Behind the screams
U.S.S. Nightmare reveals its secrets
Jeff Miller
Issue date: 10/23/03 Section: Arts & Entertainment
As autumn is upon Cincinnati, leaves begin to change colors, the air becomes crisp and large, chainsaw-wielding men jump out at unsuspecting groups of people. The Halloween season has arrived and with it, the return of The U.S.S. Nightmare, Newport's only floating haunted house.
The U.S.S. Nightmare has been frightening customers for 12 years now, a tradition as strong as it ever was.
Docked right at Newport on the Levee, the haunted riverboat provides 35 rooms and 20 scenes for the voyagers who climb aboard.
With characters such as clowns, dead crewmembers and the infamous Freddy Kreuger, there is a little something to scare everyone.
However, there is much more involved with operating the Nightmare than what meets the eye. Behind the scenes, people work for hours making sure that all aspects of the Nightmare are perfect.
On any given night, 35-40 people work on the Nightmare, the majority of which are actors.
As each actor comes to work at about 4 p.m., they first check their scene assignment, proceed to get their makeup and costume and then await instructions before the doors open at 7 p.m. Usually dinner arrives after makeup and costume, leaving some ghastly frozen bodies to eat hot dogs without smearing their bloody face paint.
All of the actors come from many different areas and most of them have other jobs elsewhere. Some work for Proctor & Gamble, local police departments. Some are nurses and schoolteachers.
There are also five or six UC students who work on the U.S.S. Nightmare.
First-year students Josh Gilbert and Adam Dressman are two of these students.
One dressed as a clown and the other a demon of sorts, the business management students love spending their time terrifying others.
Both Gilbert and Dressman agree it is a great place to meet people and have fun.
The ironically friendly atmosphere that the haunted house possesses is apparent.
While the 30 or so actors are getting ready, the 10 security workers are helping out as much as possible, whether it be with dinner, makeup or making sure chainsaws are functioning properly.
The U.S.S. Nightmare has been frightening customers for 12 years now, a tradition as strong as it ever was.
Docked right at Newport on the Levee, the haunted riverboat provides 35 rooms and 20 scenes for the voyagers who climb aboard.
With characters such as clowns, dead crewmembers and the infamous Freddy Kreuger, there is a little something to scare everyone.
However, there is much more involved with operating the Nightmare than what meets the eye. Behind the scenes, people work for hours making sure that all aspects of the Nightmare are perfect.
On any given night, 35-40 people work on the Nightmare, the majority of which are actors.
As each actor comes to work at about 4 p.m., they first check their scene assignment, proceed to get their makeup and costume and then await instructions before the doors open at 7 p.m. Usually dinner arrives after makeup and costume, leaving some ghastly frozen bodies to eat hot dogs without smearing their bloody face paint.
All of the actors come from many different areas and most of them have other jobs elsewhere. Some work for Proctor & Gamble, local police departments. Some are nurses and schoolteachers.
There are also five or six UC students who work on the U.S.S. Nightmare.
First-year students Josh Gilbert and Adam Dressman are two of these students.
One dressed as a clown and the other a demon of sorts, the business management students love spending their time terrifying others.
Both Gilbert and Dressman agree it is a great place to meet people and have fun.
The ironically friendly atmosphere that the haunted house possesses is apparent.
While the 30 or so actors are getting ready, the 10 security workers are helping out as much as possible, whether it be with dinner, makeup or making sure chainsaws are functioning properly.
