Hail Zombo!

If you know me in real life, then you know that every year for the last 5 or 6 years, I’ve gone to Theater Bizarre as my main Halloween event. It’s a huge masquerade party held in the Masonic Temple in Detroit over two weekends. It’s also a carnival. It’s also a burlesque cabaret, an alternative lifestyle exhibition, a dance hall, an experience. It has its own mythology, its own dark meaning.

It’s Theater Bizarre that inspired much of the Carnival Koniec Swiata in my book, THE WANDERING DOLLS.

But what really is Theater Bizarre and how did it come to be?

The Beginning

In 1999, Ken Dunivant was ejected from his art studio space, where he’d been hosting years of Halloween parties. He and Ken Poirier, who owned property south of the Michigan State fairgrounds, joined together to start what would be the groundwork for the eventual Theater Bizarre. It was a carnival, a party, and a show, with games, guests, and glamour. After running illegally for years, it was shut down in 2010 by the city for zoning violations, forcing all 2500 attendees to move to the Fillmore Theater. In 2011, everything was moved to Detroit’s defunct and deliciously creepy Masonic Temple.

So what is it?

Theater Bizarre takes up 8 of the Masonic Temple’s floors with all sort of creepy goodness. There’s the Ghost Train, where you ride a mini train at breakneck speed in a pitch black room. The Fistatorium, where consenting participants explore kinks. Dirty Devils Peep Show, a burlesque cabaret. The Main Hall, where carnival acts abound and guests can play carnival games just like at a fair. The Sinema, a movie theater not for the faint of heart. And so much more. And more than even I can tell you, because there are secret areas you can only reach by invitation—and you can’t ask for an invitation.

So who is Zombo?

The thing that separates Theater Bizarre from other grand Halloween galas is Zombo the Clown, ruler of the Theater Bizarre. Every year, the carnival is themed around the goings on of Zombo and, during the main act in the Main Hall, Zombo appears to revel with his followers. The clowns, demons, and other Theater Bizarre performers are all in character all night, proclaiming “Hail Zombo!” to the returning crowds and demanding respect for their highest leader.

One year, Zombo was crowned king. Another year, he fought with the false King who had tried to take over his rule. Another year, he became Anti-Pope, and yet another year, he was Anointed as a Saint.

The sad news

After so many years, Theater Bizarre was cancelled this year due to the Masonic Temple booking out some of the space needed for the festival. I’m still in mourning, but I’m read for Zombo’s most glorious rise…next year. Perhaps with a story about how he was merely in sleeping, like a cthonic god.

Updates

It’s been a while since I’ve done updates. These will become a more regular part of the newsletter.

Writing

I just got my final edits to my agent for Dolls, so we’re getting very very close to the black hole that is sub!

But yeah, I’m basically coping by stress-writing short horror stories and submitting them. I guess I crave more rejection.

Here’s a snippet from Dolls, as a treat.

Reading

I have DNFed SO many books this year, but a few finally stuck. I recently enjoyed WHAT MOVES THE DEAD by T. Kingfisher and am now reading her THE TWISTED ONES.

Listening

I recently went to see The Offspring with Simple Plan and Sum41, so I’m relieving my teenage years right now.

But I’m about to hop onto Olivia Rodrigo’s GUTS and more MIDNIGHTS because who can resist TayTay.

Creating

Most of my creating has been drawing lately on the tablet. I’m trying to hone some skills in anticipation of more complicated projects. Those of you who’ve read my book may recognize that first bloke.

It’s frustrating.

Until next time

Hopefully I’ll have good sub news that I won’t be able to tell you. I’ll definitely be back with some writing tips, some book recommendations, or another foray into the inspiration behind THE WANDERING DOLLS!

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