Haunted house actors boo organizer

Nov. 15, 2010

By PATRICK E. LITOWITZ
plitowitz@ncnewsonline.com

The screams continue after a New Castle haunted house ended operations early.

Some performers claim they are owed money for working at “A Haunting in Cascade Park,” presented by Legends of Fear. The event’s operator countered that anyone who became involved did so as a volunteer.

The sides agreed, though, that the scare affair attracted few patrons. The venture was scheduled to run Oct. 21 through Oct. 31 and Nov. 4 through Nov. 6. It closed Halloween night.

“They were all told in the very beginning that it was a volunteer position,” Sharon resident Barbara Warner said. “Everyone got the same speech.

“We had hoped to give some type of bonus award at the end. However, there was no money to be made.”

New Castle resident Jim Kuhn, who headed security at the site, said the participants were promised money for their services.

“(Warner) had us listed as volunteers,” Kuhn said. “But when people called and inquired about it, she told them they would receive a bonus after it was all said and done.

“I was told $175.”

Warner posted two classified ads in the New Castle News. The first notice sought haunted house volunteers, while the second one called for actors. Neither announcement mentioned pay.

“I did it because it was money,” said Kristen Sipe, a sophomore at the Lawrence County Career and Technical Center. “I didn’t sign up to do it as a volunteer.”

Those involved were asked to sign a contract stating they had agreed to the rules governing the operation. The document did not state a pay rate. However, it discusses bonuses based on attendance and costumes.

“I certainly was not trying to be an attorney when I wrote most of that,” Warner said. “I was trying to get some specific points across.”

Warner said she hoped to issue payments from $100 to $125 to performers who appeared during the haunt house’s entire run.

“It wasn’t an actual salary,” she said. “It wasn’t a guaranteed payment.”

Warner said the event generated approximately $7,600 during the 10 days it was open. Admission was $12 for ages 12 and over and $9 for ages 5 to 11.

The haunted house’s worst attendance was Oct. 27 when $96 was collected. The best showing came Oct. 23 with a paid admission of $1,906.

“It was bad from beginning to end,” Warner said.

She said she was originally one of three investors in the endeavor. However, two partners quickly exited.

Expenses totaled approximately $16,500, Warner said. The city charged her close to $5,200 for the 10 days the park was used. Stephanie A. Dean, the city’s business administrator, said the bill was paid.

“I’m almost $10,000 in debt,” Warner said.

Kuhn said that toward the end, she started telling people it was a bust here and she couldn’t make any money. On Nov. 5, she met with approximately 30 people, which included Kuhn and Sipe, to outline the situation.

“She flat out told everyone that no one was getting paid for anything,” Sipe said. “I trusted this lady, and I figured she wouldn’t do that to minors.

“I was wrong.”

Kuhn does not expect any payments to be forthcoming.

“It’s the kids I’m worried about,” he said. “I don’t want the kids to think the workforce is going to treat them this way for the rest of their life.

“She put a sour taste in their mouth.”

Warner reiterated there is no money to paid out.

“My house is mortgaged. I have a $70,000 IRS lien against a $40,000 house. I have no income, and my car is leased.

“There is a used hot tub sitting in my garage they are more than welcome to.”