Thread: Creepy Doll Display Ideas Needed

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This our Hhouse is doing a museum theme. One of the ideas we had was to do a display of creepy dolls. I would like some of them to move, ie: heads turn, arm lifts, dancing marionettes. The rest would of course be static or live actor. I'm looking for cheap, cheap, cheap ways to do the animation. We don't have the budget for computer controlled animatronics, so it strickly old school engineering. If anyone has any ideas, please share. Thanks!

Check this thread out.
Baby Doll prop ideas--static or mechanical

that is pretty cool. Will mos def be using the look.
I'm trying to get ideas on how to animate the dolls, as in what to use, how to set it up.
So far we are using overhead strings for the marionettes and 1 live actor.
I'm wondering about using an undertable crankshaft and wire coming up through the tabletop. This is based off an antique childs toy.
Would really like ideas that don't show the wire/strings.

Love the props on the thread posted. I'm thinking of doing a nursery in one of the rooms and just got ton of ideas!
I am also looking for ideas on the CHEAP and will be hitting the local thrift shops to see if I can get some dolls that move on their own.

Nice idea. You can always use a bit of fishing line to help make it seem invisable - just make sure you don't use an UV light as that will show up the fishing line.

Other ideas would be small battery operated motors perhaps :-)

I once saw someone use a oscillating fan hack to move a head. I think it was on Marks site http://www.halloweenmonsterlist.info/ but I cant remember where. It was a few years ago.

As an alternative, why not use strobes to add the illusion of movement. Two strobe lights on opposite sides (out of sync) have an incredible effect.

As a bonus, add whispers. If you haven't seen it yet, check out the trailer for Don't Be Afraid of the Dark (http://www.dontbeafraidofthedark.com). If you have GoldWave (or any other decent audio file editor), you can take a couple of recordings of "Come play with me" and turn them into a dozen different pitches then burn them to a CD as two offset stereo tracks. Place the two speakers on opposite walls, and it sounds like you have a room full of dolls all whispering at random.

We are doing a toy-themed haunt this year and have been hitting garage sales all year.

These are some great ideas! Thanks!!!

here may be some cool ideas....


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for the last one just re-paint the eyes /eyebrows to look scared on a makeup/hair head.

& if any of you need some creepy / haunted nursery music - sound effects, give me a "scream" I have a good collection to share