Editor's note: This is part of an ongoing series of interviews with the people who make the Haunted House/Horror Industry great. This week we interview Ray Keim of Haunted Dimensions. He is an artist and Horror fan who runs one of the largest Disney Haunted Mansion sites on the Net.
Why did you first become interested in the Haunted House/Horror Business?
I have always been fascinated with haunted houses, even as a kid. I can’t explain where my fascination originated since no one else in my family had much of an interest in such things, but as a child I was always cutting up old cardboard boxes and building miniature haunted houses with trap door, revolving bookcases and hidden rooms. Of course, Disney’s LP “Chilling, Thrilling Sounds of the Haunted House” was a huge influence on me and even now when I listen to it, it takes me back to my Charlie Brown Halloween memories of carving pumpkins, trick or treating and home-made haunted houses! This may explain why I have an obsession with designing miniature paper model versions of the Disney haunted mansion attractions.
What previous jobs have you had?
In the 80’s I spent several years as a day care program director, which also included designing sets and props for a few successful haunted trail fundraisers. I also built scale models of broadcast studio design concepts, which eventually led me to the world of CGI and animation.
What job do you do right now? Is the Haunted House/Horror Job your full time gig?
I’m a freelance illustrator and animator. Primarily I create animations for medical and pharmaceutical companies.
Most of my “haunted art” is created for my web site “Haunted Dimensions”, which is where I can scratch my ghostly itch in my spare time.
However, I just came off of a three-month gig working on the art and design team of Universal Studios, Orlando, Halloween Horror Nights. I produced graphics for their Halloween Horror Nights web site, as well as designing park banners, creating blood splattered displays for their “RIP Tour”, and creating an animation for the “Bill and Ted’s Excellent Halloween Adventure” show. I also learned a lot about what it takes to create world-class haunted attractions. It was a spectacular experience, which I hope to repeat soon!
I was also recently invited to take part in Mezco Toyz’ “Living Dead Doll Art Show”, for which I was asked to design my own Living Dead Doll. On Halloween night I will be in New York to attend the gala opening and hopefully meet some of the other artists who were asked to participate.
What’s the scariest Haunted House you ever attended?
“Psychoscareapy” at this year’s Halloween Horror Nights at Universal, Orlando! Sights, sounds, smells and “patients”! Gorgeous detail!
Do you believe in real Haunted Houses? Ghosts? Etc.
I love ghost stories, and I love visiting places that are reputed to be haunted, however I am a skeptic. I have seen no evidence personally, or “officially” that would lead me to believe that hauntings are any more than overactive imaginations and hysteria. Having said that, the Lizzie Borden House, and the Eastern State Penitentiary, both have an unexplainable atmosphere that makes my skin crawl!
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