A Special Story by Rick West

 

I've been attending Halloween Haunt at Knott's Berry Farm for longer than many of our readers have been alive.  And with Theme Park Adventure in its 10th Anniversary year now, our coverage of Halloween Haunt in print, online and soon on DVD has grown each season along with the event.

Before there was TPA however, I actually worked one year at Knott's.  I was a proud member of the Line Control posse for I think 1992.  That was a lifetime ago, but I did work the event and didn't miss one night (although the run back then was not as long as it is now).  Sadly, I don't think there are any pictures of me working with the big orange signs and flashlight.  There is video, however - which is a scary, scary thing that we may share with you on our up-coming Haunt DVD.

The next time I crossed the line and took part in Haunt, it was during our year 2000 coverage, when I became a monster for one night on Ghost Town Streets.  I was transformed for an hour by make-up gurus Mel Smith and Kat Price at the Farm into a hideous creature with a comic book look and Smurf hue of blue.  It's been a long time since I sat in that chair - but that experience lives in my heart and I think of it often.  It was one of the best nights of my life - and now that Mel is no longer with us, it is even more special to me.

With the kick-off of our 10th Anniversary - our Decade of Devotion - I wanted to participate once again in something at Knott's.  This time around, I was given the opportunity to become part of something that is very near to my heart as well as a die hard Haunt fan - The Hanging.

No, I am not in the show - although that would be a blast.  I will however, be with all of my Haunt friends and all of you fans nightly, as my voice booms out of the stage's monster sound system.

Earlier this month, I drove down to Buena Park from San Francisco to take part in some behind-the-scenes madness in Buena Park.  The clan responsible for the creation of the show - or at least critical elements such as the script and audio - had me in to the Knott's recording studio to become several characters in the show.

How did this all come about?  Well, that is all part of the mystery of the Scary Farm.  The fact that I really wanted to do it, had previous voice-over history and that this was Theme Park Adventure's big anniversary year at Haunt certainly helped make this a reality.  It happened quickly and I had to scramble to make it to Orange County in time to participate.

Rick West in the Knott's recording studio. © TPA

Rob Perez coaches Rick on how his lines should be read. © TPA

The long drive south was the easy part.  It had been a long time since I'd recorded anything more than my answering machine message at home.  Considering what this was for and that I knew how special this was, I was a nervous wreck as I entered the studio.

There were familiar faces there, which was comforting - Jeff Tucker, one of the funniest friggin' people in the world and a hell of a nice guy; Adam Hankinson, master and commander of all things recordable and digital; and Rob Perez, the mighty mixmaster himself and all-around audio god.

These guys welcomed me into the fold and put me to ease as best they could.  Shortly, after some laughter and chit-chat, I was ushered in to a small recording studio with a big ol' expensive microphone in front of me and the script for this year's Hanging, titled, "It Takes a Village, Idiot!"  The uber-geek fan in me wanted to run off to a corner and indulge myself, but I was a good boy and read only the lines assigned to me.  Honest!  Although I did see something about Michael Jackson...

For the next 30 minutes or so (maybe it was shorter than that - although I wouldn't know - I was having a blast), I read for three characters in The Hanging.  The first was for Vice President Dick Cheney.  It was funny, considering I had no idea what the guy really sounds like (come on - like anyone's seen Cheney for more than three minutes since he took office).  But, a few lines here and a big, "Go f*** yourself!" there, and it was a done deal.  The really funny part came when I was asked to go on a mad profanity rant - just have at it, off-the-cuff.  What happened?  I rambled some unintelligent crap and threw in a few "monkey dick" comments.  I totally locked up!  Now, my friends think that is the funniest thing in the world because I am never at a loss for words - let alone horrid ones!

Yet, there I was, with Tucker, Rob and Adam looking through the window at me, waiting for me to cuss the paint off the walls - and I locked up!  Not one of my shining moments, for sure - although they were all cool and laughed it off with me.

Rick takes more direction from Rob, who has The Hanging script in hand. © TPA

TPA in the house!  Angel and Rick lending their voices together to The Hanging! © TPA

It's not easy suddenly having a potty mouth in front of people you respect and look up to at Knott's on the drop of a dime!  I found that out the hard way!

One of the cool things that happened was that TPA staff member Angel, who was assisting me that morning, was asked if she would help out and lend her voice to several miscellaneous group tracks - which she did like a pro!  That was a special surprise for her; some of you will recognize her as the very spooky Prom Queen from Hatchet High!  It was great in that this recording session became a Theme Park Adventure family affair!

Next, I read for the part of President Bill Clinton.  Yep, that's right - good ol' Bill!  I made my way through book signing jokes, off-hand comments about sexual relations and of course, Hillary.  It was fun - and the guys said my Clinton was decent; I loved doing that - and thought it was okay.  Of course, whenever I do something like this, I never am completely satisfied with myself.

The final character I recorded was Michael Moore.  I don't remember if it was Adam or Jeff - but someone said, "You know, you kind of sound like Moore."  Then someone (I'm guessing this was Jeff - yeah, it had to have been Jeff) said, "And you kinda look like him!"

Thanks, man.

Anyway, I tried my best and after several read-throughs, I had the group grinning.  Sounded to everyone like I had the true 411 on the 911!  Before I knew it, that was a rap and I'd completed my character voice recording for the 2004 Hanging.

There were a few more bits where we recorded group tracks - from mass pandemonium to very... uhm, really gay guys!  Jeff told me that I was very natural at this.

Again, thanks, man.

The ever-awesome Adam Hankinson at the studio controls. © TPA

The whole experience went faster than I wanted it to, but that's Haunt.  Now I am anxious and nervous to hear what recordings made it to the final cut of the show.

As reports come in from the Scary Farm from dress rehearsals, I have heard that I did, in fact, make the cut - as Michael Moore and Dick Cheney, which completely blows my mind.  It will be very interesting to see what made it from that session.

So once again, I slipped behind the veil and experienced Halloween Haunt from the inside.  And as usual, it was bliss.

I am honored to become part of Halloween Haunt history as we celebrate our own Decade of Devotion with the folks in Buena Park.  The uber Haunt geek in me is jumping up and down with excitement - and at the same time, I am so nervous about it, I could yak.  Lots of pressure now as I wait to hear what I sound like as Moore and Cheney from Calico Square!

A very heart-felt thank you to Jeff, Adam and Rob for indulging me and allowing me to help out with this year's Hanging soundtrack.  It is a dream-come-true for me personally and something totally bitchen for TPA professionally.

Like my times directing the masses many years ago and being transformed into a Ghost Town monster by the master herself, I now hold my experience in the Knott's recording studio very close to my heart.  It was the best - and as lame as I thought I sounded much of the time, it appears that much of what I did that morning stuck - and so I will be able to say I was at Haunt each night, along with the rest of my friends that work the event each year.

Thank you guys for letting this take place.  Congratulations on another fantastic show - have a hell of a run, gentlemen!

And that's a wrap!  Rick West, Jeff Tucker, Adam Hankinson and Rob Perez. © TPA

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