Personally I am not bothered by it at all, but society as a whole today have become much less accepting of nooses and gallows. You are likely inviting trouble. Chances are that somebody will complain, and eventually the local officials will show up at your door and ask you to take it down or face charges. It's just how things are today. If I were you, I'd seriously consider spending your talent and energy on something different that isn't going to risk a public backlash. Just my opinion.

 

first i dont think it is something for young tots to see , and yes you might have issues with some people too in the community , it would be ashame if you put so much effort into building that to have someone ask to take it down.

now if this was a pirate set up and your person on the gallow is a pirate it will be more acceptable from everyone and for younguer children as well......or if your creating a scene like a medivale scene with 2 cloaked man beside your gallow etc this would also maybe less of an issue ...sometimes it just needs to be a little more tastefully done to be accepted when it come to props like this ......just my opinion

 

My 2 cents.
I aggree with the previous post. Not something for the younglins. Well, it depends on the what other props youre building around it too. If its to gory, then it may be too much!, but if the other props help in dressing it down, then you should be fine.
I don't think its bad taste at all, but there are some people outthere will definetly have issues with it.

 

If you have used it to "decorate" in previous years, meaning that you put it up before Halloween and nobody complained, you'll probably be fine. I didn't put my animated hangman up until the day before Halloween, but nobody complained. I got a lot of compliments on it actually.

I think no matter what you do you run the risk of "offending" someone. I try to keep the gore to a minimum and I think even though they are scared, it has always been well received by the kids, esp. the smaller ones.

 

I wouldn't have a working gallows if there will be young tots around, but it would be really cool if you had a party where you could do whatever you want. I agree there's always someone who would more than likely complain. But of course if it's on your property you can do whatever the hell you want You just might not have any young trick or treaters the next year.

 

Their are a couple of people around here who have put up just the noose in their display this year and last and it has drawn attention from the community and local neighbors. The thing about this year is the guy just hadn't even finished decorating. He stopped for the day because he ran out of light.

As far as t-o-t go most of them don't even know what they are or used for so they will just see it has a Halloween prop. The ones old enough to know it shouldn't bother them anyways. I just know i wouldn't risk it with those that are politically correct these days.

 

I would agree with the posts above. For young ToT's it might be too much and your house could be avoided next year. In my area we have a great amount of young children and with 2 young ToT's myself I try to keep it more like the Disney's Haunted Mansion and less like a Freddy/Jason bloodbath. I think a gallows would be great though if you incorporated into a room inside your house for an adult Halloween party.

 

My fine state passed legislation yesterday making it illegal to publicly display a noose. It is now considered a hate crime here. Political correctness run amok, as there is no differentiation between a simple halloween display and a truly disgusting display of racist intent by some people. I have zero tolerance for any type of racism, but I fear a long term haunter's staple has been taken away.
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medical marijuana patient

 

I don't know if there is any law against it in Nevada, but I was advised by a police officer to NOT hang a noose in our Halloween Tree. I'm guessing a gallows would be short-lived (pardon the pun).

 

I built a pneumatic hanging man last year. Initially, I had the typical hood over his head, but decided that it looked too realistic. I took off the hood and replaced it with a monster mask, so it was clear that this was not intended to be a human being. I thought it was a great prop and got several comments, all positive and none negative. That being said, I have decided not to use him again. Since my haunt is in my front yard, I am worried that the parents of young ToTs may bypass my house, and I can't say I would blame them. Plus, it's just not worth the risk of having a TV news crew show up and ruin a perfectly good Halloween.

 

I'm in general agreement with the consensus. Hanging props (nooses) can represent different things, and for some, you'll hit a nerve. Someone who had a friend or relative commit suicide would most surely be put off by it (it's more common than you may think). The action of a snapping neck is too much for young TOT'S IMO, and if you want them as return customers, you don't want to traumatize them, or alienate their parents. For a themed party which caters to a known group of older friends, it's fine, but I'm not sure I'd use it on Halloween night. I recall at the outset of the Iraqi invasion when beheadings were commonplace, I opted not to display a few of my severed head props one year. I didn't want some mom and her kids who's husband/father was in Iraq seeing this and conjuring up bad thoughts, even though the faces were a bit comical. It's really a personal choice but the fact that you're asking shows you also have some concerns. Good deal, IMO.

 

I think scaring the TOTS is the least of your worries in this situation. I don't think even the smallest of them were scared of my hangman. I even heard one little girl making light of the fact that he had a name since I had used one of my old work shirts on him. We've also made it a practice to have someone on the outer limits of the display to give candy to any children that were too afraid to enter. I've always thought it to be a nice gesture.

If your locality has laws against such things, then you obviously need to use common sense unless you want to end up in court. Otherwise, I think you need to do your own thing and stand your ground at some point. This year you lose your hangman, next year they might protest your entire display......

 

sounds really cool, just make sure the TOTers dont find their way into that noose!

 

Thanks for the input. Maybe it's not such a good idea. I like the idea of using it indoors at a party. I may consider that. Thanks again.

 

I'm not sure about working gallows, might be a bit dangerous, as far as the look of it as long as its not gory and fits in with the theme it would be cool. i am getting sick of the political correctness, lots of people were hung it was an early form of execution and is still used in some other countries.

 

Man, I'd love to have one at my house. But here in south La, I'd be a racist for having a rope with a knot in it.

 

I could avoid setting it off when the little four and five year olds are approaching and save it for the 12 and older group. But, as mentioned, there are likely those who would be offended. I think I'll keep it indoors.

 

Personally I would go for it. Though I have a boundry problem anyways. lol I wouldn't go the route of putting a black person in the noose for obvious reasons but, maybe a convict or monster. I would put it on a remote so that you can control when it drops and for who. I think of it as I'm going to offend somebody no matter what I do on Halloween. Hell, just celebrating Halloween is going to offend someone. I view it as part of history. We used the gallows, stocks, rack, iron maiden, gillotine, etc, etc. I would be more offended my a a table with a doc. and a needle to inject a prisoner then a noose. Just my two cents worth.

 

I'm in the process of building a non-working gallow for this years party. But it will not be displayed on halloween night for the little ones to see. I have a car port that I cover with black plastic and turn my drive way into a witches den and that's where the gallow and my stock will be displayed for the adults. This is all hidden from the street. Come halloween night the gallow will be put up, the plastic will be turned around so that the kidos can see the witches den. So I'd agree with everyone in that it's a great party prop for adults but probably not for the kidos.

 

O.M.G!!! My neighbors would FREAK!!!

I had a pirate skeleton hanging off a yardarm last year and they called the police and claimed my DH is a racist. IMAGINE the problems a working gallows could cause.

 

I had a hanging kicking guy the last two years and not one person was upset. The TOTs would ask if it was real and I would tell them I made it and they would be amazed and facinated. I got nothing but compliments and I live in an area of all races. I can't run it this year because my compressor is down. Now I do like the idea of taking the hood off and putting on a mask. I need to make a couple repairs adn will probably do that myself.

 

It would probably be more acceptable if I used a Caucasian victim, but I wanted to use the black hood with hands tied behind his back for more authenticity. However, done that way, one couldn't tell what race he is. I think I'll follow the majority and keep it inside. Thanks for the encouragement from the pro gallows group though.

 

Hi,

We run an indoor haunt in a large barn and every year are looking for additional ideas. When we are doing our walk through every year we say we should do something with the attic hatch. Yesterday the idea of using the hatch opening to drop a hangman came up. We have about 7 feet of height in the attic and what I was thinking was to make a pulley that would wind the rope up and when it reached the correct height would trip a release and let the body fall and then rewind it to start all over again. Does anyone have any experience or ideas on how to build this type of pully system. Any input would be greatly appreciated.

 

Bluesfan, this is an old thread from 2008, Most of these people aren't even on here anymore so chances are your not going to get a response. try starting your on thread.