Boney Island Yard Haunt
Halloween Magic Skeleton Show
Back for 2011!
4602 Morse Avenue
Sherman Oaks, CA 91432
E-Mail: info@boneyisland.com
Website: www.boneyisland.com
Click here for the latest news on Boney Island.
DATES: October 21-31
HOURS: 6-9pm Sunday-Thursday; 6-10pm Friday-Saturday
ADMISSION & PARKING: Always Free!
2011 UPDATE: After a three-year hiatus, proprietor was Rick Polizzi (a producer of THE SIMPSONS) resurrects a new version of Boney Island, now a “Halloween Magic Show,” featuring spooky prestidigitatosr Maestro Maxilla and the Conjuring Clavicle. Expect a different experience from that seen in past years, as most of the old props were auctioned off after Halloween 2007.
BONEY ISLAND HISTORY: This unique Halloween carnival entertained San Fernando Valley trick-or-treaters for ten years until 2007, earning a reputations as the best family-oriented Halloween yard haunt in Los Angeles. Billing itself as the “world’s only skeleton carnival,” this haunt was a Halloween version of a Coney Island-type entertainment attraction — populated entirely by skeletons! The special mechanical effects (mostly wires pulled by motors) were proudly low-tech, but that detracted from the enterainment value not one boney little bit. You could as the skeletons fished in the “Trick or Trout” booth! Thrill as they swung clubs at flapping flying mammals in the “Batting Cage”! Or gag at the “Rotten Candy” machine filled with spiders!
BONEY ISLAND BOTTOM LINE: There was very little that is actually spooky (nor did it try to be). The colors and carnival music were all calculated for to create fun, almost Tim Burton-esque atmosphere, making this the perfect place to bring young children who might be intimidated by more adult-type haunts. That’s not to say the appeal was solely to children — the outrageously goofy displays were guaranteed laugh-providers for adults, too.
OTHER BONEY ISLAND INFORMATION: If you have trouble accessing Boney Island’s Official Website, check out their page on the Hallowed Haunting Grounds website: http://www.hauntinggrounds.org/polizzi/rpeh.htm.
BONEY ISLAND UPDATE FOR 2008: Although 2007 marked the 10th and last year of Boney Island in its original form, some of the props were purchased by a new owner and set up at 14333 Califa Street in Van Nuys. Although it is nice to see some some portion of the fabulous yard haunt live on, the new location is a pale shadow of the old – more a skeleton party than a skeleton carnival. If you live in the area, it may be worth walking by for a look, but we would not recommend making a special trip.
BONEY ISLAND VIDEO: Enjoy our video visit to 10th and “final” year of Boney Island, including an interview with Rick Polizzi. Also included is the 2011 resurrection of Boney Island.
.
