Las Vegas | Nightmare Nostalgia

Normally I don’t write too many news articles unless it’s something sent directly to me via a press release and falls in line with NN’s nostalgic fuzzies oath. However, being as how this one hit my hometown and involves two of horror’s biggest creepy iconic dolls, I just couldn’t pass up spreading the news that Las Vegas resident Zak Bagans just bought the original Poltergeist clown doll and one of the used Chucky dolls from the 1988 film to proudly set up in his Haunted Museum here in Sin City.

Am I surprised the guy who has Ed Gein’s cauldron and briefly the original Annabelle doll made these purchases? Not a bit. Do I think these dolls are haunted? Again, hell no. But I suppose it will bring a new crowd of curious folks over to the famed house of horrors with loyal fans to the franchise.

About a year and a half ago, myself and the better half visited the now famed museum along with a group of friends. Us being locals and all had to keep our horror cards valid with being able to say we walked though the 30-room mansion. At the time of our visit, Anabelle WAS there but not on display. However, that didn’t stop our tour guide from pulling back an ominous curtain as the group pressed on to another room exposing the Raggedy devil to a friend in the group. Of to which I was a little pissed that my anxiousness to get to the Bela Lugosi mirror backfired on me. Just a little tip for those that may visit in the future- WAIT FOR THE TOUR GUIDE TO LEAVE THE ROOM.

Anyways, Bagans purchased the Poltergeist prop nightmare at an auction for a whopping $80,000 and states to TMZ that for the time, the creep-tastic nightmare fuel will safely stay in his room for a test run and will end up in the museum at a date yet to be determined.

1982’s Poltergeist has long been rumored to be a film riddled with some sort of curse extending into the sequels that include a string of bad luck and many deaths surrounding the movies. While I myself think that much of those occurrences are mere coincidences, one of the most questionable details coming from the original film was Robbie’s Superbowl poster hanging above his bed predicted the date of co-star Heather O’ Rourke fell fatally ill in 1988. The cursed rumor of course, was probably fuel for Bagans to obtain the little guy.

You can read more about that here.

More recently also, the Ghost Adventures star managed to snag one of the Good Guy props from the original 1988 Child’s Play film; for $11,000. Not as much as clown boy above, but still a certainly good chuck of change. The movie prop as well has a TBD debut date at the Vegas attraction.

For more information about the museum, check out the official website by clicking here!

If you’re a die-hard reality TV junkie, chances are you may have heard of Danny Koker and his History Channel show Counting Cars; filmed right here in my hometown of ~~Satan’s butthole~~, I mean, Las Vegas. (Hey, if you’re a local, you know damn well of the seething summer heat I speak of.) Before Counting Cars gained a loyal following of car enthusiast viewers, Koker made his love of motorcycles and automobiles known very well via appearances on History’s American Restoration and Pawn Stars. Oh, and of course, dressing us a hip as shit vampire riding through the dark Vegas streets on a pimped out motorcycle.

Ahh, the glorious nostalgic days of the Count and Saturday Fright nights. It didn’t get any better than this for us Vegas locals.

I mean, LOOK AT THIS.

Yes folks, us Vegas horror-loving locals will always know Koker as Count Cool Rider. It seems fair to say that growing up, many local stations throughout the country had something similar going on with horror hosts serving up delightful movie gore during the weekend. On a nationwide basis, we had Monstervision with Sir Joe Bob Briggs. And while duh, I was a loyal viewer, Saturday Fright at the Movies with the Count was something special for us Vegas people. It was OURS. And very well responsible for allowing young horror fans here in the city of sin without cable, to enjoy some free horror flicks.

Airing on what used to be KVCW, virtual channel 33 in Vegas, Saturday Fright at the Movies had a respectable run from 1990-2001; and if I can remember correctly, aired around 10pm. With the exception of that oh-so-Elvis Vegas vampire opener vibe, the program followed the same formula as other horror-hosted movies nights. The Count would then do a little schpiel on tonight’s Saturday Night film and we’d dive right into it, with breaks in between commercials backtracking to Cool Rider with some trivia or some thoughts on tonight’s picture selection.

It seems via my search the through the interwebs, Saturday Fright at the Movies is mostly remembered for airing a lot of B-Movies. While I don’t argue because I do in fact remember a few occasions when it happened, the program also broadcasted titles like the TV version of John Carpenter’s Halloween, DOLLS, and as seen above Pumpkinhead II. Speaking of which, that would be the first time I had ever seen that version of Carpenter’s immortal classic with the added bonus scenes. At nine-years-old, it blew my damn mind that Linda had borrowed that blouse from Laurie and then bitched to Bob about how “expensive” it was when he was being a tad careless with that beer.

It’s the little things really. So while unfortunately, the days of channel 33 and Count Cool Rider are behind us, on behalf of us locals, thank you. For giving both kids like me staying up past bedtime and adults something really special that we, as we hold this genre very dear to us, can look back on and smile. Also, you should bring back the Count for maybe a weekly October event leading up to Halloween, much like AMC Fearfest. Errm, minus the 1,000 reruns of The Walking Dead.

Just throwing that out there.