actually

501
00:38:41.440 --> 00:38:43.480
advanced and it feels really really good.

502
00:38:44.079 --> 00:38:44.800
We hope to be.

503
00:38:44.800 --> 00:38:47.880
Able to see you guys real soon in Montana if

504
00:38:47.880 --> 00:38:49.199
you want to come out and see us.

505
00:38:49.440 --> 00:38:51.039
So thank you, thank.

506
00:38:50.840 --> 00:38:51.400
You, thank you.

507
00:39:00.000 --> 00:39:02.239
But I think one of the things that we have

508
00:39:02.320 --> 00:39:05.119
to recognize, that we all recognize, is that here within

509
00:39:05.119 --> 00:39:09.199
the community we are very much like a family. Unfortunately,

510
00:39:09.199 --> 00:39:11.320
there are times the members of our family leave us.

511
00:39:12.400 --> 00:39:14.440
So I'd like to take a moment, because this has

512
00:39:14.480 --> 00:39:16.719
been a tough year. I'd like to take a moment

513
00:39:16.880 --> 00:40:34.760
to remember those who we've lost this past year. Out

514
00:40:34.800 --> 00:40:37.599
of respect for those who have passed, I would like

515
00:40:37.639 --> 00:40:57.960
to ask for a moment of silence. Please hold a

516
00:40:57.960 --> 00:41:00.400
special place in your heart for these who are no

517
00:41:00.400 --> 00:41:13.039
longer with us. So from a very sad moment, it

518
00:41:13.119 --> 00:41:15.800
is now time to move forward to a very inspirational moment.

519
00:41:16.119 --> 00:41:17.280
One of the things that we are very.

520
00:41:17.159 --> 00:41:21.039
Happy about is the scholarship program that the Haunted Attraction Association.

521
00:41:20.679 --> 00:41:22.639
Is able to provide.

522
00:41:22.920 --> 00:41:26.360
And here's a little video segment to fill you in

523
00:41:26.400 --> 00:41:28.639
a little bit on some of the scholarships from this year.

524
00:41:30.199 --> 00:41:33.519
Hi everyone, I'm Avigail Bergshall, the twenty twenty five recipient

525
00:41:33.599 --> 00:41:37.480
of the James King Memorial Scholarship from the Haunted Attraction Association.

526
00:41:38.079 --> 00:41:41.639
I'm deeply honored and grateful for this amazing opportunity and

527
00:41:41.679 --> 00:41:43.920
I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to the Haunted

528
00:41:44.159 --> 00:41:48.119
Attraction Association for helping me through my education at a

529
00:41:48.119 --> 00:41:53.440
four year institution studying criminology and achieve my academic goals.

530
00:41:53.599 --> 00:41:54.480
Thank you so much.

531
00:41:55.280 --> 00:41:57.719
Oh wow, my name is Harrison Gentleman, and I would

532
00:41:57.760 --> 00:42:00.239
like to say thank you to the Haunted Attraction Association

533
00:42:00.480 --> 00:42:02.960
for granted me the scholarship. I would like to give

534
00:42:03.000 --> 00:42:05.400
a special thank you to Terry Bersin for allowing me

535
00:42:05.440 --> 00:42:08.480
to work alongside her down at the USS Nightmare during

536
00:42:08.480 --> 00:42:11.599
the Haunted season. I'm looking forward to taking these lessons

537
00:42:11.639 --> 00:42:14.760
that I learned while shadowing her into my future career

538
00:42:14.800 --> 00:42:18.039
in the business. I look forward to using the scholarship

539
00:42:18.079 --> 00:42:21.159
to further my education at the next level. Thank you,

540
00:42:21.360 --> 00:42:22.519
Harrison Gamble.

541
00:42:24.000 --> 00:42:32.000
All right, Yeah, I've had several discussions about the attractions

542
00:42:32.039 --> 00:42:35.039
industry and there's a concern that it's aging out, but

543
00:42:35.079 --> 00:42:37.159
this is proof that it's not. There are some great

544
00:42:37.159 --> 00:42:40.320
people who are continuing to recognize the fun that we

545
00:42:40.360 --> 00:42:42.320
can have and the impact we can make in the

546
00:42:42.360 --> 00:42:43.559
Hunted Attraction Association.

547
00:42:43.599 --> 00:42:44.440
So very excited.

548
00:42:45.159 --> 00:42:47.960
So now let's move on to our special Recognition awards.

549
00:42:49.719 --> 00:42:52.599
I'm so happy I get to announce this one because

550
00:42:52.599 --> 00:42:54.119
I've been a friend of this gentleman.

551
00:42:53.800 --> 00:42:54.679
For many, many years.

552
00:42:54.880 --> 00:43:00.639
Our next Special Recognition Award goes to TJ Manorino.

553
00:43:01.280 --> 00:43:06.079
Yeah so.

554
00:43:06.280 --> 00:43:10.679
TJ spent twenty nine years at Universal Orlando Resort, with

555
00:43:10.760 --> 00:43:13.440
the last eight as vice president of Art and Design.

556
00:43:13.840 --> 00:43:16.840
During his tenure, he led a team of artists scenic

557
00:43:16.920 --> 00:43:21.079
and costume designers, creative and concept developers, and show producers

558
00:43:21.440 --> 00:43:25.719
who delivered some of the industry's most compelling live entertainment experiences,

559
00:43:25.760 --> 00:43:29.440
including now Get This List, The Jimmy Fallon Ride through

560
00:43:29.480 --> 00:43:31.960
New York, grand opening with the cast of The Today

561
00:43:31.960 --> 00:43:35.800
Show and The Tonight Show, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Illuminations,

562
00:43:35.840 --> 00:43:39.480
The Secret Life of Pet's Parade Float Experience, The Superstar

563
00:43:39.559 --> 00:43:44.800
Parade Grinchmiss Universal's Holiday Parade featuring Macy's Marty Grass, and,

564
00:43:44.880 --> 00:43:50.679
of course, Halloween Horrnites, which earned fifteen Best Halloween Event

565
00:43:50.760 --> 00:43:54.280
Golden Ticket Awards from Amusement Today, so many that the

566
00:43:54.320 --> 00:44:00.000
category was eventually retired. The Travel Channel has spotlighted TJ's

567
00:44:00.079 --> 00:44:02.679
work in their documentary The Art of the Scare. His

568
00:44:02.800 --> 00:44:06.719
leadership helped shape Halloween Hornites into one of the world's.

569
00:44:06.280 --> 00:44:08.280
Most acclaimed Halloween attractions.

570
00:44:08.480 --> 00:44:10.400
Ladies and gentlemen, Please welcome to the stage someone I

571
00:44:10.480 --> 00:44:12.079
am so happy to call a friend of mine.

572
00:44:12.239 --> 00:44:12.519
DJ.

573
00:44:12.599 --> 00:44:32.559
Please come come on up and accept your reward congratulation.

574
00:44:37.920 --> 00:44:38.719
Oh this is cool.

575
00:44:40.960 --> 00:44:43.360
Well, first of all, I just want to say thank

576
00:44:43.400 --> 00:44:48.159
you for the amazing amount of work that all of us,

577
00:44:48.199 --> 00:44:50.880
not only in this industry, but definitely back home with

578
00:44:50.920 --> 00:44:54.800
the teams do to make not only Halloween successful but

579
00:44:54.840 --> 00:44:57.400
also something everybody strives to want to be a part of.

580
00:44:57.880 --> 00:45:01.079
Come visit and actually see how it actually evolves and changes.

581
00:45:02.280 --> 00:45:04.239
But I do want to put some special thank yous

582
00:45:04.320 --> 00:45:08.079
to first of all, trans World. I'm gonna go back

583
00:45:08.119 --> 00:45:09.639
in time a little bit talk about something, and then

584
00:45:09.639 --> 00:45:10.920
this is where I'm want to date. Now, me and

585
00:45:10.920 --> 00:45:15.000
Scott when again a small group of us used to

586
00:45:15.039 --> 00:45:19.599
get together in a cold place called Chicago. It's kind

587
00:45:19.599 --> 00:45:22.920
of cold down here too for us Florida people. And

588
00:45:22.960 --> 00:45:25.920
it was interesting because at that time, industry was kind

589
00:45:25.920 --> 00:45:27.599
of just starting to grow, get up on his feet,

590
00:45:27.960 --> 00:45:32.719
and it was an interesting perspective across the different community.

591
00:45:33.039 --> 00:45:36.119
At that time, it was all about who keep things secret,

592
00:45:36.400 --> 00:45:39.719
Let's don't deal with our competitors, and me and Scott

593
00:45:39.760 --> 00:45:43.280
were actually competitors. Scott was working for Busch Gardens Hollowscreen,

594
00:45:43.360 --> 00:45:46.199
a wonderful attraction that was really next door to us.

595
00:45:46.599 --> 00:45:49.280
We were also starting to grow and expand, and I

596
00:45:49.320 --> 00:45:52.920
remember that year we were in Transworld, people were having

597
00:45:52.920 --> 00:45:57.000
this dialogue off to the side because guess what, Bush

598
00:45:57.000 --> 00:46:00.119
Gardens and Universal were sitting down having drinks. Now that

599
00:46:00.199 --> 00:46:05.519
had to be Bush products, but that was still okay, yeah, okay,

600
00:46:07.480 --> 00:46:12.079
But it was something that we loved, that sense of camaraderie, communication,

601
00:46:12.599 --> 00:46:17.159
collaboration that we felt not only made us strong competitors

602
00:46:17.239 --> 00:46:20.440
but also made us better as collaborators. And I think

603
00:46:20.480 --> 00:46:24.039
strans World built that built that network of how to

604
00:46:24.079 --> 00:46:26.239
set up a chance for all of us to get

605
00:46:26.239 --> 00:46:29.199
together in one place to talk to each other and

606
00:46:29.280 --> 00:46:32.800
actually grow, not only grow us, but grow the community. Well,

607
00:46:32.840 --> 00:46:36.360
then next I thank you goes to HAA to be

608
00:46:36.400 --> 00:46:38.800
able to recognize that and say, you know what, we

609
00:46:38.840 --> 00:46:40.960
need to have an association. We need to start a

610
00:46:41.000 --> 00:46:44.599
group of people so we together can actually learn from

611
00:46:44.599 --> 00:46:49.599
each other, grow, expand inspire. There's so much about this

612
00:46:50.079 --> 00:46:53.199
not only work that gets done here, but happens afterwards

613
00:46:53.480 --> 00:46:56.519
again for us that most people think, oh, you guys

614
00:46:56.719 --> 00:46:59.199
have everything and do everything. We come here because we

615
00:46:59.280 --> 00:47:02.880
get so much inspiration from all of you. What you're doing,

616
00:47:02.960 --> 00:47:05.440
how you're doing it. Home Haunters thirty five years of

617
00:47:05.480 --> 00:47:08.079
home haunting. My god, amazing. You know what, all the

618
00:47:08.119 --> 00:47:10.679
stuff we saw from vendors creating new product to new

619
00:47:10.719 --> 00:47:14.199
things again This is what makes this industry amazing and

620
00:47:14.280 --> 00:47:17.920
successful and also inspiring. The last part that I want

621
00:47:17.920 --> 00:47:20.039
to thank you is what you give me. You give

622
00:47:20.079 --> 00:47:22.760
me the opportunity to give back again. I think part

623
00:47:22.760 --> 00:47:24.599
of that is my job not only is to do

624
00:47:24.639 --> 00:47:26.840
what we do every day in this industry, but it's

625
00:47:26.840 --> 00:47:29.360
also is to tell the next generation to say, you

626
00:47:29.400 --> 00:47:32.079
too can be successful, You two can be creative, you

627
00:47:32.119 --> 00:47:35.280
can do have a career in this job in this world.

628
00:47:35.840 --> 00:47:39.360
Excuse me, because to me, that is the thing that

629
00:47:39.400 --> 00:47:42.159
people never recognized twenty thirty years ago when we started,

630
00:47:42.559 --> 00:47:44.559
they didn't say, what do you mean? First of all,

631
00:47:44.599 --> 00:47:45.920
I get a place that you guys want to hang

632
00:47:45.960 --> 00:47:46.400
out together.

633
00:47:46.519 --> 00:47:47.000
That's cool.

634
00:47:47.199 --> 00:47:48.719
There's kind of a hud hundred house that you do.

635
00:47:48.880 --> 00:47:51.199
That's kind of a hobby. I always thought it was

636
00:47:51.239 --> 00:47:52.920
going to be a hobby. Did I ever know that

637
00:47:53.440 --> 00:47:57.079
thirty five years later, there's a career for me again.

638
00:47:57.239 --> 00:47:59.599
I'm able to talk to people and give them opportunities

639
00:47:59.599 --> 00:48:02.400
and jobs to work in this industry and again change

640
00:48:02.440 --> 00:48:05.000
and actually build things that you haven't seen before. You know,

641
00:48:05.239 --> 00:48:08.320
things that Horror has never accomplished before. Has all been

642
00:48:08.360 --> 00:48:11.400
because this community is so strong keeps crawling and keeps

643
00:48:11.400 --> 00:48:14.159
being better. So I say thank you. I appreciate you all,

644
00:48:14.599 --> 00:48:15.440
and thank you so much.

645
00:48:15.480 --> 00:48:28.559
So I'm not sure, but I think TJ just said

646
00:48:28.599 --> 00:48:29.440
that he and I were dating.

647
00:48:29.719 --> 00:48:32.760
I don't know that's what he said. I heard it.

648
00:48:32.800 --> 00:48:34.920
I don't news to me. Okay.

649
00:48:35.039 --> 00:48:39.599
So so other than that surprise, we have another new

650
00:48:39.679 --> 00:48:40.800
surprise coming up here.

651
00:48:41.079 --> 00:48:42.360
This is actually not.

652
00:48:44.000 --> 00:48:46.000
Not an announced part of the program, but we're going

653
00:48:46.039 --> 00:48:48.559
to do it anyway because I've got the microphone.

654
00:48:49.199 --> 00:48:51.639
Next up, this award is a complete surprise.

655
00:48:52.559 --> 00:48:57.400
The OSCARS Awards honors outstanding service in our industry, and

656
00:48:57.599 --> 00:49:01.480
this individual's contributions are it's so vast that the board

657
00:49:01.519 --> 00:49:03.280
created a brand new category for it.

658
00:49:03.960 --> 00:49:07.760
This is the Spirit of Leadership Award. So the first

659
00:49:07.800 --> 00:49:10.000
ever Spirit of Leadership Award.

660
00:49:11.199 --> 00:49:22.000
Is for outgoing President Spencer Terry.

661
00:49:26.119 --> 00:49:26.639
Surprise.

662
00:49:31.280 --> 00:49:33.280
Now, truth be told, Each and every one of us

663
00:49:33.360 --> 00:49:35.559
could come up here and do our own testimony, but

664
00:49:35.639 --> 00:49:37.559
we've got a video, so let's see what other folks

665
00:49:37.559 --> 00:49:38.360
said about Spencer.

666
00:49:39.039 --> 00:49:43.000
Tonight, we honor Spencer Terry's incredible impact on the Haunted

667
00:49:43.039 --> 00:49:46.360
Attraction Association, as well as its leadership.

668
00:49:45.920 --> 00:49:48.440
And commitment to our industry's growth and success.

669
00:49:49.159 --> 00:49:51.719
I've never heard for drive, but one of the things

670
00:49:51.719 --> 00:49:56.199
that Spencer has done for me is focus. And it's

671
00:49:56.239 --> 00:49:59.000
easy to focus on yourself. Spencer has really done an

672
00:49:59.000 --> 00:50:02.280
amazing job of helping me to focus on others and

673
00:50:02.320 --> 00:50:07.159
focus on what's good for the industry. And an amazing person.

674
00:50:08.480 --> 00:50:11.119
Spence, I love you and congratulations Spencer.

675
00:50:11.400 --> 00:50:15.280
Congratulations on all your successes. Very few leaders have the

676
00:50:15.320 --> 00:50:19.440
ability to lift up and raise everyone around them, not

677
00:50:19.480 --> 00:50:23.079
only that, but elevate an entire industry. It's been an

678
00:50:23.159 --> 00:50:25.559
honor for the last several years to follow your lead.

679
00:50:25.840 --> 00:50:28.119
Congratulations man, Spencer.

680
00:50:28.360 --> 00:50:30.519
I just wanted to take a second and tell you

681
00:50:30.519 --> 00:50:32.920
how much I've enjoyed working with you on the Hunter

682
00:50:32.960 --> 00:50:36.840
Distruction Association for the last several years. Your leadership has

683
00:50:36.880 --> 00:50:39.280
been an inspiration not only to me, but I know

684
00:50:39.440 --> 00:50:42.519
to everyone that has served under you. It has been

685
00:50:42.559 --> 00:50:45.559
an honor working with you, sir, and looking forward to

686
00:50:45.639 --> 00:50:48.199
working with you some more in the future on other things.

687
00:50:48.840 --> 00:50:53.360
Holy cow, Spencer, you are truly amazing. What an amazing

688
00:50:53.440 --> 00:50:56.559
leader for all of our industry. You taught me the phrase,

689
00:50:56.599 --> 00:50:58.599
and you may not have created it, but you have

690
00:50:58.679 --> 00:51:00.760
mentioned it so many times that at sticks in my

691
00:51:00.800 --> 00:51:04.440
brain when the tide comes in, all ships rise. You're

692
00:51:04.440 --> 00:51:06.880
an amazing leader and we are so grateful as an

693
00:51:06.880 --> 00:51:10.440
industry to have you. Plus that beard looks really awesome.

694
00:51:17.360 --> 00:51:20.280
To introduce Spencer, please welcome to the stage.

695
00:51:20.320 --> 00:51:22.360
Incoming HA President Jim Werner.

696
00:51:29.480 --> 00:51:32.440
It is so hard to follow up that level of Wow,

697
00:51:32.480 --> 00:51:34.679
You're amazing. But the truth of the matter is is

698
00:51:34.719 --> 00:51:38.679
that Spencer for our industry, for our amazing industry full

699
00:51:38.719 --> 00:51:43.559
of amazing people, is a force. Spencer brings a NonStop

700
00:51:43.559 --> 00:51:46.880
attitude of positivity and can. There is no can not,

701
00:51:47.199 --> 00:51:49.519
there is no do not. It is ken, we will,

702
00:51:49.599 --> 00:51:53.280
we shall, we can. Spencer has been an absolute inspiration

703
00:51:53.360 --> 00:51:56.320
to so many, including myself, and I have to be honest,

704
00:51:56.360 --> 00:51:58.599
I've been doing this job for two days now and

705
00:51:58.679 --> 00:52:05.280
I could not be I know right strap in two

706
00:52:05.360 --> 00:52:07.599
days now and I have to tell you this without

707
00:52:07.639 --> 00:52:09.679
a doubt in my heart, that I have never been

708
00:52:09.719 --> 00:52:14.480
more humbled and honored to fill a bigger pair of shoes. Spencer,

709
00:52:14.519 --> 00:52:15.519
come on up, please.

710
00:52:24.480 --> 00:52:27.679
This is quite an undertake. I really had no idea.

711
00:52:30.000 --> 00:52:33.920
Well done, Well done to all of you. Thank you.

712
00:52:34.400 --> 00:52:37.880
I think that's really it. I love this industry.

713
00:52:38.760 --> 00:52:39.199
I love you.

714
00:52:41.280 --> 00:52:44.920
The goal I think our goal of this industry is

715
00:52:44.960 --> 00:52:51.199
to make change and to make decisions that are better

716
00:52:51.280 --> 00:52:55.239
for the next genera. You should so we do so.

717
00:52:55.400 --> 00:52:55.719
Thank you.

718
00:53:21.400 --> 00:53:22.000
Wow.

719
00:53:24.400 --> 00:53:28.599
So we are now at the final award of tonight.

720
00:53:31.000 --> 00:53:32.000
This award.

721
00:53:33.880 --> 00:53:39.400
Recognizes those who have, as the name suggested suggests, have

722
00:53:39.480 --> 00:53:44.599
contributed a lifetime to this industry. This is, of course,

723
00:53:44.679 --> 00:53:47.880
the Lifetime Achievement Award. This is the highest honor that

724
00:53:47.920 --> 00:53:54.599
the AHAA bestows upon anyone. And this year, the twenty

725
00:53:54.639 --> 00:54:08.639
twenty five Lifetime Achievement Award goes to Timothy Goavinski. And

726
00:54:08.639 --> 00:54:10.400
in order to share with you a little bit more

727
00:54:10.559 --> 00:54:16.039
about Timothy's amazing accomplishments, please welcome to the stage, Joe Taylor.

728
00:54:26.960 --> 00:54:28.480
Thank you so much, sir, Thank you.

729
00:54:34.760 --> 00:54:35.000
Yeah.

730
00:54:35.159 --> 00:54:36.360
I have to do this right.

731
00:54:36.840 --> 00:54:47.239
Look at the size of Tim. If my voice quivers,

732
00:54:47.280 --> 00:54:54.559
you'll understand why. When I was asked to say a

733
00:54:54.599 --> 00:55:00.480
few words about my friend Tim Kevinsky, I felt very honored.

734
00:55:01.960 --> 00:55:05.639
In the past, I've given out the sword many times,

735
00:55:07.000 --> 00:55:09.559
but to no one.

736
00:55:09.079 --> 00:55:10.400
More deserving than Tim.

737
00:55:12.159 --> 00:55:17.039
I first met Tim through a mutual friend, Bob Turner.

738
00:55:19.559 --> 00:55:23.519
Bob had called me many many years ago, and he

739
00:55:23.679 --> 00:55:29.639
said he wanted to run his event with our Halloween

740
00:55:29.719 --> 00:55:33.400
and Horn show. At that time, it was run in Chicago,

741
00:55:34.800 --> 00:55:37.440
and he explained his event. He said he did a

742
00:55:37.440 --> 00:55:43.480
networking event and in that networking event, he had called

743
00:55:43.519 --> 00:55:51.440
it I believe it was the Crazy Bob Social and

744
00:55:51.480 --> 00:55:53.400
he explained it to me and said he'd like to

745
00:55:53.440 --> 00:55:58.880
be able to do it within our Halloween show. I said,

746
00:55:58.920 --> 00:56:00.920
I'd like you to be there too, except that we

747
00:56:01.039 --> 00:56:04.400
have no room. So I said to him, there's a

748
00:56:04.480 --> 00:56:07.480
Hiatt hotel next door, and I know it has a

749
00:56:07.519 --> 00:56:10.239
ballroom on the first floor. Let me call and.

750
00:56:10.159 --> 00:56:11.599
See if the space is available.

751
00:56:12.400 --> 00:56:14.880
So I called him back and I said it's available,

752
00:56:15.960 --> 00:56:19.280
and he said, well, I appreciate your effort, Joe, but

753
00:56:19.559 --> 00:56:23.039
I don't think I can afford the Hiat. So I

754
00:56:23.039 --> 00:56:25.760
said to him, don't worry about it. Trans World will

755
00:56:25.880 --> 00:56:29.519
pay for it. I think it will benefit both groups,

756
00:56:29.599 --> 00:56:32.559
and I want to be able to run the events concurrently.

757
00:56:34.599 --> 00:56:38.280
That was in the year two thousand and two. At

758
00:56:38.320 --> 00:56:44.440
that event, he introduced me to Tim Kavinski and at

759
00:56:44.519 --> 00:56:50.960
that time we started to make history together. I remember

760
00:56:51.000 --> 00:56:57.519
when he was first elected president of this association. I

761
00:56:57.599 --> 00:57:01.119
was very proud of him, and immediate he started to

762
00:57:01.239 --> 00:57:06.480
decide that he needed new members, and when Tim wants

763
00:57:06.519 --> 00:57:11.280
to do something, he gets the job done. After that,

764
00:57:11.480 --> 00:57:15.239
he also wanted to be able to make sure that

765
00:57:15.320 --> 00:57:20.320
the existing members had a strong resource and in time

766
00:57:21.519 --> 00:57:27.119
all his desires and wants for the association came about.

767
00:57:28.840 --> 00:57:35.119
He worked very closely with a guy named Phil Slaggert

768
00:57:35.159 --> 00:57:40.920
I believe, and Brett Bertolini, and what they did is

769
00:57:41.039 --> 00:57:46.800
they took a regional safety program I believe that was

770
00:57:46.840 --> 00:57:53.280
in Pennsylvania, and they turned it into a strong industry

771
00:57:54.039 --> 00:57:58.119
safety program, which I think all of us know is

772
00:57:58.239 --> 00:58:03.280
chaos today. And Tim went a little bit further and

773
00:58:03.400 --> 00:58:06.920
started to have some programs at the trans World show

774
00:58:07.639 --> 00:58:14.280
where the people involved in chaos could also take classes

775
00:58:15.039 --> 00:58:21.000
and be able to get points that led to completion

776
00:58:21.159 --> 00:58:27.760
of the program. I was very pleased that Tim was

777
00:58:27.840 --> 00:58:32.119
working in such a manner to make everything work right.

778
00:58:33.599 --> 00:58:38.400
But he didn't stop there. He worked with Bob Turner

779
00:58:39.360 --> 00:58:43.239
and Tim's board of directors at that time, and they

780
00:58:43.320 --> 00:58:50.199
came up with something called the Oscars, And back then

781
00:58:50.920 --> 00:58:55.159
it wasn't the type of show today with as good

782
00:58:55.199 --> 00:58:59.320
as speakers as we have. It was a little bit

783
00:58:59.360 --> 00:59:04.719
more crew, but nothing starts at the top, and if

784
00:59:04.760 --> 00:59:09.440
it wasn't for people like Tim, we probably wouldn't be

785
00:59:09.840 --> 00:59:12.920
in a room like this talking the way we were.

786
00:59:16.000 --> 00:59:20.280
I also had a great deal of respect for Tim

787
00:59:21.400 --> 00:59:25.239
because he always seemed to give back. I would always

788
00:59:25.239 --> 00:59:29.400
see him at night in the hotels talking to young

789
00:59:29.480 --> 00:59:34.199
people who wanted to start their own HAUNT, and he

790
00:59:34.239 --> 00:59:36.360
was very careful with them because he knew that they

791
00:59:36.400 --> 00:59:40.079
were young and probably didn't have all the knowledge everybody

792
00:59:40.119 --> 00:59:44.519
else had, but he would tell them one very good

793
00:59:44.599 --> 00:59:49.039
piece of advice about their haunt. He would say, if

794
00:59:49.079 --> 00:59:53.679
you want to build a successful hornt, you have to

795
00:59:53.760 --> 00:59:58.400
think of it as a business first and scare second.

796
00:59:59.280 --> 01:00:03.039
And if you do that, you will end up with

797
01:00:03.159 --> 01:00:06.800
a business that's going to grow in an industry that

798
01:00:06.880 --> 01:00:16.039
will follow. I was always pleased to be Tim's friend

799
01:00:16.840 --> 01:00:22.480
because he was very innovative, and through the years he

800
01:00:22.679 --> 01:00:29.079
was always a very very good friend of trans World exhibits.

801
01:00:31.239 --> 01:00:36.280
He was a longtime speaker at our seminars. He always

802
01:00:36.320 --> 01:00:42.119
participated in our roundtables and would stand on stage and

803
01:00:42.239 --> 01:00:46.239
help new buyers who never went to the show before

804
01:00:47.199 --> 01:00:50.800
how to walk the show. Because it can be very intimidating.

805
01:00:51.880 --> 01:00:56.639
He spent a lot of time also on our buyer board,

806
01:00:57.360 --> 01:01:02.760
and we appreciated that effort. But what I enjoyed most

807
01:01:03.559 --> 01:01:06.960
were my phone calls to him, because when we got

808
01:01:07.039 --> 01:01:11.519
on the phone, Tim would always say, what do you

809
01:01:11.639 --> 01:01:16.000
need done? And how fast you need it done? And

810
01:01:16.079 --> 01:01:19.880
when Tim says he's going to do something, it happens.

811
01:01:22.000 --> 01:01:27.920
And speaking from trans world, I want to thank him

812
01:01:27.960 --> 01:01:31.519
for all the hard work and all the years of

813
01:01:31.599 --> 01:01:38.400
service that he gave to us. Tim's big passion is

814
01:01:38.440 --> 01:01:43.199
the love of Halloween and the love of horn. But

815
01:01:43.360 --> 01:01:49.440
I think he will always be remembered for how hard

816
01:01:49.480 --> 01:01:54.519
he worked and how successful he made so many people

817
01:01:55.320 --> 01:02:00.960
because they were allowed to stand on Tim Kevin's shoulders.

818
01:02:02.639 --> 01:02:07.960
It's interesting how things can come full circle. When Tim

819
01:02:08.159 --> 01:02:23.519
was president of the Association, he had given out the

820
01:02:23.679 --> 01:02:30.960
very first Lifetime Achievement Award to Lance Pope, and now

821
01:02:31.079 --> 01:02:35.320
we have the opportunity to be able to give him

822
01:02:35.400 --> 01:02:42.719
his well deserved Lifetime Achievement Award. Ladies and gentlemen, my

823
01:02:42.920 --> 01:03:05.920
friend and yours Tim Kavinski, sit down.

824
01:03:07.360 --> 01:03:14.320
Emaculation, Thank you. It's a nice sing y'all. All right,

825
01:03:14.360 --> 01:03:15.119
where's the photo.

826
01:03:15.199 --> 01:03:15.400
Op.

827
01:03:18.760 --> 01:03:26.880
No, that's like my favorite song. First question, who thought

828
01:03:26.960 --> 01:03:30.840
giving me a microphone after a seven and seven was

829
01:03:30.880 --> 01:03:36.639
a good idea? For those who don't know, there's a

830
01:03:36.639 --> 01:03:41.400
bunch of people in this room thinking, oh oh, but

831
01:03:42.599 --> 01:03:57.119
where Spencer Terry, Congratulations, congratulations for being after TJ instead

832
01:03:57.119 --> 01:04:06.480
of me. Seriously, TJ, I've got a wizard. I'm over

833
01:04:06.519 --> 01:04:12.559
there freaking out. My wife goes, he's really good. I said, thanks,

834
01:04:12.599 --> 01:04:18.960
one of my chopliver, were you at TJ? How you doing? Bud?

835
01:04:19.760 --> 01:04:23.800
I remember you and me in Detroit. Whoo? So I said,

836
01:04:23.960 --> 01:04:25.440
how are you gonna break the ice? Because I'm a

837
01:04:25.480 --> 01:04:31.239
little nervous. Tell a joke. So I saw three haunters

838
01:04:31.239 --> 01:04:34.840
sitting in a bar. Well, you know that's a lie.

839
01:04:34.920 --> 01:04:38.880
He's never seen three haunters alone in a bar. Feel

840
01:04:38.880 --> 01:04:41.559
free to use that one. People stole my shit for years,

841
01:04:43.800 --> 01:04:45.840
all right, So really, I'll be serious.

842
01:04:48.920 --> 01:04:49.960
I've off.

843
01:04:50.519 --> 01:04:55.639
Have you heard I wrote a book and uh. When

844
01:04:55.639 --> 01:05:00.199
I left the industry six years ago, I closed that

845
01:05:00.360 --> 01:05:02.360
part of my journey and I never thought I was

846
01:05:02.360 --> 01:05:10.719
coming back. Then I got a call from Jen Taylor Bianco,

847
01:05:12.599 --> 01:05:15.679
tim you gotta come, you gotta come, transfer and release

848
01:05:15.679 --> 01:05:28.000
your book. No think about it. No, Tim, please come

849
01:05:28.039 --> 01:05:32.559
to transfer. Release your book. Jen. It's eighty two in Florida,

850
01:05:33.400 --> 01:05:41.320
it's like thirty two in Saint Louis. No, bring Billy

851
01:05:41.360 --> 01:05:46.400
with you, Jen, Billy's in Costa Rica. That's even better

852
01:05:46.440 --> 01:05:54.360
than Florida. No think about it. So I thought about it.

853
01:05:55.519 --> 01:06:00.239
I called Billy, if you know Billy, Billy, I want

854
01:06:00.280 --> 01:06:02.679
to go in trans worl Well.

855
01:06:07.159 --> 01:06:11.000
Someone else knows, Billy.

856
01:06:12.039 --> 01:06:16.760
You're gonna buy Bear? Is that a question, Billy? So

857
01:06:16.840 --> 01:06:20.800
I called Jen back and I said Jen, we're coming

858
01:06:20.840 --> 01:06:24.800
to Transworld. And if you know Jen, Jen said yes.

859
01:06:26.119 --> 01:06:29.199
So we did that for Jen. But Jen doesn't know

860
01:06:29.239 --> 01:06:32.760
why I really came back to Transworld. And here comes

861
01:06:32.840 --> 01:06:40.199
the twist, Amory. I've known Jen for many years, and

862
01:06:40.280 --> 01:06:42.760
unless you're one of the old timers in here, you

863
01:06:42.840 --> 01:06:47.440
don't know that fifteen years ago this show was almost

864
01:06:47.559 --> 01:06:53.039
no more. Joe am I correct, Rene am I correct.

865
01:06:54.199 --> 01:06:58.840
If it was not for Jen Taylor, all of our

866
01:06:58.840 --> 01:07:06.079
happy faces would be outside tapping on glass. Jen never

867
01:07:06.280 --> 01:07:13.920
lets anyone think her. Welcome to my world, Jen, Amory,

868
01:07:14.079 --> 01:07:19.039
if you would be so kind, For the past four days,

869
01:07:19.800 --> 01:07:23.599
I have been getting everyone in the industry to sign

870
01:07:24.199 --> 01:07:30.440
a thank you card for jen failure. Bianco, so put

871
01:07:30.519 --> 01:07:33.800
your heads together and get your asses out of those seats.

872
01:07:34.760 --> 01:07:54.000
There's no trans world without Jen. He didn't know, all right,

873
01:07:54.119 --> 01:07:54.480
so down.

874
01:07:54.719 --> 01:07:58.039
They only gave me ninety seconds. But then I thought

875
01:07:58.039 --> 01:08:03.159
about it. I didn't have a video. Another ninety seconds.

876
01:08:04.519 --> 01:08:10.679
I'm following TJ another ninety seconds. I was the president

877
01:08:10.679 --> 01:08:16.119
of the association. You guys are smart, You're catching on.

878
01:08:18.000 --> 01:08:24.479
I gave the first Lifetime Achievement award to Sue Pope

879
01:08:24.760 --> 01:08:28.920
for her son Lance. And there's the Travania table right there.

880
01:08:29.840 --> 01:08:35.880
Funny funny stories. I highly recommend buy Michael and my

881
01:08:35.960 --> 01:08:39.119
buddy bart drinks. They able to make you die laughing.

882
01:08:39.279 --> 01:08:48.560
And where's allan hops even funnier stories. All right, I'm

883
01:08:48.560 --> 01:08:54.079
not gonna take all that time. Let's see pick on

884
01:08:54.159 --> 01:08:55.119
the association.

885
01:08:57.960 --> 01:08:58.239
Check.

886
01:09:00.560 --> 01:09:08.840
Be nice to Jen. Check acknowledge the old guys in

887
01:09:08.880 --> 01:09:15.760
the room. Check check check. This is going well, by

888
01:09:15.760 --> 01:09:20.600
the way, Scott. Scott's an old guy too, So Jim Mourner, mister,

889
01:09:20.640 --> 01:09:27.119
two days, where are you at all? Right? You missed

890
01:09:27.159 --> 01:09:34.000
somebody on your inmemoriam and you let it get by

891
01:09:34.800 --> 01:09:37.560
you truly did lose an industry legend this year. His

892
01:09:37.680 --> 01:09:40.479
name was Steve Copleman, and we didn't have to agree

893
01:09:40.520 --> 01:09:43.319
with each other, and he and I often did not,

894
01:09:44.760 --> 01:09:47.760
but he changed this industry for sure. So if you

895
01:09:47.800 --> 01:09:58.399
could just put your hands together for Steve, thank you.

896
01:09:59.119 --> 01:09:59.399
Joe.

897
01:10:00.279 --> 01:10:03.560
I don't know where good little Jewish boys go, but

898
01:10:03.720 --> 01:10:06.720
wherever he is right now, he's losing it because I

899
01:10:06.840 --> 01:10:16.960
said good things about him. True story. I didn't have notes,

900
01:10:18.239 --> 01:10:22.560
then I had notes, then TJ came up, and I

901
01:10:22.600 --> 01:10:25.079
don't have notes. So I will tell you about my

902
01:10:25.119 --> 01:10:28.159
first trans world went to it. Never thought about getting this,

903
01:10:28.399 --> 01:10:32.800
thought about getting a corridor corpses. Yes, I'm like, well

904
01:10:32.840 --> 01:10:34.560
she let me buy it. Well, she let me buy it,

905
01:10:34.880 --> 01:10:37.359
She let me buy it. I met a bunch of

906
01:10:37.399 --> 01:10:40.840
really cool people somewhere in here tonight, Bill CHRISTIONI almost

907
01:10:40.880 --> 01:10:45.520
made it, and they gave me really great advice. Get

908
01:10:45.600 --> 01:10:48.359
Pepper's Ghost. Don't know what one is, but I'm gonna

909
01:10:48.399 --> 01:10:53.039
get it and get a MySpace page. I had ten

910
01:10:53.079 --> 01:10:58.319
thousand friends, ten thousand friends on MySpace, and they're like, Timmer,

911
01:10:58.439 --> 01:11:01.000
that's old, get a Facebook. I'm like, no way, I

912
01:11:01.000 --> 01:11:04.840
got ten thousand friends, not the brightest ball up right,

913
01:11:04.880 --> 01:11:08.720
here are people, So that sums up my career. I

914
01:11:08.720 --> 01:11:11.479
don't know how the hell I got up here. Oh yeah,

915
01:11:11.520 --> 01:11:21.319
I do, because I married the smartest girl in the room, Amory.

916
01:11:23.680 --> 01:11:26.399
I hope you have a great show. I'll see you

917
01:11:26.399 --> 01:11:29.880
in another six years. Unless you ask me to come back, Jen,

918
01:11:30.920 --> 01:11:33.640
I will do it for you. Thank you all. It's

919
01:11:33.680 --> 01:11:37.840
been a hell of a ride. I'm out onward.

920
01:11:39.640 --> 01:11:40.319
Gratulations.

921
01:11:42.399 --> 01:11:44.239
What's the fat guy fall down?

922
01:11:44.560 --> 01:11:57.239
Care collapsing onto the floor?

923
01:11:57.560 --> 01:12:01.399
Another ninety seconds?

924
01:12:06.119 --> 01:12:06.560
All right?

925
01:12:07.720 --> 01:12:10.279
We have honored the best of the best tonight, and

926
01:12:10.399 --> 01:12:12.760
like a true family, we have laughed, we have cried,

927
01:12:13.039 --> 01:12:15.520
and most importantly, we have screamed for one another. So

928
01:12:15.600 --> 01:12:17.439
I would like to thank all of you for being here.

929
01:12:17.479 --> 01:12:20.720
Before I say good night and close things off once again,

930
01:12:21.039 --> 01:12:24.439
I would like to thank Froggy's Fog, the Hearted Attraction Network,

931
01:12:24.479 --> 01:12:26.680
and everyone who contributed to the swag bags. Give them

932
01:12:26.720 --> 01:12:35.000
one more round of applause. Please, you see the importance

933
01:12:35.119 --> 01:12:39.800
of this event. You've seen it tonight. Please make nominations

934
01:12:40.079 --> 01:12:44.279
for next year's Oscares. The nominations are open, so please

935
01:12:44.520 --> 01:12:47.319
nominate those people who you've seen in this industry, who

936
01:12:47.319 --> 01:12:53.079
have done amazing things, all right, don't hesitate amazing things?

937
01:12:53.159 --> 01:12:53.760
Yes, indeed.

938
01:12:55.640 --> 01:12:58.680
And finally, I would like to remind all of the

939
01:12:58.720 --> 01:13:06.399
winners to please meet outside for one final gigantic altogether photograph.

940
01:13:06.439 --> 01:13:10.119
And I understand there's also a winner of a SA

941
01:13:10.239 --> 01:13:12.800
the scholarship, one of the scholarship here tonight who was

942
01:13:12.840 --> 01:13:14.720
not in the video. Please join them as well. You

943
01:13:14.760 --> 01:13:18.560
are not only welcome, but encouraged to be there and

944
01:13:18.640 --> 01:13:21.880
on behalf of the Haunted Attraction Association, on behalf of

945
01:13:22.079 --> 01:13:24.560
trans World, without whom we would not be here, on

946
01:13:24.600 --> 01:13:26.880
behalf of all of the winners, and each and every

947
01:13:26.880 --> 01:13:28.399
one of you who are here to support them.

948
01:13:28.680 --> 01:13:30.800
Thank you so much. This has been the Oscares. We

949
01:13:30.800 --> 01:13:31.720
will see you next year.

950
01:13:37.000 --> 01:13:40.159
Today's episode was edited by me Philip Hernandez, with post

951
01:13:40.199 --> 01:13:44.199
production by David Swape and original music composed by Chris Thomas.

952
01:13:44.640 --> 01:13:47.720
Support for today's episode comes from Gantum Lightning and Controls.

953
01:13:47.880 --> 01:13:52.239
Gantum illuminates attractions worldwide with the world's smallest intelligent spotlights.

954
01:13:52.680 --> 01:13:55.199
From Dark Hour to nether World, super Mario Land to

955
01:13:55.319 --> 01:13:59.359
Hagrid's Bike, Gantum goes where other fixtures can't see what

956
01:13:59.399 --> 01:14:01.880
you're missing the free demo sign up at gantum dot

957
01:14:01.920 --> 01:14:06.319
com slash demo. That's scantum dot com slash demo. The

958
01:14:06.479 --> 01:14:10.159
h A N Team includes Darryl Plunky, Emily Luis Rua,

959
01:14:10.319 --> 01:14:17.520
Megan Spells, Gavin Burns and Omniadventures. Until next time, stay scary.

960
01:14:17.760 --> 01:14:22.039
This is a Haunted Attraction Network production