Halloween Yard Haunt Webcam
June 5th, 2009 by John Wolfe
The idea of installing a streaming webcam for my yard haunt on Halloween night has been fermenting in my mind since October 2007. While the Halloween fanatic in me foams at the mouth over the idea, I can’t really justify the process when I consider all of my haunt props are static and we no longer have “actors” creating scares. It’s far more entertaining to see the “grown-up” trick-or-treaters jump out of their skin on camera than it is to watch them calmly take photographs of the zombies and cornstalks. I would love to see a haunt like Terror Syndicate set up a streaming webcam – talk about some major bandwidth usage on Halloween night!
However, to date, the only Halloween webcam I can find, associated with yard decor, is that of Alex Komarnitsky. While his yard obviously isn’t a haunt (as you can see from the photo), it’s extremely festive and kid friendly – not to mention it’s all done for a charitable cause. He’s had a webcam monitoring his Halloween decorations, along with the ability for site visitors to control the inflatable props, since 2005. Each time I check out Alex’s site, I feel inspired to tackle my own webcam project, then I remind myself of the dynamic of my haunt; it’s a lot like having a Frosted Shredded Wheat commercial play out in my head. 
I think that’s why I sort of compromised and created the Haunter’s Reality Videos last year. Who knows, maybe one day my frosted side will win out and I’ll dive into the world of streaming live, Halloween yard haunt video right here at SOS. In the meantime, don’t forget to check out Alex’s project this September. While the display won’t satisfy the hardcore haunter, the ambitious, technological undertaking is certainly something to be appreciated.
June 6th, 2009 at 9:54 am
Well John, as you know, I would highly encourage you to keep foaming at the mouth, so much so, that in fact you actually DID webcam your haunt night. However, I do understand your reasoning behind having not done so at this point for 2 reasons:
1 – The tremendous AMOUNT of work that is involved in setting up your props and keeping the fog machine going, assuming you decide to do that this year, and so on.
2 – As you mentioned, you no longer have “actors” to scare the pants out of the adults/children anymore so it would indeed be a very calm video.
However, having said all of that, I can’t speak for all of your fans on here BUT, I would love to see a small video (about 10-15 minutes) of your yard haunt at night, the lighting you choose to go with, how the fog effects look rolling all through out your gruesome ground breaking corpses and so forth. Not to mention, thanks to you and after reviewing my cemetery trip and discovering REMARKABLE EVP pick ups, I would be most curious to also tune in the find out if you have MORE than you and trick-or-treaters walking/flying the ground that night
Also, would it be at all possible for you to video tape your EVP sites? Of course, still maintaining their privacy and locations, but what a huge bonus that would be to SEE what you SEE while your doing this. As you’ll soon find out with my own experience, it’s REALLY NICE to come along for the ride, so to speak. Just a thought that has ME foaming at the mouth
This is such addictive research now. Thanks alot John 
All My Best, Goldie~*~
June 9th, 2009 at 3:15 pm
Thanks, Goldie, for your feedback and vote of confidence. I’m not going to make any definite plans regarding video recordings of the haunt this year. My current projects are keeping me so busy that I don’t want to say I’m going to do it and then not follow through with it. I’ll play it by ear and see how it comes together. I have mucho prop work to get after this summer and have received some email requests for more Haunter’s Reality videos. I really would like to pick the reality series back up again as well.
Regarding the EVP sessions – I’ve actually thought it would be a good situation to have a visual of the recorder in its stationary position as EVPs are coming through. I’m not really sure I want to do this at a cemetery, but the old ghost town location would be great. On our next trip to the mine, I will absolutely grab some video footage.
June 9th, 2009 at 7:28 pm
This is excellent news my friend. After you reminded me of the audio from my cam recorder, I was quite astonished, upon reviewing it for the second or third time, that INDEED there were many voices on there and one of which wanted to see what I was seeing on my DVD screen while I filmed. As I’ve said before, I wish my recordings were more “real” time for them, so when they said something, I could HEAR them and respond back. I am beyond excited to hear that you’ll film your next trip out to the mine though, thank you
Oh, today’s “visits” have blown me away at work. I have GOT to send this to you!!! The first one was early in the am when the girls were up and moving around and “B” was near the mantle and talking. A male voice, CLEARLY was “responding” back to what she was saying :-0 After she heard him the first time, she responded by saying, “Papa!” and “he” said “Hi” back to her!!! I just about fell over when I heard that.
Also, GET THIS, I had no real plans today with the girls but kept on taping, though we were all home. After 10 minutes I went back to listen to hear who was here and the 2 females returned. One said, I kid you not, “please don’t go” and then about 8 minutes later a full sentence was said, “she’ll be leaving in just a few minutes”…….and I thought, “no I’m not!” 5 minutes later, my Mom called and wanted us to come out and visit and we left about 20 minutes later. Sooooooo this would also mean, perhaps, “they” can also sense what is going to happen before it actually happens?????
I decided to record all day while we were gone and JOHN, oh my God, you should hear all of these sounds!!! I have some really unusual sounds on here. Actually, this is perhaps THEE BEST recording I’ve gotten from work to this date. I’m so sad I’m losing this hot spot. It’s almost always a for sure deal that a few spirits will be talking and TODAY………WOW, sounds like their moving furniture, shutting doors, playing with toys, and tons of talking in the background.
LoL, again, I think you opened up MORE of a “evp pandora’s box” with me last night. This just gets deeper and deeper the further I go! I mean WOW, tons of activity on this location today, this is insane!!!
June 9th, 2009 at 11:10 pm
Thanks to the overwhelming amount of evp sounds in my recordings today, I’ve spent some more time online digging into what others think these sounds are, the clicking or popping sounds, although in my case today, more than half of these sounds were highly unusual. I found an excerpt I wanted to share with you John:
“Many EVP’s will have a popping, clicking or snapping sound just before or after the EVP. Researchers feel that the sound is a spirit attempting to connect or disconnect to the recording device.”
This article also went on to say that often times, either before or after the clicking sound, is usually when a voice can be heard. Today, I had soooooo many in such a huge variety, if all of those clicks were different spirits coming and going, that house was VERY active today while we were gone. There must have been over 30 different clicks, different tones of clicks, different methods of clicks than I’ve ever heard before. Moreover, there were alot of unusual tones of spirits today, especially from men. At one point it sounded like my recorder was being rocked on the mantle, back and forth real fast……….you have GOT TO HEAR this recording!!!!
WHAT IS IT about that location???? I sure am going to miss that mantle
June 10th, 2009 at 7:35 pm
It’s interesting your bring up the type of insights that spirits are privy to because I came across an article today indicating that they are indeed extremely aware of many things outside the current moment. Of course, this depends on their intentions (if they want to help or just tease), but if communication can be established with a trusted source, the possibilities could be endless to the insights gained.
Were the girls hearing the voices in real time or did you mean B responded with, “Papa” on playback?
From what I’ve found during the last several weeks of research, there doesn’t always appear to be a clearly audible voice after or before a click, but this can be deceiving. The more I’ve tuned my ear to their “language” and upon obtaining better headphones, I have found at least 9 out of 10 do have voices before or after a click. If they aren’t easily detected at first, then it simply takes a little work until they can be found deep in the white noise and hiss. Then again, many come through without clicks, so I’m still not sure why they happen unless it’s back to my theory of connecting to the “line” and not hanging up.
I look forward to hearing what you’re finding. I know that it’s very exciting!