Hallowe’en 2008
This year’s theme was The Wizard of Oz. I hacked up a rear projection TV that I got off of Craigslist to be the Great and Powerful Oz. The original intent was to use the then working TV to present the image from a camera. Unfortunately, the moment I started tweaking the gain controls to get a bright and colorful image the high voltage supply popped!
No worries though as I was able to strip out the interior entirely and utilize a presentation projector I borrowed from work.
. . .
![](http://www.steampunkworkshop.com/wp-content/uploads/1-halloween-2008.jpg)
In addition to the projector I had a couple of brass lanterns mounted to the sides of the TV and a mic and amplifier connect to the speakers. I also fabricated some simple propane torches for the top with bit of old bed frame and black iron pipe. These were connected to a regulator and valve to allow me to make them flair up on command.
Shown here is just the test, I had two complete circuits, one high pressure and one low pressure.
![](http://www.steampunkworkshop.com/wp-content/uploads/2-halloween-2008-torch-build.jpg)
Fire and children don’t mix well so I put the whole rig up on my flatbed trailer to keep the flames well out of reach of, well, anything.
![](http://www.steampunkworkshop.com/wp-content/uploads/3-halloween-2008-stage.jpg)
And of course I needed a curtain to hide behind.
![](http://www.steampunkworkshop.com/wp-content/uploads/4-halloween-scarecrow.jpg)
The Scarecrow pointed the way and had a CD player and speakers inside playing If I Only Had a Brain on a loop.
![](http://www.steampunkworkshop.com/wp-content/uploads/5-halloween-2008-yellow-brick.jpg)
The yellow brick road was drawn on the driveway with chalk.
![](http://www.steampunkworkshop.com/wp-content/uploads/6-halloween-2008-view.jpg)
The full view with the Witch’s lair to the left.
![](http://www.steampunkworkshop.com/wp-content/uploads/7-halloween-2008-wiz1.jpg)
The Great and Powerful Jake.
![](http://www.steampunkworkshop.com/wp-content/uploads/8-halloween-2008-wiz2.jpg)
Everything is better with fire!
This was just a test video but I ran out of time and never re-shot it. I was far greater and more terrible for the kiddos!
![](http://www.steampunkworkshop.com/wp-content/uploads/9-halloween-2008-witchs-lair.jpg)
The Witch’s lair blocked our usual doorway to direct the kids to Oz and the curtain. It is a shame we did not have a Toto to pull the curtain back on que!