Haunted Attraction (HA) Magazine is the premier publication of the dark amusement industry.  The September 2009 issue of HA (Issue No. 51) featured a cover story about Eastern State Penitentiary’s Terror Behind the Walls including interviews with the event’s producers.  The story, written by Eric Zrinsky, offers readers a rare behind the scenes look at one of the most successful haunted attractions in the country.

You can purchase your own copy of HA Issue No. 51 in the TBTW Gear Online Store.

In 2008, Eastern State Penitentiary built new costume and makeup shops into former workshops along Cellblock 1. They include state of the art makeup stations and storage for the 150 costumes necessary to get the show up and running every night.

This rare chance to see the costume and makeup shops of TBTW allowed visitors to meet the makeup artists and costume designers responsible for the #1 ranked haunted house in America by AOL City Guide. Among the visitors were the contest winners of the May e-Newsletter trvia contest, who each won a Terror Behind the Walls makeover. “We had so much fun,” Trish H. said about her contest prize. “My kids looked great. It totally creeped me out.”

Visitors receiving the makeover were transformed into creatures much like the ones seen roaming the penitentiary during Eastern State’s premier Halloween event.

To learn more about Terror Behind the Walls, please visit http://www.easternstate.org/halloween/.

 Eastern State Penitentiary’s Terror Behind the Walls presented by Lukoil, the region’s largest haunted attraction, is seeking a talented, creative, organized costume designer(s).

Last year, AOL City Guide, the nation's largest and the internet's most popular online entertainment guide, ranked Terror Behind the Walls the “Number 1 Haunted House in America.”  One of the main reasons for achieving that ranking is the attention to detail in the costume department.  

The responsibilities for this position include: costuming approximately 150 employees (see details below), hiring and managing a seamstress to assist with costume building, laundry, repairs, and nightly organization of the department.  

This position will work closely with the Theatrical Director, Employee Services Manager, and the Makeup Designer to help maintain the high standards Terror Behind the Walls holds to provide our visitors with an enjoyable experience.  Examples of different costumes used in the show range from generic inmate and guard uniforms to stilt walkers and detailed custom characters for queue line entertainment.

The event currently maintains an inventory of approximately 150 costumes (many of which are stock jumpsuits, button down shirts, and coats that have been customized to fit the prison theme) from previous shows.  Some of these costumes will be replaced, but the majority will be updated, repaired and altered for this years show.  In addition, each year 10 to 15 elaborate custom costumes are built from scratch for our signature characters.   

Salary is based on experience and is for a time frame beginning in July or August and continuing until early November.   The Costume Director is required to be at the show each night we are open, please see our website calendar for a schedule of our 2009 show nights.

Please send resumes and samples to jo@easternstate.org by Wednesday, July 8, 2009.

For information about auditions and interviews for actors, ticket handlers, line staff, retail staff, box office staff and storytellers see http://www.EasternState.org/jobs.

On October 10, just 3 days after their 2 year anniversary, Tim and Stacy returned to the scene of their first date.  With close friends in tow, they finished their tour of TBTW and began the "Behind the Scenes" tour.

They were led up to the central guard tower.  There, waiting for Stacy, was a pumpkin, carved by TBTW Makeup Artist, Jen Bendik, with the words, "Will you Marry Me?"  Tim got down on one knee and presented a ring to a surprised and emotional Stacy, who quickly said "Yes".  

The couple plans to get married in 2011, when Tim finishes nursing school.  Congratulations to the happy couple!

AOL City Guide, the nation's largest and the internet's most popular online entertainment guide, has ranked Terror Behind the Walls as “#1 Haunted House in America!" Terror Behind the Walls, which had previously been ranked #5 by AOL, is now the only haunted attraction from Pennsylvania, New Jersey or Delaware to ever earn the #1 spot on a national list of top haunted houses in America.

The list includes twelve other "destination haunts," attractions that draw Halloween enthusiasts nationwide for their unique, one-of-a-kind environments, including Netherworld (#8), in Atlanta, GA, innovators of makeup and costuming techniques that are now considered the industry standard and The 13th Gate (#2), in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, whose elaborate sets and attention to detail are considered by many to be the best in the industry.

In recent years, Terror Behind the Walls has consistently been ranked as one of the top haunted attractions in the nation. Previous recognitions include: "6th Best Haunted House in the United States" by Hauntworld Magazine (2007), “The scariest haunted house in America!” by the Rachael Ray Daytime Talk Show (2007), “One of America‘s Scariest Halloween Attractions” by The Travel Channel (2006), "5th Best Haunted House in the United States" by AOL City Guide (2006), "Readers Pick Award" by Seventeen Magazine (2006), "Best Haunted Attraction" by The Scare Factor! (2005), "6th Best Haunted House in the United States" by AOL City Guide (2005), "9th Best Haunted House in the United States" by Hauntworld Magazine (2004) and "Best Professional Haunted House" by Hauntfreaks.com (2003).

Halloween isn't just one night at Eastern State Penitentiary. Our acclaimed event, Terror Behind the Walls, runs 27 nights from September 19 to November 2. Much of the planning and training take place in September.

Auditions / Interviews are currently being held for all positions including actors, ticket handlers, line staff, story tellers, retail staff and box office staff.

Save time! Download our 2008 application, fill it out, and bring it with you. Not only will you save time at the audition/interview, but you will also be placed ahead of applicants who are filling out the application when they arrive.

These jobs are demanding, and FUN. Many people return year after year to join our "Scream Team!" Pay starts at $9.00 per hour, more for management positions.

All staff must be 18 years old or older and pass a background check. Eastern State Penitentiary is an equal opportunity employer.

Auditions / Interviews will be held on the following days/times:

We were thrilled to welcome the cast and crew of Transformers 2 to Eastern State Penitentiary!

The sequel to last summer's blockbuster recently filmed scenes in Eastern State's Cellblock 7 as well as outside in the Industrial Building Courtyard.  You can see in the top photo the massive helium-filled balloon light that was used to simulate moonlight.  The next photo shows the cast and crew on the set created at Eastern State.  The final photo shows the car cast as "Bumblebee" exiting Eastern State during filming.

While on site, Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox and Michael Bay enjoyed a tour of Eastern State including some areas used during Terror Behind the Walls, including Cellblock 12, the home of Lock Down.