09 Oct 2023 Fangs for the memories
By Stefanie Brazile
When we turn the calendar from September to October, something magical happens, and a fascination with horror and Halloween hangs over us for the next 31 days. An exciting new attraction has made its home in Conway; more than spine-tingling, Butch Patrick’s Munsters Musaleum pays homage to the roots of horror films and to the popular TV series Patrick starred in as a child.
“The Munsters” premiered in September 1964 and held top ratings until May of 1966. Seventy episodes were produced about the home life of a family of friendly monsters. The syndicated series has been shared from one generation to the next because of its feel-good vibe. Patrick played the werewolf-like son, Eddie, and has always worked in the haunted industry.
“I’ve been very blessed to be part of something that brings joy to a lot of people,” he said. “I’m very fortunate to have been cast as a character on a show so many people love. I love meeting people, and I thought it would be enlightening to educate them about the early history of horror. There were 45 movies made in a 40-year span.”
The Munsters Musaleum is a separate, kid-friendly, free attraction located next door to Creepy Works Haunted House and the mini-corn maze, which is starting its 13th year of haunting. The owner of Creepy Works, Dave Hoelzeman, offered Patrick a building where fireworks are sold seasonally. After it was emptied, Patrick went to work filling it with memorabilia and collectibles, several props from “The Munsters” show, a huge movie screen and seating, six life-size monsters from Tom Devlin’s Monster Museum in Nevada, Munsters merchandise, and arcade and mini pinball games on loan from Flashback Arcade.
“While people wait for their tour of the haunted house, they can hang out at Munsters Musaleum,” Patrick said. “On the screen I’ll be showing segments of the classic, black-and-white horror films like “Dracula,” “The Wolfman,” “Frankenstein,” “Creature From The Black Lagoon,” “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” “The Phantom of the Opera” and “The Mummy. It has a real Stage 32 feel.”
At Universal Studios Hollywood, Stage 32 was formerly the home of the Special Effects Stages attraction until 2010, when it was demolished. The Munsters’ home was on Colonial Street, and Stages 30 and 32 were used for interior shots.
Patrick is thrilled that his friend Tom Devlin has provided six iconic monsters that visitors can pose with, including Herman Munster, Eddie Munster and his Grandpa, Frankenstein’s monster, the Wolfman and Creature From The Black Lagoon.
Other fun attractions from The Munsters show include Grandpa’s car named “Dragula,” a coffin phone booth, an electric chair, a large mouse trap, a giant baseball bat and Eddie Munster’s Schwinn Stingray bicycle. There are also opportunities for photos with Patrick and to purchase merchandise.
The public is invited to tour the Musaleum, which opens at 7 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays through Halloween. Learn more on Facebook at Creepy Works Haunted House.
