The lost ghost of Camp Anawanna- The return of Zeke The Plumber

"Being dead wasn't a problem, but being forgotten? NOW THAT'S A BITCH!"

                                              - Freddy Krueger, Freddy Vs Jason 

      In the world of Horror, there have been MANY MONSTERS. Some have come, some have gone. But sometimes, some are forgotten... This being common, with some cases that in which unfortunatelly reboots are made unless there are those people who don't forget them and occasionally bring them up to other horror enthusiests that probobly never heard of titles before then.
   and sometimes, other Monsters don't really exist within the Horror genre world, and that maybe perphaps they come from other sources, in this case; the source being an early 90's Nickelodeon show, of kids attending a Summer Camp. In one Episode and ONE ALONE. We were introduced to a horrific scary image of a character, That even if not exposed to the likes of Michael Myers, Jason Voorhees or Freddy Krueger, this one was good enough to give the normal child Nightmares for years to come: ZEKE THE PLUMBER.


           
Zeke in this particular episode was the ideal product on what Nightmares where made out of, even one of the characters in the episode referred to him as the "Freddy Krueger of Custodians".
         The story of Zeke goes as he was the Camp's custodian, but years prior while serving his time in the army stationed in the Phillipines, he had his nose bitten off by a parrot, thus losing his sense of smell. This becoming his strong and weakess point working as a custodian, especially with the smelly dirty jobs. However one night while digging a hole he hits a gas pipe and unbeknownst to the custodian, he lights a match and explodes... All that was found of Zeke was his upper lip, and a toilet plunger which became cursed, that whoever touched it, would be haunted in their dreams (Hence the Freddy Krueger reference).
         Within this one episode and about four minutes or less of screen time, this image frightened ALOT of children including my older sister and many others who had watched the episode, and up until now, MANY years later... It had SEEMED that alike other horror titles and even their antagonists, unless a re-release was made, or a remake, no one would touch or even remember such characters unless REALLY brought up. But for Zeke in this case, because he was NEVER a Horror character nor had any titles based off of him, and he was in childrens television- NOT to mention he would be the last character you could rank or compare with likes as Freddy or Michael, It would Zeke never had that light shined onto him, and ANYONE who remembered Zeke, actually shut out that memory because he was so damn scary. However years later and come this summer, Zeke will resurface and come into the Horror convention circuit, and before he does, This entry will go on as to why he is coming back and WHY I feel he does belong amongst the other monsters:

Post MAY initiation

        

         Being brought onboard with the MAY (Monsters Among You) was something that I had least expected to happen to me for oh so many reasons, one of the many reasons being that I had only one character to work with that was a custom made one, and that I don't exactly have that budget to make what my horror brothers make and be able to attend every convention especially with some private matters to take care of first.
          one of the other things that is rather difficult to think of or imagine is WHAT character that is recognizable that not only has not yet been touched upon or done, and yet, I can fit the frame of that said character? Just about every other monster known has been done, and if there aren't, they will either be done or chances are because the stereotype of the monster being tall and bulky puts me in that odd spot where I am limited for what and who I can do, unless it was another custom character I could create, I seriously doubted it I was up shit creek and ran out of ideas of what to do, without expanding out further from the horror source.
          I don't know exactly what it was, but then thats where it DID hit, looking for characters outside of that horror realm, but them bring them in and give them some horror twist, which would soon turn into other custom creations and then I was at that standstill again... and then something happened, and I don't know where or WHY it hit me, but it did... Going upon youtube, there was a "Salute your shorts" reunion panel at Comikaze. Nolstagia hit me upside the head and then when there was a Q&A session with Kirk Baily ( Who   played UG in the childrens show) and he touched based upon one of his favorite Episodes THAT BEING The Zeke The Plumber episode, that in which WHO HE DID PLAY AS:




   Upon watching the other Q&A sessions with the other cast members of the show, a majority has pointed out that the Zeke the Plumber episode was their highlighted and favorite episode from the series, and that which is the one of the better episodes that stood out from the short lived series.
   Then digging deeper into the forums, google, facebook youtube ect. There had been fan-films (from Fan made teaser trailers from the episode to other stories unrelated to the S.Y.S. canon but kept the name "Zeke the Plumber") to even more to my surprise, ATTEMPTS as Zeke the Plumber costumes. Now one thing I have to keep in mind althought the attempt is there, and they DID put threw the effort of making the costume, it never looked anywhere close to the true source. I would have to mind myself, only because I am DEFINATELY one of those attention to detail nuts, and the one thing that ALWAYS threw the costumes off, had to be the mask. Not that its the costumers fault themselves, they are not to blame, but unfortunatelly, I do not believe the major eye catcher that makes or breaks this costume, would be the mask-- 

             Granted you can say it is an "Old man" mask, but if you go on Ebay or any other store, not one Old man mask is the same as the other- some are more novelty or scary or standard, and for the time source where cosplay I don't really think was a thought of mind, especially with the lack of connections we have via the internet nowadays,  The Identity of the mask has really yet to be aknowledged or identifyed (It looks a whole lot like Dennis Farina).
               So I had done my homework and aside from a few people who have done the costume for Halloween purposes TECHNICALLY he was never done in the terms of cosplay, NO ONE from what I saw was EVEN dressed as Zeke at the Comikaze S.Y.S. Reunion... THIS HAD TO CHANGE!!
       Of course I trodded along delicately with this subject because although scary, Zeke wasn't a Horror genre character, so doing so, I got in contact with a few others in the cosplay field and asked their two cents with the character. A few didn't know who he was respectfully so, and there for I introduced the character to them.but the people who knew of Zeke, they gave me that blessing and full encouragement to do the character, and I was set.... and now the tricky process began or reimagining Zeke.

                                                                The mask

"But you are a sissy little girl, now aren't you?"

            So to start off with creating his costume, it was NOT hard to say the least, actually it was quite easy. The most I had to purchase was the Flannel shirt (the closest if not the accurate design as to what Zeke wore) The Overalls and a pair of gloves, but I knew the one vital piece of the costume I was going to be having the hardest time with, and might have to use my creative flow, was Zeke's horrfying mask.
            I had looked and browsed on threw Ebay for the mask I thought would look close to what Zeke wore or would wear in this time and age. there was one although I wasn't too happy that it was a half mask that covered the face and not the entire head, which would require a wig. and although the mask plus the wig had its own original look contrasted to the ORIGINAL Zeke mask, it was all I could consider going with, although not really happy, I wasn't disapointed either. but it was until a visit on Instagram that kicked me in the ass that I didn't think before. an unpainted Michael Myers mask, not chalk-white, but the eyes cutted out, and still in its flesh toned look. THIS WAS what I had to work with to get Zeke's mask!!
          Of course you couldn't just pick up ANY Michael mask, it had to be just right, so I will be damned if I put 60 bucks into a new Michael mask that chances are I might screw up on if not done right, so the best way was to think in regards with good old Camp Anawanna. HAVE IT BE THE CHEAPEST MASK, and that being the Walmart brand very cheap and crappy Michael Myers mask, with the molded hair.
        Halfway threw constructing it actually looked like my former boss from Bottom dollar Food without the eyebrows and mustache, but when they were all attached into place. A custom Zeke mask that put to shame the other ones, and possibly one a 20 dollar budget, considering what I had bought and put into the mask, and BUYING two wigs to expirement to see which looked better.

Left: Prototype Zeke mask with original wig

The Final mask. Looks abit more like Tom Selleck, opposed to Dennia Farina, but it works!

                            The Wardrobe

            As I had stated earlier in regards with Zeke's attire, not a whole lot can be said, because his costume was easy to put together. The only other thing I probobly couldn't identify but wouldn't have had issue replacing anyway was the hat Zeke wore, which honestly looked like two hats on one another in a Sherlock Holmes style, but again not a hat that was properly identifyed, but subsituted with bucket hats.
           Aside from gathering the pieces I need with the wardrobe, also came the process of trying to give contrast to this newly horror adapted Zeke. Although the Plunger was his Iconic weapon of choice, it will not serve him as much in this portrayal ( No worries, the Plunger will NOT be that far behind), going back into his backstory serving in the Army and also that being he was a custodian for the camp, he will have on his a Utility belt were he will have weapons both sharp and blunt: A nod to the original Budnick story where Donkey Lips intervenes mentioned a Hatchet, Zeke will have just that- A Tomahawk that Zeke had kept to himself, an artifact more likely, but with a sharpening stone and his reflexes, it will be a dangerous weapon yet again. on his utility belt he will also be carrying a pipe wrench, his secondary Plumber's helper... AND another nod to the show, Zeke likes to think of it as his first Trophy from his first victim- Michael Stein. I will not go into saying what that Trophy is, but once people notice what it is, all bloodstained and ripped and stitched up, people will thoroughly enjoy it.
         

                                               Zeke's new backstory

            There will be a new drafted story with Zeke, since being that the children's television backstory was weak for the character, since being OF COURSE, it IS a kid's show and it wouldn't want to go into explicit and horrifying details, but for the sake of the Continuity, what we ALREADY KNOW OF ZEKE (or so that we think we know) The continuity will remain intact, revolving around the one episode.
             the way I am handeling the story is simple: The episode that involves Zeke is only the middle part of the story, and what we don't know is what REALLY happened (the past) and what happened after the events, actually even in a year or two, undocumented happenings that occured at Camp Anawanna because lets face it... IF WE KNEW what only happened to our favorite campers, it would be a kick, right into the childhood! But seeing that everyone who has loved the show, and that episode in particular, and would rather like seeing Zeke being brought back to live, I hope people enjoy what I would bring with this character...
         To hint off what I have in story for his backstory however: Zeke really DID exist and was the Camp's custodian/groundskeeper, and rest assured there was NO parrot that bit off Zeke's nose...
Of course years later, when our campers are in place, Budnick overhears bits and pieces of a story of a man named Zeke who was once a custodian and lost his nose. All Budnick did was give it a horror spin and made some stuff up as he went along... Sometimes even telling stories of what you don't know, like scary stories, will come back to haunt ya... So be careful what ya say... because you don't know when word will go around to the former custodian and decide to return to the old camp, which as of today is a disolated and in ruins, because of tragic events that happened a few years later AFTER the first Zeke the Plumber story was told by Budnick that one night at Camp Ananwanna....

                                Epilogue

        At one point or another, our fears are introduced from the camp grounds- Jason Voorhees, Cropsey, Angela Baker, and now Zeke The Plumber. Although he was never from the Horror Genre, The character was created with horror intentions no doubt about that, and come DAYS OF THE DEAD INDIANAPOLIS 2013, Zeke will make his long awaited come back, after all... He has been away from his happy campers, for FAR TOO LONG!!

The Monster created by Monsters - The creation of Lester Jenkins

          We have always been afraid of the things that we do not know, and the things we cannot see... it is primitive in our youth, that what we fear, being the monsters that reside in the closets, or hide underneath our beds. Yet as we get older, and based on experiences, the monsters are not always what they seem to be. Sometimes, the monsters we create as people, unto others are the worse monsters to fear.
          Primative examples in cinema, going a LONG WAYS BACK, even showcase that infamous classic monsters that we know of, two personal favorites of mine, being Erik (The Phantom of the Opera) and Frankenstein's Monster - Both creature's victims of circumstance, one shunned away into solitude because of his distortion, his actions in return terrorize an Opera House. Another a Guinnea pig of science who had no say of being brought back to life, and AGAIN being rejected by many because of his monstrous form that no one understood, and the lack of his "creator" not wanting to be involved with his "experiment", now forced alone, never learned to love... but to hate...
         These along with many other characters helped influenced my first and very most complex Monster and creation: Lester Jenkins...


         It was my second year working and concluding afterwards with The Garges's Haunted Cornwalk of Horror, where this year, I portrayed Michael Myers as I had done for many years since I have started working my haunting career.
         When Lester was initially created, their really was never any plan on creating an original character, as far as I knew, next year I was going to be doing Michael Myers again and again and again, for years to come because that was a character I was used to playing as.
         The Year was 2007, and Rob Zombie's remake of Halloween was greatly anticipated and didn't do bad for the remake it was, so this year, like I try to do, keep up to date with the image of Michael Myers in whatever his recent film was or try to do an Old-school approach if that cannot be done. I had three different masks: The Michael Myers mask, that was styled after the remakes, I bought around 80 bucks on Ebay, before any massed produced retail masks were sold. A Pumpkin mask from the Asylum, and A Clown mask. The Clown mask being bought from Spirit Halloween, and what was quite hysterical about it, is that it was SUPPOSED to be an "original" knock off take of the Clown mask from the Halloween remake, and that there was this seller ON ebay, who would slightly paint the mask even thought the look was NO WHERE CLOSE as to what the mask in the film looked like, and charged 80 dollars for these masks- I PICKED UP 2 of them for around 25 bucks!!
           During that year, while I was doing Michael, I was changing between the masks, and when I felt a scare as Michael wasn't doing any justice, I had switched with the Clown mask and did a Clown characters with a maniacal laugh and head twitching which made a few people shit themselves as opposed to when I did Michael, and the reason being WHY that didn't work, as it had been for a few years, is that I was TALL ENOUGH to present that physical presence, and aside from a few shrieks, and the fact you are playing a character that does NOT speak but then some smartass has something negative to say, you cannot say ANYTHING BACK because YOU ARE MICHAEL MYERS....


        The season came and ended with the Haunting, and sometimes every once in a while, I always try and do some kind of photo sessions with costumes and try and make something work, and in this case, work with the Michael Costumes and masks... and doing these shots, there was this ONE image that stood out, of me, wearing a wig (supposed to be for Young Michael) The clown mask and wielding a machete, that something sparked and something original came from out of it, I didnt't know what it was about it I liked, but seeing that this was the mask that got in some great scares in during that season as opposed to being Michael, I took the ball and went with it, and although this character was nameless, I felt there could be something there.  

One of the first images of "Lester"

There was an interesting article that I had read awhile back in that the ORIGINAL Michael Myers mask, it would have been an Emmett Kelly mask, if it was not for the Kirk mask that came in and made movie history, and with a few exception Clown killer characters, I felt that I could go the distance and make this character a Clown character that marched to the tune of his own beat.

The name some people had thought was loosely based on an Internet meme, known as LEEROY JENKINS, a popular youtube video around that time, but the truth of the name, was that.... Lester... I dunno where is came from it just was one of THOSE Cliche names you could imagine having a killer named as, so that was practically a nod towards THOSE type of names, but JENKINS- There was a movie I had also watched when I was very little, an anthology movie that featured Sean Astin called THE WILLIES, similair as to the Creepshow movies but more cornier!! And there was this one story that featured this child who was bullied by both students, and ridiculed by his teacher... Mrs. Titmarsh.... and out of the cruel treatment he is recieving in school there is ONE PERSON who has his back. The Janitor, who as well in the end, was really a monster who picked off both the mean teacher AND the three "bad apples". His name- Mr. Jenkins
     So with that a name was given.

      Half way threw the year, this is where my introduction into costume weathering came into place, something that which I have never really done. It was on a Myspace group where someone gave me feedback that would help me, and he insisted the best way to make a character believable is to give his wardrobe a story in itself- That in which explains where he has been, and what he's been threw, and so THAT was another thing I had yet to tackle, not only what does he wear, but HOW did he get to that state and what his story actually was....
     Aside of all the stories I had looked over, some way overused, mine would probobly have been no different, was that he worked at this Haunt Attraction and thats where his monsterous urges started....
His attire was basically the Green shirt with a long sleeve underneath AND a pair of overalls, of course trail and error came into place with this being my first weathering and distressing and put in one too many cuts and stitches into the costume, some rips actually ended up causing OTHER rips that were never intended and henceforth-- TRAIL and Error...

A more modified attire for Lester, and prop testing

This would be the debut look of Lester nonethless, and during time, his appearance would change, between wig choices, what shirt he would wear, and inevitably a new mask and retire the first mask that although looked cool was barley being held together

Lester debuted in the fall of 2008 with the look he had above, and even during the course of those months, I had felt like there was something that never really looked right with his look and as each year went on there was ALWAYS something to changes as his look always changed, between different wigs, shirts, masks Weapons, giving Lester that definative look was not as easy as one could expect.

Above: Screen caps from a hidden camera from one of Lesters haunt Years
below: A concept idea with a new wigs and ripped button shirt

 Of course one thing that people have yet to really have grappled together, was Lester's whole backstory as to WHY he is the way he is...
     Without going into Lester's personal story details, what can be really said, as coming full circle, and going back to the beginning-- Monsters created by circumstance.... many backstories have been used over and over before, but not as much as the inoccent and tragic of ways.
     Consider someone going to school day in and day out, just to be tormented and teased, and then having this one bit of escape that makes him feel worthy... and for years he could hide behind a mask, and become someone, or something else... unfortunatelly it spirals out of control to were this person adapts to a second personality, and it controls and consumes... Jekyll and Hyde if you will ANOTHER classic that is a favorite of mine. and even when the good wants to control, it is far too late, for even him to go back, and it only leads to a climax where in the end, the once victim, becomes the monster and villain. in a very familiair fashion, such as Richie Cunningham from Christine- Meek from the beginning, and monster in the end.... THAT in a nutshell is the way to consider Lester, not exactly a continuity of what a story is, BUT that is exactly what is- a Victim who became a monster, circumstace to other monsters...

   As Lester continues to evolves, both backstory and physically, people have become intrigued with him and hopefully one day the character does have a recognition, if not a cult following of sorts

Lester Jenkins 2012

A 'Haunting' past

            So, very rarely I believed I have touched base on this, as to my origin, and where my for this all start. Well, not to come off corny and in the lines with a Batman villain, "I was born with it, molded by it..."
       I can seriously recall I don't EXACTLY KNOW where to pin point it, as to where my love began.
When I was little I was no different in watching what anyone my age was into:Batman, Thomas The Tank Engine, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, Mary Poppins The Super Mario show, ALL THAT FUN STUFF A Normal child would grow up watching... But I wasn't QUITE normal. On the side with the Horror, movies included Killer Klowns from Outer Space (my all time favorite), The Childs Play movies, Full Moon (Puppet Master and Demonic Toys) The 80's remake of the Blob, and a few others to say the least...
     I can't really say I was introduced into the Modern house hold named slashers, with the exception of Freddy, who had REALLY stood out to me, because He wore the awesome hat and glove, which really sold me and as I remembered from an OLD OLD Home movie (long lost sadly) of me wearing someones Freddy mask, hat and glove from around one of my earlier Halloweens. other than Freddy, THAT was all I known...

    Of course with these movies ALWAYS on my mind, it was made difficult to make any friends, seeing that the stuff I enjoyed, rather gave others Nightmares and wanted nothing to do with me, this all being my Elementary school years, different and an outcast from the rest.

      Now at times, although I do not OFFICIALLY count it my start, It is more forgotten and not discussed, but my Haunt beginnings go back to kiddy Hayrides, where I DID do Michael Myers, for just the night or two, then it was done... and this, I can say I did for two years straight, just for two nights in a month and in a year.
       I of course dealt with that crowd until I moved on into Middle School, where YET AGAIN, I wouldn't get any acceptance, and the fact that my older sister was one of the more popular kids and because she always looked out for me and that EVERYONE in the school knew her, it never really helped matters neither.
       Of course it wasn't the first year of middle school or my loner persona I want to discuss... My first year in Middle school, ALSO the first year I had started my 'Haunting career', Working with the Lansdale Jaycees- A Haunting Troupe that did it all for Volunteer work, just to get out, dress up and put on make up and put on a show... No pay in the end, just people having a fun time, scaring the shit out of people nuff said...
     and when I had started out, my character of choice, was Michael Myers... now regardless this coming from someone the age I was at, and the height I was at and the props I was to afford (the big and cheap plastic glow in the dark machetes and scythes) I relied ALOT on how I moved and portrayed My Michael character. alot based on Dick Warlock's portrayal and little of Nick Castle's, for my height, SCARY and effective, especially if they were my height range...

   and for three years I have done Michael with the Jaycees, until an unfortunate fall came, where concerns happened with the building we haunted in, NOT meeting up with certain fire codes and a year was taken away from the Haunters of the Jaycees... The Following year, when we returned, by then was too late and wouldn't make the following year. A Majority of THE BEST Haunters had moved on, the new location was weak, and it just didn't seem to possess the spirit as the years before... Following year, I moved onto another Haunt, and the Jaycees further distanded and went six feet under...

   As for Today, I am still Haunting, and I retired doing Michael my second year working with the Haunt I am currently working for now."
   I have been Haunting for a total 11-12 years, and still do to this day. and over the many years, I have learned valuable techniques that further improved my craft, both in the field haunting to even Costume modifications and character development... All these skills would come into place for future projects, but THAT... I will save for another blog!!
                                                                                                          - Dr. Tyson
 

Welcome to the Asylum

          So I am fairly new to this form of media, and I appreciate anyone who has gone to follow me in my newly formed blogging adventures, I will try and keep on top of this as best as I can, assuming of course if I can get the amount of Followers that will further more encourage me to go forth with these.
          Now if anyone is reading this chances are you probobly already know me and know what I do best, so there really is no need for further discussion. BUT... if someone has shared my blog link and you are new and don't know me as good, allow me to introduce myself, short and sweet, and ALL you really need to know for now: My name is Nick Tyson, and I enjoy scaring the shit out of people. I grew up with horror, thus making me the blacksheep in many cases. going threw school, not feeling very accepted or welcomed, but treated more as that weird kid that was bound to "Do what they do in the movies". A sad stereotype for people who cannot think of anything better to do, rather then pick on those said quiet kids and wait for them to explose... NOT my case though, I am actually quite easy going and if you get to see past what OTHERS claim to see and furthermore not judge based on what you hear, people have said I am a great guy once you get to know me. because of my love, it evolved into much MUCH more, from Haunting to Horror Conventions to even being brought on board with a gallery of the best of best monsters formed within the convention scene...

       Well, that is all I will go on rambling on with for now... and that will be about it. So far only Two people were interested in my though process of what goes threw my mind, and if I do have more followers eager to know what goes threw my thought process, I will continue forth with more, until next time...
                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                      - Dr. Tyson