Mystery Manor pulls out all stops

By Breanne Stryker
Reporter

On Oct. 23, 1929, William Hall walked into his house on N. 18th Street with an ax. He walked out that night and buried his wife Greta in the front yard of their home. Two days later, William was buried next to his wife, after having been killed with the same ax by his former brother-in-law, John Martin. Martin was found the following day, lying atop the Halls’ shallow grave, with the ax wedged in the back of his head. His murder was never solved.

The Hall mansion still stands today. The faded red house is trimmed in worn, chipping black paint, with a wooden staircase crisscrossing its front. The stairs hold various signs, including one for Prevent Blindness Nebraska, a charity that the owners of the house donate money to. A broken wrought-iron fence circles the weed-filled lawn where the Halls were buried. An old washing machine rests on a shack made of misshapen boards. The scene exudes a sense of death and abandonment.

The house where William Hall murdered his wife is now called Mystery Manor and has been turned into a haunted house. Mystery Manor is open Halloween night. Photo by: Sarah Brandon

The Hall mansion is far from dead, however. For the past 21 years, it has been home to one of Omaha’s best-known haunted houses, Mystery Manor. Every autumn it comes alive, thanks to the work of Wayne Sealy, the mansion’s owner, and his cast of 60 actors, makeup artists and crew members. The story of William Hall is recreated for thousands of visitors to the popular house. However, hours before visitors begin to arrive at 7 p.m., the house awakens as its cast and crew prepare for their night.
By the time Wayne arrives at 3:45 p.m., a group of actors wait to get inside. Larry, the slide master, controls one of the house’s most popular attractions, the three-story metal slide that shoots customers through a small hole at around 35 mph. Ian, who arrives in his green Air Force jumpsuit, comes in as well, but needs to leave after he realizes he has forgotten the shoes for his drunken Irishman costume. They are all here as volunteers but had to audition in early August to guarantee their place on the cast. Many of the actors have been here for years, and while some are rookies, they all consider each other family.

In the back room where the actors convene, two large mirrors sit behind long shelves covered with newspapers. Bottles of fake blood and white clown makeup are being set up by Rick, the head makeup artist. Two mannequin heads rest alongside the bottles, cotton balls and makeup sponges. The heads are covered in clay, upon which Rick builds latex masks for cast members. Latex is convenient for Rick, as it can be used numerous times, and he does not have to build a new mask for every performance.
As more cast members arrive, they gradually begin transforming themselves into the monsters that will soon haunt the dreams of young Omaha residents. A few arrive partially costumed. Dave, who will be playing the role of William Hall, wears shredded pants with his own leather jacket.

Doug, the poster boy for Mystery Manor, has been working in haunted houses since he was eight. At over six feet tall, he is an appropriately imposing figure to greet guests. However, despite his size, long black robe and spiked capelet, Doug is anything but scary. One of the friendliest members of the cast, he is congenial and talkative, stressing how much everyone really enjoys working at the Manor.

“ We’re family here,” Doug said. “We’re all brothers and sisters.”

Richard is in his costume, but his makeup is only half done, because he is now busy as an assistant makeup artist to his uncle, Rick. He applies prosthetic ears and blue horns to Ducky, a short man with long blond hair who will be working in the clown room. Next up is Bob, tall and thin in a black leather jacket. Richard has smeared random bloody red splotches all over Bob’s face and now spreads a dark foundation over his skin, creating a gory, burnt look.
It is now 6 p.m.

“ This is the time we start getting wound up,” Doug said. “We have a lot of fun doing this.”

Dave trades his leather jacket for a shredded and striped vest and a white shirt, through which a tattoo on his arm is visible. Ian’s Irishman costume is now complete, with suspenders, plaid shirt and bushy sideburns, as well as his shoes.

At 6:33 p.m., tech guys appear and pick up their two-way radios. The excitement mounts as the actors get antsy, hitting and punching each other like brothers and sisters. Rick and the other makeup artists hurriedly try to finish everyone’s makeup before they do their own. The tech guys rush by, complaining about not being able to do a run-through.

“ Six-fifty-seven,” Linda calls from the back room. Wayne checks his list one more time to make sure everyone has a place and every station is covered. The makeup artists still work, finally finishing their own faces. Concerns about whether someone’s blood looks too much like ketchup are discussed, but there is no time to deal with it now.

“ Get our spots, guys,” Wayne yells. Let’s have some fun.” He is now in his costume of a laced brown tunic and black pants and boots, as well as false teeth and airbrushed eyes.

At 7:07 p.m., the radio blurts that the front doors are open and the night has begun.