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Two visitors show off their TBTW zombie makeovers.

Makeover in progress during the Behind the Scenes Tour

Behind the Scenes Tour: Terror Behind the Walls Costume and Makeup Shops

Jun 30, ’09

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 Hires New Assistant Program Director for Education Apr 21, ’09 Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site has recently welcomed the newest member of its full time staff: Assistant Program Director for Education Linda Neylon. Linda comes to Eastern State Penitentiary from the York County Heritage Trust in York, Pennsylvania, where she was Coordinator of Living History. She has experience in creating programming for children and adults through her time at the York County Heritage Trust, as well as at Gettysburg National Military Park. She received an MA in American History, with a concentration in Public History from American University in Washington, DC and a BA in History from Millersville University of Pennsylvania.


	Philadelphia Museums Celebrate Museum Week Mar 16, ’09 Greater Philadelphia's museums offer countless opportunities for remembering, discovering, and learning. During Museum Week, April 27 to May 3, 2009, over fifty regional museums will offer a wide variety of special discounts on admission, shopping, and other amenities. Celebrate this city's incredible exhibits and collections by visiting one of these participating museums. Details on participating museums and special offers are available online www.phillyfunguide.com/museumweek. Museum Week is being produced in honor of the 2009 American Association of Museums (AAM) Conference, which will be hosted by Philadelphia the first week of May. Over 6,000 museum professionals from around the country will descend on Philadelphia to discuss how to remain relevant, real and responsive in today's challenging environment.


Members may know Brenner for her artist installation, Ghost Cats, which is currently on display at the penitentiary.	Special ESP Member Reception for Models in the Making Exhibit Jan 15, ’09 Models in the Making: The Design and Craft of Architectural Models explores the role of models in the process of making architecture and the craft of building in miniature. Works on view include historic models from the Louis I. Kahn Collection in addition to displays on the techniques of model making from the point of view of William Christensen and Linda Brenner - two of the foremost fabricators in practice today. Over the years Christensen and Brenner have crafted three models for Eastern State Penitentiary, including a model of Cellblock 7, which is included in the exhibit. Christensen and Brenner, along with the ESP Administrative Staff, will host a free reception for Eastern State Members at the Kroiz Gallery on Thursday, February 26 from 5:30 to 7:30 pm. Models in the Making: The Design and Craft of Architectural Models will be on view until March 13, 2009 at the Kroiz Gallery / Architectural Archives at the University of Pennsylvania, 220 S. 34th Street in Philadelphia. (see photo at left).


An inmate bakes bread under the watchful eye of a guard. This scene predates the arrival of the new ovens in 1910.	Help Save the Kitchen and Bakery Jan 15, ’09 At its peak in the 1920's, Eastern State Penitentiary's Kitchen and Bakery staff produced three meals a day for a small city of 1,700 inmates, officers, and other staff. The bake oven ran all night. The stories of feeding this massive population, the use of food as both a reward and a punishment, and the deep pride many of the men and women took in their roles as chefs are central to the story of Eastern State Penitentiary. Eastern State Penitentiary seeks to raise $25,000 for a five-year Tuff Wrap roof for the Bakery and Kitchen outbuildings. This roofing project will buy us time to raise funds for a more permanent roof. It is an investment that will help save important structures for our long range preservation efforts that include preparing these fascinating spaces for public access. You can help! Visit our Saving ESP page to see how you can help with this critical project.

The winning sculpture

Peter Slavin with the Al Capone sculpture

Ice Sculpture Contest

Dec 16, ’08

Peter Slavin from the local performance ice sculpting company, Fear No Ice, carved three sculptures in Cellblock 7 on Thursday, December 11. Visitors to the site's Winter Adventure Tours were able to vote on their favorite - the facade of the penitentiary, a "mug shot" of Al Capone, and an authentic ESP lock.

Receiving 50% of the vote, the favorite design of visitors was the facade of the building. Al Capone came in second with 34 percent of the vote and the lock received 16 percent of the vote. Al Capone may have pulled ahead, but unfortunately, the storms and warm weather tipped the sculpture over, breaking it in two before the voting ended.

See the photos at left for the top two sculpture designs.


	Extended Holiday Shopping Hours: Think Outside the Box and Inside the Cellblocks Dec 16, ’08 The Eastern State Penitentiary gift shop will have special holiday hours on December 18, 19, and 20 - the gift shop will remain open from 10 am to 6 pm. Need a stocking stuffer? Our store is filled with great gifts such as the new collegiate style ESP hooded sweatshirt, knit hats, mug shot mugs, ESP tote bag, ESP note cards for the holidays, and much more. In addition, our popular line of Terror Behind the Walls merchandise will be available for purchase on these dates only. Eastern State memberships make great holiday gifts. Each recipient of a gift membership will receive a personalized gift card, ESP t-shirt, preview tickets for Terror Behind the Walls (2009), plus a year of free daytime admission, "Behind the Scenes" tours, and exciting events. Can't make it to Eastern State? Our entire line of merchandise is available on our online store. All proceeds from the museum shop benefits the mission of Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site.


	Winter Adventure Tour Lunch Packages Now Available Dec 1, ’08 (January, 2008) Several wonderful Fairmount restaurants, all just steps from ESP, now offer special Winter Adventure Tour Lunch packages. Packages begin at just $20 and include your Winter Adventure Tour ticket. Simply make your reservations by contacting the restaurant directly. Jack's Firehouse (215) 232-9000 London Grill (215) 978-4545 Rembrandt's (215) 763-2228


	Ice Sculpture Contest to Kick Off Winter Adventure Tours Nov 26, ’08 Fear No Ice, the world's first and only performance ice sculpting company, located right here in Philadelphia, will sculpt three designs based on Eastern State's architecture and history. The event, on Thursday, December 11 beginning at 10 am, will include sculptures of Eastern State's facade, a view of the radial design from overhead, and a mugshot of Al Capone. Visitors will have the opportunity to see the artists at work and the finished results will be on display throughout the weekend. Visitors will be able to vote on their favorite design and a winner will be announced on our website, on Monday, December 15. The event is free with admission.


	Cellblock 7 Model Included in University of Pennsylvania Exhibit Oct 29, ’08 Models in the Making: The Design and Craft of Architectural Models On view October 31, 2008 through March 13, 2009 Capturing the imagination of patrons, clients, and the public, models are often the most direct means of describing architectural intent to the world at large while, at the same time, providing architects with an invaluable tool for visualizing three-dimensional space. This exhibition explores the role of models in the process of making architecture and the craft of building in miniature. Works on view will include a model of Eastern State's historic Cellblock 7, in addition to displays on the techniques of model making from the point of view of William Christensen and Linda Brenner - two of the foremost practitioners working today. Kroiz Gallery / Architectural Archives University of Pennsylvania 220 South 34th Street Philadelphia

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Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site, Inc.

2027 Fairmount Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19130