Thrill-seekers looking for some gruesome Halloween displays don’t have to travel far since these are located in nearly every part of the city this year.
Many people swear by the long time traditional horror displays called “Frightmare on 16th Street,” which Tom Cannella has been maintaining for years. Kids and adults line up for almost a month before Halloween to see what he will come up with next – but especially on Halloween, when Cannella and members his family traditionally dress up to join the animatronics and the parade of life-sized horror characters that fill the front yard and both porches.
But over the last couple of years, the Gaeta family on West Schuyler Place has been competing for the crown as the most decorated property in the city, with a front lawn so stuffed with creepy creatures that there is barely room to walk. They, too, come out in costumes for Halloween night as their army of horror comes to life with the flip of a switch.
“We added a few new things this year.” – Anita Gaeta
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Although Stephen Gaeta and his wife Anita have been decorating their home for many years, they really began to pull out all the stops about four years ago, filling their front yard and porch, as well as the upstairs porch, with animatronic characters that cackle and scream, eyes glowing red as they wield knives or axes.
At an operating table, a mad doctor lifts the top of his own head to expose his brain, while nearby a six-foot, six-inch clown lifts his head off his shoulders, and a man with a machete suddenly raises the weapon as you pass near the front door.
“We add new things every year,” Anita said.
This year, they had three new horror figures, all of which move, adding to the graveyard full of horror.
Some stores along Broadway have also gotten into the spirit, such as Herbert’s Army & Navy store, with life-sized hippie scarecrows out front, one of a number of scarecrows that can be found outside of store fronts, which were created by students from local schools.
Al Sullivan may be reached at asullivan@hudsonreporter.com.