Witch's Dungeon to stay in Bristol

The Witch's Dungeon Classic Movie Museum isn't moving to New York after all. It's moving instead to the Bristol Historical Society's quarters in the city's first high school on Federal Hill. Cortlandt Hull, the museum's linchpin, said the new place will be larger by far than the small outbuilding on Battle Street that has housed it for 48 years. This fall, the display will offer more life-size figures than ever along with original movie props Hull has acquired over the years.
Hull said that Jim Albert, the president of the Bristol-based Central Connecticut Chambers of Commerce, is largely responsible for making it possible for the museum to stay in its hometown.
I'll have much more about this in the days and weeks ahead.
It's a relief to all of us who know what treasures Cortlandt has to see a resolution that saves the museum for Bristol while simultaneously lending a hand to the historical society and its underappreciated assets. 

Copyright 2014 All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Classic horror movie museum opens for season tonight

Reporter Jackie Majerus wrote this:

The Witch's Dungeon, a popular local fall attraction for more than four decades, opens tonight for the season.

Now in its 42nd year, the small shrine to Hollywood's movie monsters is open only weekends in October, but draws hundreds of visitors each year from around Connecticut and beyond.

Artist Cortlandt Hull, who created the museum as a young teenager and continues to operate it, said the recently automated sound system has greatly improved the experience for visitors.

The short trip through the non-profit museum takes less than 10 minutes, but includes sound clips from classic horror films and voice recordings from stars like Vincent Price and Mark Hamill made especially for the Witch's Dungeon.

"All the recordings, even the ones from the 1930s, sound like they were recorded yesterday," said Hull, who said the digital versions are clearer and cleaner than ever.

Visitors are encouraged to come early for the shortest wait in line. The line closes at 10 p.m., but anyone in line by that time is allowed to go through the museum to view the more than a dozen life-sized dioramas from classic horror movie sets.

A small group of people can pass through the museum at a time.

"We now have a ghost host that takes you through," said Hull. He said the figure wears a robe and carries a lantern, but does not touch the visitors.

The technological changes have improved the museum tour, according to Hull.

"It's smoother than it's ever been before," said Hull.

Hull plans to show classic movies on an outdoor screen starting Saturday, Oct. 4, to entertain those who are waiting.

Outdoors, behind the museum building, Hull said, a new Grim Reaper figure will join others next weekend in an outdoor cemetery display.

"It'll be a continuation of the graveyard of classic ghouls," said Hull.

In a trailer on site, Hull will have original movie props on display from E.T., The Exorcist and Planet of the Apes.

At the trailer, the museum will be selling Witch's Dungeon memorabilia as well as copies of a documentary about the first 40 years of the Witch's Dungeon on DVD.

Puppet master Bill Diamond will be a special guest at the museum on October 18, said Hull, from 7 to 10 p.m.

Though there is no blood or violence depicted, the life-sized figures of Dracula, Frankenstein's Monster, The Fly and other monsters look realistic and may be frightening for children. It is not recommended for youngsters under the age of eight.

This year, the Witch's Dungeon will be open most Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Halloween weekend, but it is closed October 24, 25 and 26.

Hours are 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. and admission is a $1 donation.

The museum is located at 90 Battle St., Bristol.

For more online, go to the museum website at www.preservehollywood.org.

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Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Witch's Dungeon is alive and well

Contrary to a story in today's Hartford Courant, Cortlandt Hull's wonderful little horror museum on Chippens Hill is not "defunct" and did not close permanently in 2005.
It is, in fact, thriving.
The Witch's Dungeon, which Hull started at age 13, celebrated its 40th annniversary last year -- and is heading happily toward the next landmark in 2016 when it'll have half a century of chills and thrills behind it.
The museum at 90 Battle St. is part of the Silver Screen Movie Museum and Archive, a nonprofit that people should recognize as a potentially lucrative tourism draw because of its extensive collection of movies and memorabalia that include everything from the original E.T. to reels of Bela Lugosi's "Dracula."
So let's not declare the museum dead, as the Courant mistakenly did today. Instead, let's see what could be done to make it bigger and better.
It could become a true year-round landmark if the community had more vision.

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Copyright 2007. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com