Halloween 2025: Lobsters roam the neighborhood

A big lobster walked down our street last night. He/She/It accompanied kids dressed as characters from kiddie shows I don't watch because no more kiddies. But they're in my neighborhood, swarms of families doing what we did with our kids, getting them into costume, grab a bag, panhandle for candy. Chris dressed as Smart Cookie and my son Kevin was Spiderman. They staffed a table by the sidewalk, prepared for the kids. Other neighbor did the same thing. The young marrieds across the street broadcast seasonal tunes. Decades ago, Chris stayed at home as candy-giver and I marched the kids around the neighborhood. One night it was just my daughter and her pal. Indian Summer day gives way to blustery afternoon and sundown rain. The snow came when we finished the first block. Snow crusted their outfits but they ignored my pleas to head home. Halloween! Candy by the bagful once a year. Lights and costumes, family together. My Mom used to dress us up, hand us each a pillowcase, and send us on our way. Kids stream from every house on the street, a mass of post-war boomer babies move as one, parents hold their own bash, peer out the window just to check. No concern about razor blades in candy bars. We brought home apples, oranges, Milky Ways popcorn balls, nickels. Candy canes. The usual Tootsie Rolls. The stars were out here last night; a gentle breeze blew. A lobster strolled by.

"Prison," the horror film that almost destroyed the old Wyoming State Pen, gains cult status

My wife and I watched the recent "Ghost Adventures" episode set in the Wyoming Frontier Prison in Rawlins. Intimations of ghostly presences were everywhere, as always, but the most interesting part was the prison's history.

Zack and his G.A. crew aren't the only ones to film at the prison. Back in 1987, Renny Harlin ("Die Hard II," "Cliffhanger," "Deep Blue Sea") filmed a horror movie there. The film, "Prison," stars actor and poet Viggo Mortensen "("Lord of the Rings," "A History of Violence," Hidalgo")" and Lane Smith. Its recently gained status as a cult film and will be released Feb. 19 in a Blu-Ray disk from Scream Factory. The following info comes from Laramie Live:

Tina Hill, Historic Site Director for The Wyoming Frontier Prison, says that the production company made serious alterations to the historic site that still present problems to this day. One of which is a large hole that was made in the wall of the exercise yard. In the movie the hole was used to construct a second entrance for the prison, but after shooting wrapped the hole remained. 

“We still have the hole in the exercise yard. Which allows people to get in when they’re not supposed to be, and so there’s vandalism on our exercise wall,” Hill says. ”It’s a security issue. You can’t really get spray paint off of concrete. And being that we’re a historic site, we can’t paint over the graffiti because the walls weren’t painted. It would be inaccurate to paint them.”  

Hill also says that the historic site is currently repairing damages the production made to the prison’s A-Block walls. Plaster had been chipped off to expose the brick walls underneath to make the prison look older for the movie. Hill said that the plaster damage was being repaired at the time of the interview.  

Despite the damages, Hill says there’s no sour-grapes about the production of Prison coming through the site. ”Now, we’re pretty much happy that [the production] happened. We wish that the people who were in charge of the prison at the time would have taken a little bit better care, and maybe have not let the production do the damage that they did.” Hill goes on to say the historic prison now has measures in place to prevent further damage from film and television productions.

The "serious alternations" done to the prison caused locals to form a joint powers board that took over the facility and turned it into a museum. It now is on the National Registry of Historic Places. More than 15,000 visitors a year tour the place that's famous for its spooky Halloween tours.

See the "Prison" trailer at http://youtu.be/pYTHIs1c8uo. It's an action-packed flick, gory in spots, and  you can see how some damage might have been done.

You don't have to get scared this week to have a good time in Cheyenne

When you talk about fall arts events, you have to include several local haunted houses. It takes good theatrical skills to scare people. The Cheyenne Knights of Pythias "Nightmare on 17th Street" has been voted one of the scariest in the region and won't admit young children and pregnant women. The next performances at 312 1/2 W. Lincolnway will be Oct. 19 and 20, 7-11 p.m. A portion of the ticket price goes to local orgs such as The Boys and Girls Club.

If you don't want to get really scared but still want to be entertained, get out to the final performance of "Fiddler on the Roof" at 2 p.m today at the CLTP's Mary Godfrey Theatre. I saw it last week and it's terrific. In case you don't remember, the musical has a famous haunting scene, in which the ghost of Fruma-Sarah (played convincingly by Dana Heying) scares Golde into agreeing to let her daughter marry a poor tailor. Oy vey! Call 638-6543 for tix.

Also at 2 p.m. today (and on Oct. 19, 20 and 21) is "Cotton Patch Gospel" at Vineyard Church, 1506 Thomes Avenue downtown. I wrote about the musical here. It's free with a donation of food for the needy, but you have to call 638-8700 to RSVP.

Wyoming's opera shortage is partially alleviated today with "An Afternoon of Opera" from 3-5 p.m. today at the Plains Hotel, 1600 Central Ave. It features the Opera Colorado Young Artists Reception, concert arias and ensembles. Free but a $10 voluntary contribution is appreciated. FMI: 514-2236.

Next Sunday, Oct. 21, 3 p.m., my daughter Annie will join her fellow LCCC music students for the "American Tapestry" concert at St. Mark's Episcopal Church, 1908 Central Ave. It features the LCCC Collegiate Choir, Cantorel and newly formed men's and women's ensemble. Free, but donations will be accepted for the Veterans Memorial Medical Center for veterans recovering from overseas deployments. FMI: 778-1158.

Wyoming Equality holds a Halloween bash Oct. 27 at Suite 1901 in Cheyenne

You heard it here first (or maybe second or third):

Wyoming Equality is sponsoring a Halloween bash on Saturday, Oct. 27, in the Casablanca Room at Suite 1901 in Cheyenne. Suite 1901 is under new management.

Costume prizes for "Best Super Hero," Best Horror or (Whorer)" and "Best Original," will be handed out.

Cost is $5 for members and $10 for non-members

FMI: http://www.facebook.com/events/286956541419329/?notif_t=plan_user_invited