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2006 "Members' Only" Photo Contest Winners Announced!

Sep 27, ’06

The fourth annual "Members' Only" Photo Contest was held on September 10. Eastern State members were invited to compare and swap their Eastern State Photos.

In addition, each Member had the opportunity to submit one color and one black and white photograph for our 2006 Members' Only photo competition. The photos were judged by Tom Berault, Professor of Art, Prince George's Community College and, Curator/Director, Marlboro Gallery. Mark Wales took the top prize in the color division and Patrick Esmonde took the top prize in the black and white divisions.


	Terror Behind the Walls Moves Up in National Rankings... Again! Sep 26, ’06 : AOL City Guide "the nation's largest and the internet's most popular online entertainment guide" has ranked Terror Behind the Walls as one of the "Top 13 Haunted Houses Across America" for the second year in a row. Terror Behind the Walls was the only haunted attraction from Pennsylvania, New Jersey or Delaware to be included on the list. The list includes twelve other "destination haunts," attractions that draw Halloween enthusiasts nationwide for their unique, one-of-a-kind environments, including Netherworld (#2), in Atlanta, GA, whose makeup and costuming are considered by many to be best in the industry and The Darkness (#6), in Saint Louis, MO, innovators of numerous ticketing, crowd management and production design breakthroughs. In recent years, Terror Behind the Walls has consistently been ranked as one of the top haunted attractions in the nation. Previous recognitions include: "One of Bloody Mary's Favorite Haunted Houses" by The Tales of Bloody Mary (Issue #8, 2006); "6th Best Haunted House in the United States" by AOL City Guide, (2005); "Best Haunted Attraction" by The Scare Factor! (2005); "9th Best Haunted House in the United States" by HauntWorld Magazine (2004) and "Best Professional Haunted House" by Hauntfreaks.com (2003).


	Get Paid to Scare People in Prison! Aug 27, ’06 We're Hiring All Kinds of People for Halloween. Halloween isn't just one night at Eastern State Penitentiary. Our acclaimed event, Terror Behind the Walls presented by Lukoil, runs 24 nights during September and October. Lot's of planning and training take place in September. Auditions and interviews are currently being held for actors, ticket handlers, line staff, maintenance, box office and management. These jobs are demanding, and FUN. Many people return year after year to join our "Scream Team!" Pay starts at $8.00 per hour, more for management positions. All staff MUST be over 18 and pass a background check. Eastern State Penitentiary is an equal opportunity employer. For additional information, including audition dates and times, please visit our Terror Behind the Walls Hiring Page.


	Eastern State Penitentiary Introduces New Family Tour Aug 26, ’06 Kids are fascinated by the massive cellblocks, dark cells, and stories of punishment and escape at Eastern State Penitentiary. It's one of the most popular stops for families visiting Philadelphia! Our "Keys to the Past" Family Tour, which is new for 2006, is recommended for families with kids age seven to twelve. In this hands-on, interactive program, families will unlock boxes, examine artifacts, and piece together the story of the world's first true penitentiary. Families will record their findings in "travel journals" and also take home a special memento of their visit to Eastern State Penitentiary. Engaging, educational, and fun! "Keys to the Past" is included with admission and available during all hours. Children 6 years old and younger cannot be allowed into the building.


	David Byrne, Rock Star and Artist, Comments on the Architecture of Eastern State Penitentiary. Jul 27, ’06 Mr. Byrne has visited the historic site twice, and is incorporating the building into a video project titled "Here Lies Love." His most recent visit was on July 7, 2006. He writes about the penitentiary in his online journal: http://journal.davidbyrne.com/2006/07/7306_eastern_st.html


Susan Hagen in her studio.	Arts Review Committee Announces New Installation for the 2007 Season Jul 26, ’06 On July 23, 2006, after reviewing 45 proposals, the ten-member Arts Review Committee selected a proposal by artist Susan Hagen. Ms. Hagen will be building a series of miniature dioramas showing — accurately and poetically — the daily lives of prisoners at Eastern State throughout its history. The exhibit will be on view during the 2007 season. In addition to this new art installation, seven installations from our 2006 season will return for the 2007 season: Linda Brenner's "Ghost Cats," Dayton Castleman's "The End of the Tunnel," William Cromar's "GTMO" Michael Grothusen's "midway of another day," Alexa Hoyer's "I Always Wanted to Go to Paris, France," Matthew and Jonathan Stemler's "Juxtaposition" Judith Taylor's "my glass house" The deadline for artist proposals for the 2008 season will be on Thursday, June 28, 2007. For more information, please see our 2008 Guidelines for Artists' Proposals.

Darkness. A distant, eerie sound. Your flashlight beam cuts the fog. Enter Night Watch, where the flashlight in your hand is the only light, and the deep shadows seem alive. Not for the faint of heart.

Eastern State Penitentiary Introduces New Haunted Attraction for 2006

Jun 27, ’06

The massive Eastern State Penitentiary — a gothic, castle-like structure in Philadelphia's Fairmount neighborhood — is the home one of the nation's largest and most ambitious haunted attractions, Terror Behind the Walls. The event has been ranked the nation's 6th best haunted by America Online, and called "perfect for Halloween" by The New York Times. It is in its 16th year.

The penitentiary will add a brand new attraction for 2006: Night Watch. Visitors will explore Night Watch on their own, with flashlights in complete darkness, as their final experience in Terror Behind the Walls. Night Watch is one of five separate haunted houses within the 11-acre complex. The other attractions are Intake, Maximum Security, 13 Rooms, and The Experiment (in 3-D!). Designed to be high-startle and low-gore, Terror Behind the Walls includes Hollywood-quality special effects and lighting, digital sound, animatronic creatures, and custom props.

All five haunted attractions are included in the admission price. Groups of 20 or more can purchase tickets now by calling our group tour hotline at (215) 236-2986 or emailing BoxOffice@EasternState.org. Individual advanced ticket sales begin on September 13 at TicketMaster outlets, by phone at (215) 336-2000, or online at www.TicketMaster.com.

For additional information, including coupons, previews and a complete list of show dates, times and prices visit our Terror Behind the Walls website.


	Pandemonium Catalog & CD NOW AVAILABLE: This beautiful hard bound catalog include a CD of Janet Cardiff and George Bures Millers' critically acclaimed audio installation Jun 26, ’06 This catalog for Janet Cardiff and George Bures Miller's critically acclaimed audio installation Pandemonium includes an audio CD of the piece, as well as nearly three dozen color and black and white images of the installation. Using the existing elements in the prison cells, Cardiff and Miller have produced a percussive site work that is rhythmic and musical at some points and at other times pure sound. It is as if a multitude of people or ghosts have inhabited the hall To place your order, visit our Online Store


	E.S.P. Staff Speak at National Haunted House Convention May 27, ’06 Planning for Eastern State Penitentiary's critically acclaimed haunted attraction, Terror Behind the Walls, has become a year-round activity for the staff of the 176 year old Philadelphia landmark. Later this month, Eastern State staff members Brett Bertolino and Jason Ohlsen will travel to Denver, Colorado to speak at The National Haunted Attraction Tradeshow and Convention (HAuNTcon). Hauntcon begins with a two-day tour of seven haunted attractions in Colorado and Utah, including the critically acclaimed Rocky Point Haunted House in Salt Lake City. Following the tour, conventioneers will attend a three-day tradeshow and conference with more than forty seminars, workshops and demonstrations. Hundreds of special effect and prop vendors will also be on hand during the conference. Bertolino and Ohlsen will lead a seminar focused on trends in ticketing. Eastern State's timed ticket reservation system has long been recognized as the model for ticketing at themepark-scale attractions. Over the past 15 years, Eastern State's annual Halloween Fundraiser, Terror Behind the Walls, has grown to become one of the largest haunted attractions in the country. In 2005 it was named "6th Best Haunted House in the United States" by AOL Digital City. Terror Behind the Walls is the single largest source of revenue for Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site.

Bernard Mazie's Eastern State Penitentiary ID Photo from September, 1966.

New Book By Former Eastern State Psychologist NOW AVAILABLE: Prison Manifesto by Bernard Mazie

May 26, ’06

Prison Maifesto is a memoir. It is a survivor's story of a just-out gay man encountering a totally macho environment on his own terms. Relating to initially hostile inmates and correctional officers presented unique problems with equally unique solutions. The outcome is favorable and the telling is unforgettable.

Bernard Mazie worked at Eastern State Penitentiary as "Psychological Services Associate" from the fall of 1966 to 1969.

To place your order, visit our Online Store

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Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site, Inc.

2027 Fairmount Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19130