DELAND -- In what can only be characterized as a startling development --even for the world of the paranormal -- the Athens Theatre's Halloween Spooktacular has been canceled.
Unnamed sources involved with the Halloween production are placing responsibility on a bizarre object connected with the event -- a haunted brick.
According to theatre manager Ed Kirkland, the all-day and night-film Spooktacular planned for Oct. 31, was to have included a host of classic halloween movies and unuusual lobby exhibits, culminating in the Rocky Horror Show at midnight.
"However, required ceiling repairs are running behind schedule, and we no longer can be certain the facility will be able to re-open by October 31," Kirkland said. One thing we did not want to do was disappoint fans with a last minute cancellation."
A producer connected with live entertainment that night, requesting that his name be withheld for professional reasons, isn't so sure about that. "Their lobby display was scheduled to include the infamous Rosewell Haunted Brick. Anyone who knows anything about that thing knows that terrible things happen when it is brought out for public display. People ignore its history at their own peril!"
The producer also cited a documentary television crew that attempted to film Rosewell for a Halloween special years ago, only to find that all of the 16 m.m. news film brought back by the TV crew was totally black when developed. The television station was never were able to do the show about Rosewell.
"And now, out of theblue, The Athens has show-stopping problems? I'm not ready to believe this is a simple maintenance problem. This is a haunted brick problem," the producer said.
The strange brick, previously displayed last April at Ripley's Believe It or Not, is scheduled for another public appearance at the Night of the Paranormal on Saturday, Oct. 24 in Daytona Beach at the Museum of Arts & Science. Charlie Carlson, producer for that show, has been unavailable, or reluctant, to comment, but the brick -- at least at this time -- is still scheduled to be part of the exhibit at the museum.
James "Bo" Dillard, spokesman for Carlson's Shadows Media, said, "This brick has a history of causing tragic things to people who touch it. Most recently some bad stuff happened when it was exhibited at the Lake Mary paranormalevent. Carlson has considered requiring the thing to be exhibited in a special lead-lined case under lock and key.
Discussions are now going on between the museum and the brick's owner whether to even allow the eerie object inside--we may be forced to exhibit it outside the building." One option is to only exhibit the brick's wooden case without the evil object. "Of course thatpresents a problem," Dillard said. "People really want to see the crazy thing... and in many instances, they're even willing to risk touching it."
Meanwhile, at The Athens Theatre, Kirkland assures the horror film crowd that the inaugurall Athens Halloween Spooktacular will become a two-day event next year -- bigger and better. While he blames ceiling repairs for this year's cancellation, he has -- in an abundance of caution -- decided not to book an appearance of the haunted brick.
Prizes donated to The Athens for fund-raising raffles and silent auctions will be given away at an event scheduled for the historic theatre on
Nov. 13.
In addition to the Night of the Paranormal at the Daytona Museum of Arts and Science on Oct.24, there is another big two-day Halloween event in New Smyrna Beach.
It's the History, Mystery, Tales & Tour event, a fun evening for the entire family that begins 6 p.m. October 30, at the Connor Library in the city's Old Fort Park.
Carlson and Miss Scarlet from the new PBS show will be appearing along with Scott Marlowe from Monster Quest. Whether the infamous haunted brick will be there is not known, but some things may be best left alone.