HALLOWEEN ATTRACTIONS IN METRO ATLANTA
Monster made from corpses runs for president
Frank N. Stein campaigns at Netherworld, No. 2 haunted house in U.S.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
As a political candidate, his strengths include his fearsomeness (even our enemies would cower in his presence) and his name recognition. Weaknesses would include burning torches, pitchforks and the tendency of angry villagers to wield both against him.
Frank N. Stein is definitely a long shot for president, but here he comes anyway, bellowing out campaign slogans the likes of which you’re unlikely to hear from John McCain or Barack Obama:
Netherworld
Frank N. Stein, played by Ben Armstrong of Tucker, is running for president on the Haunted House Party ticket
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“You need a strong leader. Someone who can crush the opposition! I’m a monster made from reanimated corpses — it doesn’t get much scarier than that!”
If Frank doesn’t end up being a factor in the November election, he’ll be happy if he draws attention to Netherworld Haunted House in Norcross, where he’s the latest gimmick in the always intense ratcheting up of Halloween attractions.
“It just seemed like something that would be fun — to try to put a real monster in the White House,” says Ben Armstrong, co-owner of Netherworld, which opens Friday and is visited by about 50,000 thrill-seekers a year. Housed in a multi-story warehouse just off Spaghetti Junction, Netherworld was ranked the No. 2 haunted house in the country in 2006 by Haunt World Magazine and AOL.
Armstrong, 45, will appear at Netherworld most nights as Frank, soliciting votes and scaring the spit out of teenaged girls.
But the Frank N. Stein campaign is also national, with Frank’s political blog, a series of YouTube campaign videos, and 13 other haunted houses around the country that are participating in the gimmick with buttons and T-shirts.
He won’t be on stage with Obama and McCain for Friday night’s first 2008 presidential debate. So here are a few more sound bites from the nominee of the Haunted House Party:
• “Basically we’ve created the perfect candidate. I’m made from parts from all over America. Literally, my organs are from every state.”
• “Experience? I am well over 200 years old. I have more experience in my sewed-on ear than those guys have in their whole body.”
• “We’re always talking about gun control, But you can walk into any hardware store and get a pitchfork. Is there a safety on a pitchfork? Have you ever heard of a pitchfork-proof vest? And crazy peasants need to be examined as well.”
ONLINE: Watch Phil Kloer’s video interview with Frank N. Stein. At accessAtlanta.com.
