Halloween tricks to play on treat seekers

By Mike Leidemann
Advertiser Staff Writer

Create your own floating ghost from materials around the house to give trick-or-treaters an unexpected and ghoulish greeting. Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser

Ching, a veteran designer of commercial haunted houses around O'ahu, insists that kids want to be scared for fun. Not really frightened, just thrilled.

So even if the world seems a little more terrifying than usual this Halloween, there's no reason not to play a few tricks on the treat-seeking kids coming to your door. "Children want to be scared — up to a point," Ching said. "The word cathartic keeps coming to mind. They want to be scared so they can get over their fears."

Costumes sales and haunted-house schedules indicate that Americans are as enthusiastic as ever about celebrating the ghoulish season, albeit in sometimes slightly toned-down ways.

Over the years, Ching has collected a number of tried and true ways to haunt a house. When he has the time, he has tried them out in his haunted houses, and his own neighborhood, too. His tricks are designed to be safe, simple, cheap — and in good fun.

Of course, you have to use good judgement on what's appropriate for a 4-year-old and what's appropriate for a 10-year-old, Ching said.

"But as long as it's a safe scare, I guarantee the kids will keep coming back for more," he said.

Here are some of the tricks that Ching says can be tested around any house with a minimum of time and expense.

Field of screams

Buy three or four of those "screaming mats" (about $10 each) from party shops. Set them under a large old carpet leading to your doorway and secure the carpet safely. Place the "sound boxes" in different areas out of reach all around the door and listen for the moans and howls as trick-or-treaters arrive.

Ghosts from nowhere

1. With crumpled newspaper and masking tape, pad out a large, sturdy clothes hanger. Use hot glue or tape to secure an old Styrofoam wig block or other head shape to the hanger. Attach a spooky mask and a double layer of shredded bridal veil or cheesecloth over the head. ("Bridal veil material glows really well under a black light," Ching says enthusiastically.)

2. Run a strong black cord through a large screw eyelet directly over your porch or door entry. Fasten the ghost's head securely to it. (To keep the ghost from turning, fasten the cord at both ends of the hanger and secure the bottom ends to the floor.)

3. Set the completed ghost, collapsed out of sight, behind Halloween props or inside an old trunk or cardboard carton.

4. Replace your porch light with a green or blue light bulb. Play a Halloween sound effects tape and raise the ghost into view just as the trick-or-treaters arrive.

Doorway phantom

This is another version of the ghost from nowhere that floats eerily into view from the side of your doorway.

1. Make a ghost puppet as above, but fasten a rod (fl-inch PVC tubing is light and inexpensive) to the back angled off to one side with a metal bracket and cover the rod with black velvet. The ghost can be enhanced with some flashing "pumpkin eyes" and ghostly sounds.

2. For best effect, hang a black velvet backdrop a couple of feet from the door and use a black light or red bulb in the porch area overhead. Stand hidden at one side and "float" the ghost into view as your trick or treaters arrive.

Classic spider gag

Fasten a strong 7-foot length of black button and carpet thread to the top of a very large fake spider. Run the line through a secure overhead eyelet and then to another area a helper can operate it from. Have it out of view as the trick-or-treaters arrive, then have it drop onto their hands just as they reach for the candy.

Claw in the candy

1. Start with a large, inexpensive basket, a bowl or plastic Jack-o'-lantern. Cut a hole in the bottom large enough for your hand and wrist to fit through with room to spare. Buy a large latex "monster" glove and fasten the ends of it to the hole with hot glue or duct tape.

2. When your trick-or-treaters arrive, slip one hand into the glove and cover it with lots of candy. Hold the basket from underneath with your free arm and offer visitors a treat — then trick them by having the "monster" claw grab them.

The ghost host

Keep the inside of your house dimly lit. Set up your karaoke machine near the doorway and turn up the echo ("very effective," Ching said) and volume a bit. Stand close behind an inward-opening door and open it to let your guests see nothing. Then you can always jump out from behind the door and shout "Boo!"

"This is classic, simple but effective," Ching said.

Quick tips:

• Throw white sheets over chairs, couches and tables in your house for that ever spooky unlived-in look.
• Line your driveway with old bubble wrap, then cover it with leaves. The sound effects are truly creepy.
• Replace all the white bulbs at home with blue, green or red ones.
• For effective black lighting, use fluorescent black light tubes available at hardware, gift and light bulb stores. Black-light tubes work well in standard fluorescent fixtures.
• Dry ice for bubbling punch bowls and cauldron effects is available at Gaspro stores and local ice cream companies. Get at least five to 10 pounds for a night's use.
• Jello "brain" molds are ever popular. You can find them at Longs, Spencer Gifts and other stores.