Toledo Free Press STAR - October 30, 2013

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OCT. 30, 2013

Unmasked

GUNNAR HANSEN, the original Leatherface, on creating one of cinema’s most iconic monsters.

Toledo Free Press Star interview by Brian Bohnert, page 4.

2 n OCT. 30, 2013 / TOLEDOFREEPRESS.COM

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“We make our own monsters, then fear them for what they show us about ourselves.” — Mike Carey

TOLEDOFREEPRESS.COM / OCT. 30, 2013 n 3

Batman’s bodyguard

Star of the Week

Toledoan worked for TV Batman Adam West.

By Jim Beard Toledo Free Press Star Staff Writer star@toledofreepress.com

Myron St. John harbors a secret: he once ensured the safety and security of the Caped Crusader himself, Adam West. After a chance encounter with the actor while working at a 1975 car show in Grand Rapids, Mich., St. John won the coveted job of watching Batman’s back.

“It was on a Saturday,” said St. John said, a Toledo native. “And I noticed that there was nobody onstage with Adam, and he kept standing up every couple minutes, looking around left and right, and there were lines of people to see him. I’m watching this for ST. JOHN a few minutes and, I don’t know why, but I just got the feeling that he needed something and there was nobody from the show there. I came over and I hopped the line and I walked onstage and said, ‘Excuse me, Mr. West.

Is there anything I can help you with?’ He leaned over and he goes, ‘Yes, I’ve really got to use the bathroom.’ I said, ‘OK, let me take care of this.

“So, I grabbed a microphone and I said, ‘Ladies and gentlemen, Batman has just received a call from Commissioner Gordon, and he’s got to take it. He’ll be back in 15 minutes. Don’t go away.’

He went offstage, and he came out and he goes, ‘Oh, that was great. Thanks so much.’ We started talking and he said, ‘I owe you. Let me take you to dinner tonight.’ I said, ‘Well, OK,’ because we were all staying in the same hotel. So, that night, we were talking, and he said, ‘You know, I could really use a guy like you because I can’t depend on these people,’ and I said, ‘Oh, sure.’”

Within one week, St. John was working for The Bat. West was as good as his word and the Toledo man found himself in Cleveland a few days later clearing a path for the actor at another car show.

“I kind of did everything,” he said about his duties. “I was to watch his back when anybody came onstage. The weird thing was that people would actually be pulling on [West’s] cape.”

For a whirlwind six months, St. John traveled with West to Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Chicago, Cincinnati, Louisville, Indianapolis and other places to protect him from overzealous fans and witness firsthand the life of a star on a public ap-

pearance blitz.

“For its time, that Batman show affected so many people,” he said. “It’ll go down in history, and I think [West] was the right guy at the right time to do that. He’s a genuine person. He’s genuinely funny and he’s just a true, true gentleman.”

St. John left West’s employ to pursue his own path as a musician, actor, stuntman, magician and film producer, in part inspired by his time at Batman’s side.

“Watching the people come up [to him] got me thinking to myself, ‘This is something I might like to do.’ You know, I wanted to do entertaining.”

According to the Internet Movie Database, “Besides a magician, St. John is also a hypnotist that toured as Dr. Silkini with the Buried Alive and Frozen Alive promotions. At one point did the first ever simulcast with an American and Mexican radio broadcast during a Frozen Alive promotion in Nogales Arizona/Nogales Mexico.”

On occasion, St. John found himself trying on West’s original Batman gear — the actor once even tried to get St. John to stand in for him, in costume — and years later played the role for children in hospital burn units. One story still impacts him to this day.

“They had one little boy,” St. John said. “He wasn’t in the burn unit; he got hit by a car and he had a broken leg. I go up there and the parents said, ‘He’s having nightmares,’ so, when I walked in the room, he’s lying down. He’s in his bed and he’s got his leg in a little cast. I noticed he had a Batmobile because he’s a Batman fan. I said, ‘Hey, champ,’ and he looked up at me, put his arms up, and I hug him ... and I gave him a little Batman card that said, ‘If you’re ever in need, pull this card out, and I’ll be there.’ I left, and the dad came up to me and thanked me; he was crying. Well, a week later, I got a call [and they said] ‘That kid went home. He never had a nightmare since.’”

For the past 13 years, St. John has run the popular Haunted Prison Experience at the shuttered Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield, the same prison that was used in the filming of 1994’s “The Shawshank Redemption.”

“It’s show business,” he said. “You get it set up, and you get to scare the crap out of people, and watch them laugh and cry and run, and it’s fantastic. So, that’s what keeps me going.”

And his memories of being Batman’s bodyguard remain.

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“Everyone carries around his own monsters.” — Richard Pryor

Leatherface unmasked

Gunnar Hansen tells all in ‘Chain Saw’ memoir.

By Brian Bohnert Toledo Free Press STAR Staff Writer star@toledofreepress.com

Within a matter of minutes, a teenage girl is impaled on a set of meat hooks; a spinning blade shreds the midsection of a wheelchairbound paraplegic; and an innocent man is bludgeoned with a hammer and dragged away to face an even more vicious slaughter.

On Oct. 1, 1974, moviegoers nationwide experienced a cinematic horror unlike anything they had ever seen before.

Pegged as one of “America’s most bizarre and brutal crimes,” as a group of friends visiting their grandfather’s old farmhouse in rural Texas are hunted down, tortured and killed by a masked chain saw-wielding man-child and his family of deranged, malicious cannibals.

Internationally banned, bashed by critics and hailed by horror fans worldwide, Tobe Hooper’s “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” was a colossal success, grossing more than $30 million and earning its rank as one of the most terrifying films of all time.

Now, nearly 40 years after the Sawyer family unleashed hell on Sally Hardesty and her ill-fated friends, Leatherface himself, Gunnar Hansen, opens up about the classic film, its place in history and the state of the horror genre itself in his new book, “Chain Saw Confidential: How We Made The World’s Most Notorious Horror Movie.”

‘Who will survive and what will be left of them?’

Published through Chronicle Books on Sept. 24, “Chain Saw Confidential” explores the grueling day-to-day production of “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre,” as well as the film’s legacy and its reception among critics and horror fans.

“I started this book two years ago,” Hansen said. “I was approached by a publisher that wanted to do an autobiography. I didn’t want to do that; but, that got me thinking about this book. It was something I had been thinking of on and off for a long time.

For me, I thought, this was the time to do it. Four of the five guys have died since the making of the film. And, this was something I thought that, if I did it right, this was a book a lot of people could find interesting.”

Hansen interviewed various cast and crew members for the book, including leading lady Marilyn Burns, who played Sally in the film.

“I really did not understand, until I interviewed Marilyn, the extent of her suffering; how the circumstances were really brutal for her,” Hansen said. “We all suffered, but it was nothing compared to what Marilyn was put through.”

The most notable example of Burns’ suffering outlined in the book was during production of the film’s climax: the infamous “dinner scene” where Sally is bound to a chair, tortured and taunted

by Leatherface and company while pieces of cooked human flesh are presented as the nightly feast.

“She was terrified during the dinner scene because, as she put it, ‘I began to wonder, was this really a snuff film?’” he said. “She was tied to the chair at the table and all of that, I think, really scared her terribly.”

Hansen said filming that scene was both physically and mentally exhausting, shooting for close to 26 hours straight in temperatures exceeding 100 degrees.

“I also had to wear a coat at the dinner scene, on top of all of my other clothes and my wool pants,” he said. “And for 28 straight days, they wouldn’t wash my wardrobe. I wore the same clothes for these four weeks and they really smelled. The set itself smelled terrible during the dinner scene because everything was starting to rot.

“You put a film crew in there for 26 hours with a lot of light and everything smelled and I smelled the worst. One night, I was standing in the dinner line and one crew member told me to get

Gunnar Hansen as Leatherface in the 1974 film ‘The Texas Chain Saw Massacre.’

Photo from ‘Chain Saw Confidential’ by Gunnar Hansen, image courtesy of Vortex, Inc.

out of line because I smelled so bad.”

With a schedule that required the cast and crew to work 16 hours a day, seven days a week, for four weeks, Hansen said he has plenty of memories of hellish temperatures, fractured bones and near-death experiences.

“During the chase scene, I fell with the live saw still running,” he said. “They had put 3-inch heels in my boots and I couldn’t see anything out of the mask unless it was directly in front of me. So, when I was running, I fell. And, when I fell, I pitched the live saw in the air. It went straight up and I couldn’t see it. So, I hit the ground

and rolled over, and it landed beside me, still running.”

And what was the paycheck for the then 26-year-old Hansen?

A modest $800, translating to roughly $2 per hour.

“I used to joke that I’d make more money if I’d worked at McDonald’s; and that actually turned out to be true,” he said, chuckling. “But it was a great experience, and I’ve been paid in many other ways.”

Hansen quit acting for roughly 10 years following a less-thanpleasurable experience on the 1977 horror film “The Demon Lover.” n CHAIN SAW CONTINUES ON 5

“Yes, my dear child, monsters are real. I happen to have one hanging in my basement.” — Rick Yancey

TOLEDOFREEPRESS.COM / OCT. 30, 2013 n 5

n CHAIN SAW CONTINUED FROM 4

Horror’s future

“It was a brilliant example of incompetent filmmaking,” he said. “After that experience, I just didn’t want anything to do with the movie business. I didn’t like people I met, especially the producers, and I didn’t want to end up like them.

So, I just started turning down movies. I turned down ‘The Hills Have Eyes.’”

In the years that followed he turned to writing, playing author to several books and documentary films, some of which he also produced and directed.

He returned to silver screen in 1988, starring as a Middle Eastern flesh peddler in “Hollywood Chainsaw Hookers,” a B-movie about a group of chain saw-wielding prostitutes who carve up their suitors as sacrifices for their cult.

Evil wears many faces

In the summer of 2011, Hansen returned to the old farmhouse for a family reunion of sorts, playing a cameo role in 2013’s “Texas Chainsaw 3D.” The film, labeled as a direct sequel to Hooper’s original, follows a young woman as she travels to the Lone Star State to collect a family inheritance, only to learn her distant relatives have a very dark past.

“It was really fun,” he said. “This was really a great experience because they had very carefully built a replica of the original house. The original house was moved and restored, and it’s a restaurant now. So they photographed it and measured everything and they rebuilt the house identical in the front and in the inside rooms we used.

“The first day I arrived, it was surreal be-

a

u

t

u

GUNNAR HANSEN cause they dropped me off in front of the building so I had to walk up to the house. Even the trees looked the same, and we shot this one in Louisiana,” he said. “It was an eerie experience. It was as if it was 1973 again, even though it was really 2011.”

Before being cast in the cameo role, Hansen was asked to consider returning to the franchise to wield the chain saw once more. Hansen said he was initially flattered

m

n

by the request, but recognized the real-life limitations brought on by the four decades since the original.

“In truth, I think I’m just too old,” he said.

“It’s been 40 years. I’m 66 years old and I have an artificial knee. I think it would be hard to ever play Leatherface again … unless you’ve got Leatherface as this old guy in the shadows hobbling around. Leatherface is not going to be chasing around young blonde girls anymore.”

“Texas Chainsaw 3D” is but one of the many incarnations of the franchise. The 6-foot-4-inch Icelandic-born actor said he recognizes the Hollywood trend toward sequels, prequels and remakes in the horror genre. He said it boils down to mainstream studios cashing in on horror’s popularity, sacrificing originality and quality in the name of a quick profit.

“Really great horror comes from directors who are marginal,” he said. “Directors, if they don’t have a lot of money, aren’t going to be worried about offending people … The next Tobe Hooper is not going to be some studio-bred auteur. It’s going to be some kid who raises a few thousand dollars through friends and family, and makes a movie that shocks everybody.

That’s where horror should be coming from.”

When it comes to the enduring legacy of “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre,” Hansen said it is all about the cathartic value of the horror genre, which allows the audience to return to their normal lives after facing something truly frightening.

“There is this idea that you can put yourself into a position where you feel like you’re in danger but you’re not,” he said. “You get the fear that your life is right at that edge, but you know you’ll get off that roller coaster safe and sound. That’s why people like to go to scary movies. You are confronting something that is bigger than your life and that is deeply frightening. You walk out of the theater seeing something you didn’t want to see — seeing the shadow — and it is maybe something you didn’t really want to look at.” O

It’s like having front Row seats for the best show In town See the best fall color in your Metroparks. Pick up or download an Autumn Adventure brochure and walk at least eight trails before November 18.

Walk on your own or register for a guided walk with a naturalist at MetroparksToledo.com.

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upComInG EVEnts Especially for families: Coyote tales on twilight trails Families take advantage of the shorter daylight hours to experience Pearson’s Black Swamp Trail during the hours just before dark. Expect some tall tales and some truths about coyotes.

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Red lanterns Aldo Leopold wrote about the beautiful “red lanterns” of the meadows in late autumn. Learn what he was talking about and ponder other quotes by the noted conservationist and author during a walk on the Green Trail.

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6 n OCT. 30, 2013 / TOLEDOFREEPRESS.COM

“Where there is a monster, there is a miracle.” — Ogden Nash

Worth the effort

Travel: Old Quebec City strong on history, scenery.

By Art Weber

Toledo Free Press Star Travel Editor star@toledofreepress.com

Old Quebec City reeks of history.

Not old as in stale. Think venerable. Well preserved. Exceptional. Quaint. Fascinating.

Canada’s seventh most populous city, one of the oldest and certainly the most European of all North American cities, is so well-preserved that it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Sure, there are plenty of museums strategically placed throughout Quebec City, but you don’t need to visit one to appreciate the experience. Old Quebec is history.

“The whole city is an open air museum,” said Michelle Demers, an expert guide with Quebec City Tourism. “Everything is very compact.”

Translation: Park your car and walk.

The narrow streets are wonderfully Old World and perfect for strolling — and a nightmare for the unwary to drive.

Walking is better anyway. You can peer into shop windows, feel the history firsthand, be tempted by sidewalk cafes and stop and listen to street musicians. It’s all under the looming presence of the giant Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac, the iconic Quebec structure built in 1893 and arguably the most photographed hotel in the world. It’s a great choice to overnight in one of the Frontenac’s 618 guest rooms, though there are other wonderful accommodations as well.

It was a stroke of strategic genius when French explorer Samuel de Champlain, the founder of New France, decided in 1608 to settle at the place along the St. Lawrence River called Quebec — the Algonquin word meaning “where the river narrows.” The site featured high cliffs that commanded views of everything that passed on the St. Lawrence River. It was destined that Britain and France would wrestle over its control.

Quebec would stay French until a great battle on the Plains of Abraham in 1759 took France out of the equation and left the British in control.

Except you wouldn’t know it today. French is the language and culture of choice virtually everywhere, though American tourists will find many Quebecois speak more than adequate English.

The Old City is still defined by its nearly three-mile-long walled fortifications, originally built in the early 1600s and improved by both the French and the British. Built to hold out enemies, the wall also marked a division between settlement and the frontier wilderness that, even today, can be found mere minutes from the city.

The grandeur of national parks, roaring rivers and great waterfalls, mountains and daunting ski slopes is just a stone’s throw away.

Imagine strolling old neighborhoods and dining in fine restaurants, while being virtually next door to stunning natural beauty that is the home of moose, wolvws, mountain lions and lynx.

The city and nature meet on the tables of some of Quebec’s finest restaurants. Menus sport offerings like elk, caribou, trout and venison. Farm-to-table dining is favored resulting in selections that include surprises like sea buckthorn and bilberries. Extend the wild experience at Restaurant La Traite in Wendake, home of the HuronWendat Nation. The restaurant showcases First Nation cuisine and its menu has all of those plus eel and seal, all prepared with more than three dozen traditional native spices — black spruce and the like. La Traite is five-star.

For more information, visit www.bonjourquebec.com. Air connections to Quebec are readily available out of Detroit and Windsor. Canada’s VIA Rail system can be picked up in Windsor or other points including Toronto and Montreal, though timing of train departures may dictate overnighting along the way.

Allow about 14 hours for the trip while traveling by car. O

The Jacques-Cartier River alternately flows narrow and wide through its broad valley that bisects the scenic Laurentian Mountains. Numerous pristine natural areas such as Jacques-Cartier National Park are located just an hour or two away for most Quebecois — and Quebec visitors. STAR PHOTO BY ART WEBER

“Monsters can live inside a person. Sometimes, they know about it. More often, they don’t.” — Nikki Rae

TOLEDOFREEPRESS.COM / OCT. 30, 2013 n 7

8 n OCT. 30, 2013 / TOLEDOFREEPRESS.COM

“Monsters almost always are culture’s way of working out their fears.” — Catherynne M. Valente

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“Lettice and Lovage” will open Nov. 1 at The Village Players Theatre as the second show of the season — a show director Jeff Albright has wanted to do since seeing it on Broadway in the early 1990s.

“When The Village Players asked me to submit plays to direct this season, it was one of the ones I submitted,” Albright said. “It’s sort of been on my bucket list for plays to direct.”

Albright saw British actress Maggie Smith portray Lettice Douffet in the production; she won the 1990 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play for her portrayal of the eccentric tour guide. Albright said it was the fragility of the role that spoke to him when he saw it on Broadway.

For The Village Players, the role is filled by Barbara Barkan, who Albright describes as “the Maggie Smith of Toledo.”

“Maggie Smith is an incredible actress, so I enjoyed seeing it for that,” Albright said. “[Barkan] is pretty incredible. It’s a huge role; she’s offstage for maybe five minutes of the play. The rest of it is her onstage so it’s a pretty formidable role.”

Albright said the character is a lot for anyone to take on.

“The role itself is challenging because it’s like running a marathon,” he said. “Emotionally, the character goes through different changes. It’s a

pretty intense role although it’s a comedy.”

Albright’s favorite part of the play is the message it conveys. Albright said he usually chooses plays to direct that have messages that are important to him. This is his second time directing a show at The Village Players; he last acted with the theater in 1981.

Other cast members include Cindy Bilby as Lotte Schoen, Samanthia Rousos as Miss Framer, Joe Capucini as Mr. Bardolph and Bill Perry as Surly Man. The play follows Lettice Douffet, an expert on Elizabethan cuisine and medieval weaponry, as she works as a tour guide at Fustian House in London, according to a news release. Douffet often embellishes history, ultimately leading to her firing by Schoen. The show goes on to show her fight for her job.

The comedy was written by Peter Shaffer, author of “Equus” and “Amadeus.”

Albright said the production calls for three elaborate sets.

“That’s the most challenging aspect for a small theater,” he said.

The production will run Nov. 1-16 at the Village Players Theatre, 2740 Upton Ave. For tickets, call (419) 472-6817 or visit thevillageplayers.org/ ticketing.htm. O — Matt Liasse

“The only monsters I have ever known were men.” — Jodi Picoult

Abracadabra

By Matt Liasse Toledo Free Press Star Staff Writer star@toledofreepress.com

University of Toledo Professor Emeritus Joel Lipman has learned from nationally known poets who told him to keep his focus local. That is his intention with ABRACADABRA Studio of Poetics.

“I want to build a local poetry community,” Lipman said. “My goals as a publishing poet were not to reach everybody, but to reach people that somehow I happen to cross paths with.”

Lipman came to Toledo in 1975 after already being involved in the poetry community in Buffalo and Chicago. He assumed a position in UT’s Department of English Language and Literature to teach creative writing.

Opening ABRACADABRA has been a family affair. His son Eli is a partner while his daughter Samantha designed the website.

“ABRACADABRA gave me a chance to plug into my three kids,” Lipman said.

Eli opened the Toledo former coffee shop The Ground Level in 2009, which included studios upstairs for developing work. Lipman said he wanted to be part of that venture, but was busy.

“I’m 71 years old and had a very active, artistic life for a very long time; a very satisfying, rewarding career at the University of Toledo,” Lipman said.

TOLEDOFREEPRESS.COM / OCT. 30, 2013 n . 9

Joel Lipman plans magical experience with new studio.

“I’m not a person who carries regrets, but I said I’m not going to let that happen again.”

Lipman was inspired to move further with his idea for ABRACADABRA while visiting his other son Jesse, a slam poet who lives in Honolulu, as he competed in the National Poetry Slam Finals in Boston.

“It’s a national movement with enormous participation,” Lipman said. “Going there and seeing the vibrancy … made me aware of the fact that there was a huge appetite for poetry in the country.”

As a founding co-director of the Toledo Poets Center, over the years Lipman has planned many successful poetry readings.

“But one thing that nagged at me was the audience, and this isn’t a condemnation, this is a self-directed criticism. The audience never seemed to mature. They never seemed to expect more,” Lipman said.

When he retired in 2012, he set out a goal to make a center where writers can elevate themselves in poetry.

He took ispiration from Lois-Ann Yamanaka, a poet he met who had opened a school in Hawaii called Na’au.

“I really liked what she was up to,” he said.

The studio will provide small once-a-week workshops for beginner poets and practicing

writers. Lipman wants to offer conversations about specific, selected topics concerning poetry.

He also wants to stay away from the academic curriculum he had to work with as a professor.

There will be no tests.

“I’ve done my academic work; I’ve done my curriculum-based stuff for 40 years,” he said.

“What that means for me is a chance to teach people about poetry in ways that being on a university didn’t allow me the opportunity to.”

He also looks forward to offering a tutoring service for anyone interested in one-on-one instruction. Lipman wants those who complete ABRACADABRA to host poetry readings, invite poets to town from other communities or start literary magazines, either in print or online.

Lipman remembers the first time he was introduced to poetry in school. He was a junior in high school and was assigned to read “John Brown’s Body” by Stephen Vincent Benet.

Lipman said he wants to teach how he was taught when he studied under Pulitzer Prize winners Gwendolyn Brooks and James Wright.

“At ABRACADABRA, I want to wave the magic wand of my educational past over the people who are drawn to the studio,” Lipman said. “I think ABRACADABRA can contribute to that richness of cultural and entertainment environment.”

LIPMAN He added that he wants the studio to become part of the Downtown arts community.

For more information on classes, complete a response form on abracadabrapoetry.com or contact Lipman at (419) 490-4384. More than 30 people have contacted Lipman with interest.

Workshops, conversations and tutorials are forming and will begin early in November. O

“I am born here among the monsters; if I have to survive I must act like one of them.” — M. F. Moonzajer photo and illustration courtesy Sat. Nite Duets

10 . n OCT. 30, 2013 / TOLEDOFREEPRESS.COM

‘Electric Manland’

Sat. Nite Duets pays homage to iconic Beatles cover.

By Matt Liasse Toledo Free Press Star Staff Writer star@toledofreepress.com

The cover for Sat. Nite Duets’ third album “Electric Manland” consists of more than 50 cutouts. Inspired by The Beatles’ “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band,” it even includes the drum from the “Lonely Hearts” album cover. The collage features famous icons and characters that have some significance for the band.

“We like [‘Sgt. Pepper’s’], but I wouldn’t call it a favorite,” said drummer Joe Guszkowski. “I think we were just more interested in the concept of the artwork.”

Some faces that appear on the album cover include Elton John, David Bowie, Ellen DeGeneres, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Batman.

“The cover is just a collection of people and friends of ours that we kind of look up to or that influence the album in some way,”

Guszkowski said. “We all contributed; we all got to pick a few people that we wanted to be on the cover.”

The foreground features Vanna White in front of a “Wheel of Fortune” board, which spells out the album’s title. The band would often watch the game show during the months spent recording.

“It just became part of our daily routine,” Guszkowski said. “Things in our daily life were kind of absorbed into the album cover.”

Shrek also appears on the cover.

“It’s sort of just a running joke,” Guszkowski said. “One of us really likes ‘Shrek’ and always wants to watch ‘Shrek’; one of us really hates ‘Shrek’ and never wants to watch [it]. It comes up a lot.”

Beyoncé also makes an appearance.

“She’s just gotta be there,” Guszkowski said.

The Milwaukee band formed while the members were in college after merging their two high

school bands, Two Kids Get New Books and Boy Scouts. The two bands combined as a five-piece in 2009.

The band’s music falls somewhere between Jimi Hendrix and Jimmy Buffett on the roundtable of rock ’n’ roll.

“We were looking back a little further into the past,” Guszkowski said. “I think the spirit of those guys is in there.”

The 11-track album includes songs like “The Three Wisemen,” “I Have The Wine” and “Women’s Prison” and features added strings and trumpet on some tracks. Guszkowski said the band’s three albums show progression.

“We don’t really talk about … what we want things to sound like. We just want that to progress naturally,” he said. “I do think all of us were

committed to making a more rock record.”

“Electric Manland” is heavier rock ’n’ roll than their other work, described by the band as “louder, slicker and more ambitious” than anything they’ve done before. The album is available on satnite duets.bandcamp.com. The digital copy costs $3 and the vinyl LP costs $12. Physical copies of the album will be available at the band’s shows.

The band has embarked on an 18-date tour to celebrate the album’s release. The band will play 9 p.m. Nov. 1 at Ottawa Tavern, 1817 Adams S., with four other acts: Heavy Color, Rollergirl, Pastel Arsenal and Alan Liezerman.

The band has played at Ottawa Tavern twice before and are Guszkowski said they are looking forward to returning to the venue. O

Launch Pad Cooperative starts Experimental Video Festival

By John Dorsey Toledo Free Press Star Staff Writer news@toledofreepress.com

From Maya Deren to James Cameron, experimentation has long been considered an important element in the filmmaking process. It’s all about taking chances, and the Glass City’s creative class wants in on the act.

The Launch Pad CoopGAEWSKY erative is debuting its Experimental Video Festival beginning Nov. 9.

The inaugural event is the creation of Launch Pad founder Timothy Gaewsky, himself an accomplished experimental filmmaker whose work has been shown at festivals around the world.

“I had spent of number of years creating my own video work. From the beginning I was highly influenced by the Dadaists, the Surrealists, early performance artists, and the main reason I decided to start this festival is because I looked around and I didn’t really see anything like it here. I just wanted to offer something new, something different in our community, but I wasn’t really sure how many people would respond. But it’s been really great, I’m very excited,” Gaewsky said. “The festival has received more

than 80 entries from all over the country since submissions were opened on Sept. 16.”

This year’s participants include Casey Malone, Cory Kram, Hye Young Kim, S/N Coalition, Jenny Curtis, Joshua Zerangue, Justin Lincoln, Krista Caballero, Patrick Moser, Coalfather Industries, Deirdre Sargent, Ellen Mueller, Jake Scharbach, Kara Dunne, Maura Jasper, Paul Shortt, Scott Turri, Tom Whitton, Yana Sakellion, Christie Blizard, Erin GarberPearson and Gaewsky.

According to festival requirements as stated on the Launch Pad website, all videos were created between 2007-13 and are no more than seven minutes in length. Artists were allowed to submit up to three entries.

The two-night event also features screenings on Nov. 16. Both evenings will run from 7-10 p.m. and are free and open to the public.

“I want people to come away with a greater appreciation of video as an art form, and a wider awareness of the variety of work that’s out there,” Gaewsky said. “Over the years, as I’ve had more space to work, I’ve integrated video into my installation work, which has been really fun and opened things up for me and I just want to offer a venue for other artists like myself, who want to test the boundaries of their work.”

Launch Pad Cooperative is located at 911 Jefferson Ave. For more information, visit the web site www.launchpadcooperative.com. O

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OCT. 30NOV. 5, 2013

What’s what, where and when in NW Ohio

Compiled by Matt Liasse Events are subject to change.

MUSIC The Ark

This intimate venue showcases acts from the A-list to the lesser known. 316 S. Main St., Ann Arbor. (734) 761-1451, (734) 761-1800 or www.theark.org. ✯ Bettye LaVette: 8 p.m., Oct. 30. ✯ Matt Wertz & Elenowen: 8 p.m., Nov. 1. ✯ The Ragbirds: 8 p.m., Nov. 2. ✯ And Evening with Cowboy Junkies: 7:30 p.m., Nov. 3.

Sponsored by: sake, overhead near the entrance. 20 S. Huron St. (419) 244-2627 or www.bronzeboar.com. ✯ Open mic: Thursdays and Mondays. ✯ Billy P. & Karaoke Night: Oct. 30. ✯ Steve Kennedy: Oct. 31. ✯ Kids With Knives: Nov. 1. ✯ Bush League: Nov. 2. ✯ Steve Finelli: Nov. 4.

Clazel Theatre

This venue has been rocking BGSU students (and others) for years. 127 N. Main St., Bowling Green. (419) 353-5000 or www.clazel.net. ✯ Club Kiss: Fridays and Saturdays. ✯ 365: Saturdays

The Distillery

Bar 145º

This venue features burgers, bands and bourbon, if its slogan is to be believed. $5 cover. 5304 Monroe St. (419) 593-0073 or bar145toledo.com. ✯ Hello My Name Is: Nov. 1. ✯ FU5ION: Nov. 2.

Barr’s Public House

“Our House, Your Pub” focuses on craft beer, hand-crafted specialty drinks and martinis, a well-rounded wine selection and an eclectic food menu. 3355 Briarfield Blvd., Maumee.

(419) 866-8466. ✯ Jason LaPorte: 9 p.m. Oct. 31. ✯ Special Guest: 9 p.m. Nov. 1. ✯ Audiophiles: 9 p.m., Nov. 2.

Caesars Windsor

If you have your passport, consider hopping the Detroit River for this casino’s entertainment offerings. Starting ticket prices, in Canadian dollars, are for the cheapest seats; attendees must be 19 or older. Caesars Windsor Colosseum, 377 Riverside Dr. East, Windsor, Ontario.

(800) 991-7777 or www.caesarswindsor.com.

The mic is open on Sundays, but paid entertainers rock out Fridays-Saturdays. 4311 Heatherdowns Blvd. (419) 3821444 or www.thedistilleryonline.com. ✯ Live Trivia with DJ Brandon: Tuesdays. ✯ Nathan Cogan: Wednesdays. ✯ DJ Rob Sample: Thursdays. ✯ Open Mic with Zack Ward: Sundays.

Dorr St. Café

Grab a reuben or some fish while bobbing your head to some tunes. Southwest corner of Dorr Street at Reynolds Road. (419) 531-4446 or www.dorrstreetcafe.com. ✯ Scott Ballard: Nov. 1.

Evolution

A club “for the mature crowd,” Evolution offers $5 martinis on Thursdays and the occasional live musical performance. 519 S. Reynolds Road. (419) 725-6277 or clubevolutiontol.com. ✯ Feel Good Fridays: Fridays. ✯ Sensational Saturdays: Saturdays.

Frankie’s Inner-City

Catch local acts while taking in the pub’s modern Irish and American fare. 601 Monroe St. (419) 418-2339 or www.theblarneyirishpub.com. ✯ The Rivets: Nov. 1. ✯ Dave Phenning Band: Nov. 2.

Toledo’s venue for rock. Tickets vary between $5 and $14, unless otherwise noted. 308 Main St. (419) 693-5300 or www.FrankiesInnerCity.com. ✯ Donovan Black’s Halloween Havoc with Illumira, Fail & Deliver, Hour 24, Raine Wilder, Sixx Digit, Siklid: Nov. 1. ✯ Black Tusk, Inter Arma, Buried But Breathing: Nov. 2. ✯ Uh Huh Baby Yeah!, Audiostrobelight: Nov. 3.

Bronze Boar

French Quarter J. Patrick’s Pub

The Blarney Irish Pub

Be sure to check out this Warehouse District tavern’s name-

Live entertainment after 9:30 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays.

Holiday Inn French Quarter, 10630 Fremont Pike, Perrysburg. (419) 874-3111 or www.hifq.com. ✯ Rodney Parker and Liberty-Beach: Nov. 1-2.

H Lounge

The Hollywood Casino Toledo offers musical distractions from all the lights, noise and jackpots. 777 Hollywood Blvd.

(419) 661-5200 or www.hollywoodcasinotoledo.com. ✯ Fu5ion: 9 p.m. Nov. 1. ✯ Mas Fina: 9 p.m. Nov. 2.

Mainstreet Bar and Grill

Ronn Daniels performs weekly at this pub. 8-11 p.m.

Thursdays, 141 Main St. (419) 697-6297 or www. toledomainstreet.com. ✯ “Ekoostik Hookah Weekend”: Nov. 1-2.

MGM Grand Detroit

Live music rings out over the slots and croupiers on the weekends in the INT ICE lounge. 1777 Third St., Detroit.

(877) 888-2121 or www.mgmgranddetroit.com. ✯ Double Vision Fridays: Fridays. ✯ Volume Saturdays: Saturdays.

Motor City Casino/Hotel

This casino’s Sound Board offers big names, big sounds and a big experience. 2901 Grand River Ave., Detroit.

Guests must be 21 or older. (866) 782-9622 or www. motorcitycasino.com. The casino’s Chromatics Lounge also features live performances.

Chromatics ✯ Dueling Pianos: 6:30 p.m. Oct. 30. ✯ Taxi: 9 p.m. Oct. 30. ✯ Taxi 7 p.m. Oct. 31.

Radio Bar ✯ Paul Martindale: 4 p.m. Oct. 30. ✯ Surab Deb: 8 p.m. Oct. 30. ✯ Paul Martindale: 4 p.m. Oct. 31. ✯ Kim James: 8 p.m. Oct. 31

One2 Lounge at Treo

Live music starts at 7:30 p.m. 5703 Main St., Sylvania. (419) 882-2266 or treosylvania.com. ✯ Microphonics: Oct. 25. ✯ Post Modern Blues Band: Oct. 26.

Ottawa Tavern

Casual meals and bingo and trivia nights with weekend entertainment. 1815 Adams St. (419) 7255483 or www.otavern.com.

HALF OFF BREAKFAST

Every day until 11 a.m.

3 Toledo locations to serve you! www.CharliesofToledo.com

6945 W. Central Ave. Toledo, OH

26555 Dixie Hwy. Perrysburg, OH

@ CharliesRestaurants antss @ charliestoledo

12407 Airport Hwy. Swanton, OH

✯ Smartypants Trivia: Toledo’s Favorite Pub Quiz: 9 p.m., Wednesdays. ✯ 10 Nights of Halloween at the Ottawa Tavern: Oct. 22 – 31. ✯ Heavy Color CD Release with Sat. Nite Duets, Rollergirl, Pastel Arsenal, Alan Liezerman: 9 p.m. Nov. 1. ✯ Nathan Roberts & the New Birds CD Release: 10 p.m.

Nov. 2. ✯ SWAP Toledo presents SWAP MEET III: 5 p.m. Nov. 3.

The Palace of Auburn Hills

When the Detroit Pistons take a break from the court, the biggest names in music rock the arena. 6 Champion Drive, Auburn Hills, MI. (248) 377-0100 or palacenet.com. ✯ Macklemore & Ryan Lewis: Nov. 2.

Potbelly Sandwich Shop

What began as an antique store in Chicago turned into a string of more than 200 eateries nationwide, including Toledo. All of the shops feature live music. 4038 Talmadge Road. (419) 725-5037 or www.potbelly.com. ✯ Jaime Mills: Noon-2 p.m. Fridays.

Stella’s

Nouveau cuisine gets a helping of music Thursdays through Saturdays. 104 Louisiana Ave., Perrysburg. (419) 873-8360 or www.stellasrestaurantandbar.com. ✯ Eddie Molina: Oct. 31.

The Village Idiot

Tunes combined with pizza and booze, some would say it’s a perfect combination. 309 Conant St., Maumee. (419) 893-7281 or www.villageidiotmaumee.com. ✯ Old West End Records: 8 p.m. Wednesdays. ✯ Bob Rex Quartet: 6 p.m. Sundays. ✯ Frankie May and friends: 10 p.m. Mondays. ✯ John Barile & Bobby May: 8 p.m. Tuesdays.

WETry ou SP E r EC KLY IA LS

“The monsters of our childhood do not fade away, neither are they ever wholly monstrous” — John le Carré Ye Olde Cock n’ Bull

STAR @ the movies ‘The Counselor’

At one of Toledo’s newest gathering places, customers can find 30 draught beer selections and daily drink specials. They promise live entertainment seven days of the week. 9 N. Huron St. (419) 244-2855 or facebook.com/ cocknbulltoledo. ✯ Danny Mettler hosts Open Mic Night: 9:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. Oct. 30. ✯ Crawloween, Captain Sweet Shoes: 8 p.m. Oct. 31. ✯ Bobby May and John Barile: 6-9 p.m., Quixotic: 9:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. Nov. 1. ✯ The Eight Fifteens: 9:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. Nov. 2.

”A movie with some promise — on paper: Ridley Scott directing; Cormac McCarthy writing; and a slew of big name actors: Michael Fassbender, Penélope Cruz, Cameron Diaz and Javier Bardem. Ultimately, the story is a bore, confusing and a bit too violent. At least the movie is visually appealing.”

A full bar featuring frozen drinks and multiple happy hours (4-7) on weekdays, plus salads, soups and sandwiches, accompany live entertainment four nights a week. 2 S. St. Clair St. (419) 243-2473 or www.yeoldedurtybird.com. ✯ Open mic: 7 p.m. Tuesdays. ✯ Steve Wooley: 7 p.m., Oct. 30. ✯ Jaime Mills: 7 p.m., Oct. 31. ✯ John Barile: 9 p.m., Nov. 1. ✯ Ben Barefoot: 9 p.m., Nov. 2.

James A. Molnar, TFP film editor:

Ye Olde Durty Bird

EVENTS

‘Carrie’

James A. Molnar, TFP film editor:

”This update to Stephen King’s horror novel does nothing to improve upon the 1976 Brian De Palma classic.

Watching this YouTube-era modern iteration of an antiquated story gives audiences more reasons to love the 1976 version starring Sissy Spacek and Piper Laurie. Chloë Grace Moretz and Julianne Moore give decent performances, but cannot compare.

Rent the original.”

James A. Molnar, TFP film editor:

”This space odyssey by Alfonso Cuarón is 90 minutes of perfection, set 600 kilometers above the Earth, with an almost documentary-like realism. What Sandra Bullock does with her character is nothing short of phenomenal and Oscar-worthy. ” Watch James discuss movies on “WNWO Today” around 5:50 a.m. on Fridays. Also, listen to James discuss movies on “Eye on Your Weekend” on 1370 WSPD every Friday at 6 p.m.

For more: toledofreepress.com/movies

Fish Fry

This event will be Nov. 1 from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Adults are $9, children 10 years old and younger are $4. New Hope Christian Church, 2457 Hollowly Road, Holland.

419-867-1535.

Hunger Games vs. The Hobbit

Fans of both franchises can compete in a Jeopardy Showdown. This game will set the “Hungry Fans” against the “Hobbinites.” Attendees are encouraged to dress up as their favorite character as well. This program is designed for youth in grades 5 through 12. Sanger Branch Library, 3030 W. Central Ave. 2-4 p.m. Nov. 2.

Jazz on the Maumee

26th Annual Wine Gala

KeyBank Pops: A Tribute to Elvis

Mobile Meals of Toledo Inc. will sponsor a benefit for Meals on Wheels; participants can enjoy a dinner and a silent auction. Tickets are $150-175 for this black tie affair and can be purchased as soon as Oct. 28. 6-11 p.m. Nov. 2. Stranahan Great Hall, 4645 Heatherdowns Blvd. (419) 255-7806.

Black Swamp Blues Society

Dia de los Muertos

This authentic Mexican celebration will bring life to the tradional holiday. Tickets cost $40 a person and $75 per couple.

6-10 p.m. Nov. 2. At the Sophie Quintero Art and Cultural Center, 1225 Broadway St. (419) 241-1655 or sqacc.org.

Earthquake: Evidence of a Restless Planet

Guests are invited to travel through space and time in a geographical journey witnessing the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and the break up of Pangaea 200 million years ago. This event is open Fridays (Oct. 4 to 25) from 7:30 to 10 p.m. at the Ritter Planetarium.

419-530-4037. University of Toledo, 2801 W. Bancroft St. www.utoledo.edu/nsm.rpbo/programs/public.html.

EVERY TUESDAY

LARGE PIZZA • $6 1 TOPPING DINE IN ONLY

DOWNTOWN TOLEDO

This two-man band (consisting of Dave Rybaczewski and Walter Guy) performs Beatles songs acoustically. www. beatlesebooks.com/elixir. ✯ Mancy’s Italian Grill, 5453 Monroe St., 7:30-10:30 p.m., Nov. 1. ✯ Stella’s Restaurant & Bar, 104 Louisiana Ave., 8 p.m. to midnight, Nov. 2. ✯ Ye Olde Cock n’ Bull, 9 N. Huron St., 9 p.m. to midnight, Nov. 5.

This event is gross. It teaches all about how things such as poop, pellets are barf all happen for a reason, and sometimes are helpful for the environment. Imagination Station, 1 Discovery Way. 12-4 p.m. Nov. 2.

Animal Grossology

NEW YORK STYLE PIZZA 419-724-7437

28 South Saint Clair

Elixer

The Art Tatum Jazz Society will provide smooth, cool “Twilight Jazz” along the river, appetizers included. 5:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesdays, Best Western Premier Grand Plaza Hotel’s Aqua Lounge, 444 N. Summit St. $5-$15. (419) 241141 or www.arttatumsociety.com. ✯ Clifford Murphy, Glenda Biddlestone, Vince Krolak: Oct. 30.

Six bluesy acts will perform at the 17th annual Blues Challenge, including Blind Dawg & Boogie, Cave My Blues, Chitlin-N-Bones, The Bricks, Tony Godsey Band and The Good The Bad The Blues. Tickets cost $10. 6:30 p.m. Nov. 2.

‘Gravity’

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The Toledo Symphony will perform. Stranahan Theater, 4645 Heatherdowns Blvd. 8-10:30 p.m. Nov. 2. (419) 381-8851.

The Owl & the Woodpecker and Trees: A Photographic Celebration

This is a combination of two exhibits at the National Center for Nature Photography. This celebrations goes until Dec. 1.

Secor Metropark, 10001 W. Central Ave. Berkey. (419) 4079757 or metroparkstoledo.com.

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey

The circus is in town! Tickets are on sale at ticketmaster. com and costs anywhere from $16 to $67. Huntington Center, 500 Jefferson Ave. 7 p.m. on Nov. 1, 11 a.m., 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Nov. 2 and 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Nov. 3.

SWINGMANIA

With its focus on swing music, Jeff McDonald’s group of musicians provides a peek into another era, with music from bandleaders such as Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller, the Dorseys and more. With combos from trio to full orchestra, the group provides music for all occasions. (419) 708-0265, (419) 874-0290 or www.swingmania.org. ✯ Trotters Tavern: Tuesdays.

Two Buck Yuks

Keith Bergman has brought his comedy showcase “Two Bucks Yuks” to The Blarney Event Center every Wednesday night. There will be a $2-cover for the shows and open to anyone ages 21 and older. The shows will be 90 minutes. 601 Monroe St. (419) 418-2339 or www. theblarneyirishpub.com. ✯ Mark Sweetman, Thaddeus Challis, Ray Oscar Price, Kevin Carlson, Dan Simon, Aaron Kozbial, Tony Adamshick, Digg Johnson, Andrew O’Neal and Rob Wilfong: Oct. 30.

The World at War: Miniature War Gaming Day

Attendees are invited to fight in the War of 1812, World War I and World War II in a miniature scale. No experience is requrired and kids are welcome. Fort Meigs, 29100 W. River Road. 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 2.

If you would like your event in The Pulse, contact Matt at mattliasse@gmail.com.

TWO BUCK YUKS: Read your room At a recent gig, I was surprised when the headliner thanked me for “being a clean comic — you don’t see that much these days.”

Clean? I talk about Keith BERGMAN finding used condoms in a parking lot in my act. I discuss “morning wood” and self-gratification near the end of my set. And I made passing reference to the sex drive of a blue-haired old lady in the front row. If anything, I thought I’d crossed the line a couple times.

But apparently the line has moved. Go to any open mic now, with new and untested comics, and you’ll hear jokes about abortion, rape, racism and enough F-bombs to send Lenny Bruce scampering back to charm school. It’s a brave new world, ushered in by YouTube, satellite radio and unfettered access to a new school of shock comics like Anthony Jeselnik and Daniel Tosh.

There’s an art to pushing the envelope.

You have to establish a relationship with an audience before you bludgeon them with a shocking topic or an offensive joke. This upsets some would-be comics. The idea of easing an audience into a topic, or toning it down, sets off a Pavlovian cry of “censorship!” They reason that if a crowd reacts badly to something, it’s the crowd — it couldn’t possibly be their gem of a joke.

First of all, the same freedom that lets you say what you want lets them react how they want. That’s the nature of public performance. Once it’s left your mouth, it’s not yours anymore and your listeners can interpret, react, love or hate as they see fit.

Secondly, you have to consider your venue. Open mic night in a raucous dive bar? Let the filth fly. But I was in a room full of middle-aged, small-town folks who paid good money to laugh and enjoy their night out — and paid me to entertain.

The word “entertainer” doesn’t get used much any more, but if you take the money, that’s your job. Don’t pander or dumb down what you do, but if what you do is guaranteed to ruin those people’s Saturday night, and that’s the only trick in your bag, stay home.

There are those who’d find it fun to take the gig, get the money, then go in and offend everyone in the room on purpose. Those kinds of comics generally consider themselves anarchists, free spirits or rebellious artists. I prefer to call them “assholes.” See how I waited till the end to cuss? Ebb and flow.

Know your crowd, respect your crowd, don’t be a jerk. Simple! ✯ Keith Bergman hosts the Two Buck Yuks Comedy Night at the Blarney Event Center, 601 Monroe St., Downtown Toledo, every Wednesday at 8 p.m. Oct. 30, Mark Sweetman headlines the room.

14 n OCT. 30, 2013 / TOLEDOFREEPRESS.COM

“Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster.” — Friedrich Nietzsche

((((((((((((( THE PULSE

Halloween 2013

What’s what, where and when in NW Ohio

Compiled by Matt Liasse Events are subject to change. Parents should determine if events are too scary for their children.

Toledo Bretz Nightclub

On Halloween, Bretz will sponsor Bretz Dolla Hollaween, Toledo’s original dollar night, with a $250 grand prize costume contest. Again, prizes will go to the runner-ups and winners will be determined by the crowd. 2012 Adams St. (419) 243-1900.

For The Devil Tells Me So

The Glacity Theatre Collective will premiere this tour, which chronicles the final moments of a family’s struggle with a daughter who is possessed by the devil. A limited audience will be guided through the family’s home by the butler. 9 p.m. Oct. 24 – Nov. 1.

Halloween Boo Cruises

The whole family can enjoy 30-minute boat rides, fun and treats in the spirit of Halloween. Costumes are welcome. It costs $5 for all ages. Departure times are 5, 5:45, 6:30 and 7:15 p.m. on weekdays and noon, 12:45, 1:30 and 2:15 p.m. on Saturdays. Oct. 25, 26, 28, 29, 30. Jefferson Avenue Docks, Jefferson Ave. & Summit St. (419) 537-1212. www.sandpiperboat.com

Halloween Spooktacular

Westfield Franklin Park will sponsor a trick or treat at participating retailers. The food court will feature craft stations as well. 10 a.m. to noon., Oct. 31. Westfield Franklin Park, 5001 Monroe St., (419) 473-3317. Westfield.com/franklinpark.

Toledo Museum of Art

Perhaps museum of arts would be a better name: This cultural institution offers talks, movies, performances and more in addition to the visual pieces expected – and unexpected. Members receive discounts for most admission-charged events.

10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesdays-Thursdays; 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Fridays; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturdays; and noon-6 Sundays, 2445 Monroe St. (419) 255-8000 or toledomuseum.org. ✯ Art Hours: Create a Mini Pumpkin: These classes are provided and teach in a onehour session how to make glass pumpkins. Tickets are $15 for members and $25 for nonmembers. Adults and children over the age of 14 accompanied by an adult are welcome. Oct. 31 at 6 p.m., Nov. 1 at 6, 7 and 8 p.m., Nov. 2-3 at 12, 3 and 4 p.m. Glass Pavilion.

Valentine Theatre

The Toledo Cultural Arts Center is a non-profit organization that produces and provides cultural and performing arts expericences for diverse audiences. It is a 116-year-old theater that seats 901. It recived a $28 million renovation in 1999. 410 Adams St. (419) 255-7464. toledoopera.org. ✯ Silver Screen Classics: Young Frankenstein: 7:30 p.m. Nov. 1.

Maumee

Maumee

Paranormal Tour

The Wolcott House Museum Complex & Maumee Valley Historical Society will sponsor an event for anyone over the age of 12. Paranormal groups have been documented at the Wolcott House and this event provides a chance to encounter the. Tours run every half an hour until 10 p.m.

Tickets are $10. Oct. 31. 1035 River Road.

Terror Town Haunted Attraction

Terror Town was voted the No. 1 haunt of 2008 by cityblood haunt reviews and remains one of the largest in Northwest Ohio. This attraction takes place every Friday (Sept. 27 to Nov. 1) from 8 p.m. to midnight. Lucas County Fairgrounds, 1406 Key St., Maumee. www.terrortown.net.

Perrysburg

Perrysburg

Ghoulwill Ball 2013

The Ghoulwill Ball invites everyone, ages 21 and older, to come and resurrect Old Hollywood during a night of costumes, live music and tasty treats.

7-11 p.m. Nov. 2. Holiday Inn French Quarter, 10630 Fremont Pike. (419) 874-3111 or hifq.com.

Bowling Green

Bowling Green

Pumpkin Peddler

This pumpkin patch includes kid activities and hayrides. It is open Monday to Friday from noon under dark, Saturdays 10 a.m. until dark and Sundays 11 a.m. until dark. 20354 North Dixie Highway.

(419) 409-0252 or bowlinggreenschristmastrees.com/ pumpkin-peddler.php.

Monclova

Monclova

Stevens Gardens

These gardens include pumpkins for sale in many fashions, in the shop or picked from the field. It also includes a child hay maze, tractor-pulled hay rides and a petting zoo. It is open Monday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. 4550 Weckerly Road. (419) 867-7229.

Genoa

Genoa

The Great Pumpkin Patch At Country Lane Tree Farm

This farm includes hayrides, mazes, feed farm animals and refreshments. It is open to families every Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 3525 N. Bolander Road. (419) 4611298 or countrylanetreefarm.com.

Oak Harbor

Oak Harbor

Jason’s Pumpkin Patch

This patch includes pumpkins already gathered from the field and a corn maze. It also includes Indian Corn, gourds, corn stalks, straw, squash and mums. It is open daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. until Halloween. 12629 West SalemCarroll Road. (419) 898-3215 or jasonspumpkinpatch.com.

Oregon

Oregon

Fleitz Orchard

Families are invited to pick from the largest selection of pumpkins and squash in this part of Ohio. There will be mini corn and straw bale mazes, a craft barn and a feeding zoo intended for children. There are corn mazes for adults and the snack shack is open for homemade donuts, apple cider and hot dogs. Daily hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. until October 31. 7133 Seaman Road. fleitzpumpkinfarm.com or (419) 836-7613.

Nelson’s Pumpkins

This attraction features pumpkins already picked for conveniance, gourds, corn stalks, straw bales and apples. It is open daily for October. 6760 Brown Road. (419) 836-2108.

Sponsored by:

Holland Holland

Hoens Greenhouse

This field is open for choosing the perfect pumpkin plus cornstalks, straw and gourds.

Hours are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays.

1710 Perrysburg-Holland Road. (419) 865-6566 and hoensgreenhouse.com.

Hoen’s Greenhouse & Garden Center

This center includes pumpkins, a straw or haw bale maze, tractor-pulled hay rides, honey from hives on the farm and a gift shop. Hours are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays.

1710 Perrysburg-Holland Road, Holland. (419) 8659276 or hoensgreenhouse.com.

MacQueen Orchard

This orchard includes apple picking, a cider mill, pony rides, wagon rides, craft shows barbeques and a local store selling edible goodies. 7605 Garden Road. (419) 865-2916 or macqueenorchards.com.

Port Clinton

Port Clinton

Bergman Orchards

Attendees can pick through all the pumpkins and apples available. Squirrel and goose corn, firewood and peach tours are available all year. 4562 East Bayshore Road. (419) 734-4272 or bergmanorchards.com.

Findlay

Findlay

Northwest Ohio Railroad Preservation, Inc.

This steam engine takes a journey through a pumpkin patch. Admission costs $2 for adults and $1 for children 12 years old and younger. Trains depart every 15 minutes and hours include 1 to 5 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday.

11600 County Rd. 99. (419) 423-2995 or nworrp.org.

Fear Factory

This haunted attraction adds new frights every weekend and proceeds benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Northwest Ohio. Admission is $10 and hours include 7 p.m. to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays and admission is $8 and hours are 7-10 p.m. on Sundays.

The attraction is open Oct. 25-27.

Swanton

Swanton

Johnston Fruit Farms

These farms include apples, pumpkins, squash and gourds.

2790 Airport Highway, Swanton. This attraction is open Monday to Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (419) 826-1453 or johnstonfruitfarms.com.

Fremont

Fremont

Haunted Hydro Dark Attraction Park

The Hydro has undergone a 100 percent rebuild for this season. It includes a Fairy Tales & Nursery Rhymes gone

bad theme. The scares happen every Friday (Oct. 4 to Nov. 1) from 7 to 11:30 p.m. 1333 Tiffin St., Fremont. (419) 3327380. www.thehauntedhydro.com.

Napoleon NAPOLEON Leaders Farm

This farm includes a corn maze, gem mining, pumpkin picking, play areas for children, hayrides, face painting, live entertainment and more. It’s open Friday through Sunday until Nov. 2. Prices are $8 for ages 12 and older, and $6 for ages 5 to 11. Children 4 years old and younger are free. The farm is found on the corner of State Road 24 and County Road 16 in Napoleon. (419) 599-1570 or leadersfarms.com.

ScreamAcres Haunted Attractions

The corn maze and barn open at 7 p.m., but when the sun goes down, terror begins to lurk. It is open to the public every Friday Sept. 27 to Nov. 1. and food is available at the Cornfield Café and Cindy’s Concessions. Hours are 7 to 10 p.m. Leaders Farms, 0064 County Road 16, Napoleon. (419) 599-1570. www.screamacres.com.

WAUSEON

Wauseon

Fulton County Haunting History Tours

More than 23 spirits are documented within the Fulton County Museum and Train Depot, which is housed in an 1868 Romanesque Revival two-story brick building originally Wauseon’s first high school and later the county’s first hospital. Some spirits include: Johnny, the spirit of a young, happy boy who can be found in every room of the building; The Nurse, who has been known to physically touch visitors in the attic; and The Child, whose cries for her mother have been heard audibly since 2009. Visitors can also hear a pump organ playing music, even when no one is playing it. Hour-long walking tours of groups including eight to ten people will leave the Waseon Depot every 15 minutes every night at 6:30 p.m.

— no matter the weather. The event is for all ages for $10, members and children cost $8.

The last two hours of each night are reserved for ages 18 and older. Reservations can be made over the phone or through email. 229 Monroe Street, Wauseon.

(419) 337-7922. www.fultoncountyhs.org.

SANDUSKY Lake Eerie Fearfest

The Lake Eerie Fearfest is four haunts united with the newly-renovated Ghostly Manor, which has been featured on The Travel Channel’s “Best Places I’ve Ever Seen.” It bands the mysterious legends of Lake Erie together in five haunted houses on six acres of non-stop fright. Tickets can be purchased online or over the phone.

3319 Milan Road, Sandusky. (419) 502-4288. http:// www.lakeeeriefearfest.com. Hours are 7:30-11:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 7:30-9:30 p.m. Special Halloween hours are 7:30-9:30 p.m. on Oct. 31. ✯

“The real world is where the monsters are.” — Rick Riordan

TOLEDOFREEPRESS.COM / OCT. 30, 2013 n 15

Support Your LocaL reStaurantS

“We are your neighbors, friends and family. Our kids play together.We listen when you are sad, mad and happy — and when you are hungry, we feed you and your family the food that we made with our own two hands.When you are thirsty, we are the first to sit and share a pint and laugh along with you or just offer company. And at the end of the day, we watch the same sunset from the same view.We are local.” – Tony Bilancini, Owner of Swig Restaurant

5228 Monroe Street ~ Spring Meadows ~ 26555 N. Dixie,

Loma Linda Celebrating 58 years.

Perrysburg ~ 12407 Airport Hwy.

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16 n OCT. 30, 2013 / TOLEDOFREEPRESS.COM

“Sometimes human places, create inhuman monsters.” — Stephen King

HALLOWEEN

2013 Toledo-area Trick-or-Treat times Toledo:

Holland:

Adrian:

Liberty Center:

1-3 p.m. Oct. 26 (Downtown businesses), 6-8 p.m. Oct. 31.

Maumee:

6-8 p.m. Oct. 31. Parade at 2 p.m. Oct. 27.

6-8 p.m. Oct. 31

6-8 p.m. Oct. 31.

Port Clinton:

5:30-7 p.m. Oct. 31.

Rossford:

Archbold:

3-5 p.m. Oct. 28 (UpTown businesses), 6-8 p.m. Oct. 31.

Springfield Township:

Bedford Township:

6-8 p.m. Oct. 31, children’s party 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the fire station.

6-7:30 p.m. Oct. 31.

Halloween Hoopla, 2-4 p.m. Oct. 26.

6-8 p.m. Oct. 31

Allen Township: 6-8 p.m. Oct. 31

Metamora:

6-7:30 p.m. Oct. 31.

6-8 p.m. Oct. 31.

Monclova:

Bowling Green:

4-6 p.m. Oct. 24 (Downtown businesses), 6:30-8 p.m. Oct. 31.

6-8 p.m. Oct. 31.

6-7 p.m. Oct. 31.

Napoleon:

6-8 p.m. Oct. 31.

Northwood:

6:30-8 p.m. Oct. 31. Parade 7-9 p.m. Oct. 29.

Oak Harbor:

6-7:30 p.m. Oct. 31.

Oregon:

4:30-6 p.m. Oct. 27.

Ottawa Hills:

6-7:30 p.m. Oct. 31.

Pemberville:

6-7:30 p.m. Oct. 31.

Perrysburg:

Delta:

Monroe:

6:30-8 p.m. Oct. 31.

6-7:30 p.m. Oct. 31.

Elmore:

6-7:30 p.m. Oct. 31.

Findlay:

Fostoria:

6-7:30 p.m. Oct. 31.

6-8 p.m. Oct. 31.

Fremont:

6-8 p.m. Oct. 31.

Genoa:

6:30-8 p.m. Oct. 31.

Gibsonburg:

Grand Rapids, Ohio:

6-8 p.m. Oct. 31.

5-6:30 p.m. Oct. 31, parade at 7 p.m.

6-8 p.m. Oct. 31.

Swanton:

Sylvania/Sylvania Township: 6-7:30 p.m. Oct. 31.

Tecumseh:

6-8 p.m. Oct. 31.

Walbridge:

6-7:30 p.m. Oct. 31.

Washington Township: 6-8 p.m. Oct. 31.

Waterville:

6-8 p.m. Oct. 31.

Wauseon:

6-7:30 p.m. Oct. 31.

Whitehouse: 6-8 p.m. Oct. 31.

Woodville:

6-8 p.m. Oct. 31. O All times subject to change.

— Staff Reports

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TOLEDOFREEPRESS.COM / OCT. 30, 2013 n 17

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18 n OCT. 30, 2013 / TOLEDOFREEPRESS.COM

Catch “Jedi of Pop Culture” Jeff McGinnis on Tuesday mornings on 92.5 KISS FM.

God save the (scream) queen

A A publication of Toledo Free Press, LLC, Vol.4, No. 44 Established 2010.

Thomas F. Pounds, President/Publisher tpounds@toledofreepress.com Michael S. Miller, Editor in Chief mmiller@toledofreepress.com EDITORIAL

James A. Molnar, Design Editor jmolnar@toledofreepress.com Sarah Ottney, Managing Editor sottney@toledofreepress.com Jeff McGinnis, Pop Culture Editor PopGoesJeff@gmail.com ADMINISTRATION

Pam Burson, Business Manager pburson@toledofreepress.com CONTRIBUTORS star@toledofreepress.com Jim Beard • Amy Campbell • John Dorsey Matt Feher • Dustin Hostetler • Stacy Jurich Vicki L. Kroll • lilD • Martini • Rachel Richardson

Chris Kozak, Staff Writer Emeritus Lisa Renee Ward, Staff Writer Emeritus Darcy Irons, Marisha Pietrowski Proofreaders ADVERTISING SALES

Brent Long, Sales Manager blong@toledofreepress.com • (419) 346-9983 Renee Bergmooser rbergmooser@toledofreepress.com • (419) 266-0254 Chick Reid creid@toledofreepress.com • (419) 705-5396 Grant Grisier ggrisier@toledofreepress.com • (419) 574-2856

DISTRIBUTION

(419) 241-1700 news@toledofreepress.com

Toledo Free Press Star is published every Wednesday by Toledo Free Press, LLC, 605 Monroe St., Toledo, OH 43604 • (419) 241-1700 Fax: (419) 241-8828 www.toledofreepress.com. Subscription rate: $100 /year.

Reproduction or use of editorial or graphic content in any manner without permission is strictly prohibited. Copyright 2013 with all rights reserved.

Publication of ads does not imply endorsement of goods or services.

lot of things scare Danielle Harris.

Not just the obvious stuff — the serial killers and monsters who stalk her onscreen and threaten to pull out her intestines and strangle her with them and so forth. No, many of her fears are of a decidedly more mundane variety.

“Really, at the end of the JEFF day, things as simple as fish actually scare me,” Harris said in an interview with Toledo Free Press Star. “[Director] Joe Dante kind of messed me up — I secretly saw ‘Piranha’ when I was, like, 4, in my grandma’s living room, when no one knew I was watching it.”

It is her ability to make an audience identify with her fears that has transformed Harris into one of Hollywood’s most in-demand horror leads — though “scream queens” is the preferred term among fans, thank you. And that same talent makes her uniquely qualified to co-star in the E! network special “Hollywood Death Trip,” which premiered Oct. 24.

The show — a look at some of the most infamous murders and deaths in the history of Tinseltown — features Harris and “Hollywood’s Dearly Departed Tours” expert Scott Michaels discussing the passing of stars as varied as Johnny Lewis of “Sons of Anarchy” and Playboy Playmate Dorothy Stratten. It’s a subject that Harris said has always appealed to her.

“Real murders, I’ve always been fascinated by them. I’ve always been kind of obsessed with ‘Primetime’ and ‘20/20’ and ‘The First 48,’” she said. “Not the ‘CSI’ shows with actors on the shows, but the real stuff gets me.

“I’ve always sort of said that if I wasn’t an actor I’d want to be a homicide detective. So, as much as I’m completely freaked out by the reality of it, I’m always the first one sort of in. I’ll dive in headfirst and then have a freak out afterwards.

Which is basically what happened on the show.”

Harris has become a very hot commodity in horror over the past six years, ever since her appearance in Rob Zombie’s remake of “Halloween.” The role reintroduced her to horror fans who had first seen her as the child lead in “Halloween 4” nearly 20 years before, and ever since, Harris’ dance card — decapitation card? — has been full of terrifying flicks like “Hatchet II,” “Fatal Call,” “Hallows’ Eve” and more.

“God, I can’t figure it out,” she said with a laugh. “I think, honestly, at the end of the day, it’s that I’ve always been incredibly accessible, and I think because I started doing these movies when I was really young, most of the fanbase is about my age. So now when I go to a convention, or a film festival, or get recognized — it’s mostly people in their 30s. And I think that that’s because they grew up with me.

“So maybe that’s — and this is just my opinion — maybe there’s some sort of protectiveness, or familiarity.”

Harris said whatever the reasons behind her fans’ loyalty, she remains grateful for the opportunities that her resurgence has given her, whether it be her appearance on the E! special or her recent directorial debut for the Aspect Film production “Among Friends.”

“Directing is really where I’m going right now, because I get to wear many hats, and I actually get to learn about things I didn’t know about,” she noted.

“I’ve been working for 30 years, so to finally get to do something where I have no idea how it’s done was a pretty cool learning experience — but I wouldn’t have had that opportunity if I wasn’t doing what I do in the movies. I’m using that to be able to branch out.”

No matter what new gigs result from her rebirth as a scream queen, though, Harris said working in the genre always will give her chances she may not

mCGINNIS

POP GOES THE

CULTURE

DANIELLE HARRIS have in more “mainstream” productions.

“I didn’t do them for 20 years — even though that’s what everybody remembers me from, there was a 20-year stint where I didn’t do any horror movies. But I think that because in the genre, I’m considered sort of, like, a movie star, but in the real world, sort of, not so much. So I get an opportunity to play the lead, play the heroine, play the final girl. During a movie, I’m first-billed.

That would not necessarily happen if I were to do a $100 million budget movie.”

Harris said she’s looking forward to seeing her fans’ reaction to “Hollywood Death Trip” — a chance to get to know her in a new way.

“I’m very opinionated, and I’m not afraid to show it. So it’s an interesting combination. I’m excited for people to see the show, because it’s the first time that I think anyone’s going to have a chance to really see who I am as a person.” O

“All monsters must die except the beautiful ones” — Cameron Jace

TOLEDOFREEPRESS.COM / OCT. 30, 2013 n 19

20 n OCT. 30, 2013 / TOLEDOFREEPRESS.COM

“Stop trying to throw logic at nightmares. Sometimes the monsters are real.” — Laurell K. Hamilton