I found the following advertisement on Facebook and had to respond. There were rumors that the new owner Richard Chakejian planned to turn the Pennhurst administration building into a "haunted attraction" but now it is official. It seems there is no end to the exploitation of the disabled.
If you want to be a scary psyco at this new
haunted house, contact us!!!!
Actor Auditions for the newest haunted
attraction in Pennsylvania!!!
Pennhurst Haunted House located in
Spring City, PA will hold auditions for new actor positions for its
opening 2010 October season. Auditions will take place at Arasapha Farm
1835 Middletown Road Glen Mills, PA 19342 on Sunday, June 27th and
Sunday, July 25th. We are looking for actors who are 18
and older with a clean criminal record, reliable transportation,
available from 5pm-11pm every weekend in October. No experience
necessary. All you need is the energy and determination to scare, good
work ethic, and an open mind. If you are available and interested in
being a paid actor for this new haunted attraction, please contact
Angela Bates Majewski to schedule an audition/interview appointment and
visit our website at www.thebatesmotel.com to fill out an application.
Any questions please call 302-363-4724 or email
pennhursthauntedhouse@gmail.com.
We are going to be your worst nightmare....
There is also an ad on Craigslist. I hope you will all join me in protesting this asinine endeavor. Use the contact info above as well as emailing promoter Randy Bates at: rbateshh@comcast.net or writing to him at the Glen Mills address above. I hope that the voices raised in protest will become Randy Bates' "worst nightmare." Let me offer a disclaimer that I have no objection to "haunted attractions." But this one is incredibly offensive to people with disabilities. This was my response:
After viewing
your Facebook audition page for the “Pennhurst Haunted House” I felt
compelled to contact you. As the relative of someone who spent years in
Pennhurst I find the idea of a “haunted attraction” featuring “scary psycos”
[sic] incredibly repugnant, to say the least. You obviously know nothing of the
history of Pennhurst or you would not even make such an asinine statement. I
invite you to visit my Web site http://pennhurstproject.com
to listen and read about some of the people connected to this institution.
Their stories are not “scary” nor are any of them “psyco.” The tragic history
of Pennhurst is not public fodder for exploitation by you or anyone else. The
fact that you are doing so, and with such extreme bad taste, is an affront to
the many thousands of Pennhurst residents and their families as well as to all
those who fought on the front lines to gain equal rights for people with
developmental and physical disabilities. They deserve our deepest respect, not
your impudent ridicule. You mirror the ignorance and exclusionary mindset of
the mid-20th century which led to the abuse and forced confinement
of so many helpless individuals. Shame on you.
I urge you to
rethink this offensive and disrespectful endeavor. As for myself, I will use
every platform and social media outlet available to alert others and voice my
objections to your plans.
Sincerely,
Betty E. Cauler
Photog/videographer Marc Reed offered his version of the Pennhurst Haunted Attraction poster:
Top 3 contenders for
Pennhurst Poster
The
folks who bring you
Pennhurst Institute of Terror have narrowed
their marketing message down to the top 3 contenders