Category Archives: Halloween
Tea’s Weird Week: Count Krulos’ Vault of Horror
Tis the witching season, so I just wanted to share some recent Halloween treats I’ve cooked up if you’re looking for something eerie to read about under the moonlight:
–“From Whence the Witches Came” Milwaukee Magazine (Sept. 2025). I wrote this feature about Whitewater’s spiritualist college, the Morris Pratt Institute and some of the legends that have spun out of it.
–“Will Milwaukee Public Museum’s Ghost Move to a New Museum?” Milwaukee Magazine (Oct. 2025). This is a short piece that was part of MilMag’s “Hidden Milwaukee” cover story speculating on the museum’s resident ghost, Dr. Stephan de Borhegyi.
–“Milwaukee’s Scream Queen: Performer Katie Kadaver lives the Halloween life 365” Milwaukee Record (Oct. 2025). A fun profile on horror burlesque producer and performer, model, podcast host, B-movie actress, and one-time mud wrestler Katie Kadaver.
–I contributed two stories to the Riverwest Radio Ghost Walk project, “The Bremen Street Triangle” and “A Haunting at Cafe Corazon.” You can buy a booklet for $10 (the money supports Riverwest Radio), read the stories (fiction and non-fiction) and walk to different houses and businesses that have decorated to reflect the story. Really fun project! It goes through Halloween, more info: https://www.riverwestradio.com/
I was on the Ghost Walk Spooky Talk show to read an excerpt and talk about the stories, you can listen to that here: https://soundcloud.com/user-240416425/2025-10-26
–This one is from 2023, for Atlas Obscura: “From Elvira to Svengoolie, Local Horror Hosts’ Frightfully Fun History” it’s about horror hosts. Speaking of, be sure to check out I’m Your Host, a documentary on Kenosha horror hosts I produced and now available online (it even comes with a download of a sheet of horror host trading cards and the posters): https://artforanti-villains.vhx.tv/
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
Tea’s Weird Week: TWW podcast returns, I’M YOUR HOST is now available online for your Fall viewing pleasure
One project I’m proud of is I’m Your Host (2024), a documentary on Kenosha area horror hosts that I’m a producer on. Inspired by an article I wrote for Milwaukee Magazine, Alicia Krupsky directed, Christopher Kai House was a producer and Alicia and Stephen Vincent Anderson shot the footage, mostly on location in Kenosha. Local bands with some association with the horror scene filled the soundtrack.
The project began in 2021 and the following year we were awarded a Milwaukee Film Brico Forward Fund Award, which gave some budget for expenses and some free legal advice and other services. Sadly, the Brico Award no longer exists. There were some “work-in-progress” screenings in 2023 at the Milwaukee Twisted Dreams Film Festival and at UW-Parkside in Kenosha. The film officially premiered at the Milwaukee Film Festival in 2024 and went on to be screened at the Seoul International Short Films Festival, and was screened and won awards at Port of Fear Film Fest in Kenosha, New York Tri-State International Film Fest, and the Seoul International Short Films Festival.
Official blurb:
Vampires, witches, werewolves, and ghoulies – Kenosha has the highest population of horror hosts per capita, who produce their own homemade TV shows showing cult-followed horror films. This documentary explores their relationship as a community, their triumphs, and a tragic loss that bonds them together.
I’m glad to say that the film is now available to watch online. You can rent or buy I’m Your Host and bonus– it comes with a download of a sheet of horror host trading cards and the posters Alicia designed as a bonus: https://artforanti-villains.vhx.tv/
And all this is discussed on the newly rebooted Tea’s Weird Week podcast. Me and my co-host Heidi Erickson talk with Alicia about the project, plus weird news on radioactive shrimp, a barefoot LEGO running champ, Pazuzu, and more. Jenny Sanchez tells us about her trip to Wall Drug In our new “Long Days Travel” segment. It’s time to get weird! Audio engineering by FlatlineAudio138. Listen here: https://teasweirdweek.podbean.com/e/teas-weird-week-episode-001-im-your-host/
Please Clap Dept.: QWERTYFEST MKE is happening Oct. 3-5. We’re going to discuss it on next week’s TWW podcast. Meanwhile, see more here: www.qwertyfest.com
Tea’s Weird Week: Report: Krulos says October will be “Frickin’ Bananas”
Hey there, the TWW column (and podcast) has really fallen by the wayside this year. I’ve just been too golldang busy, I tell ya. Lots to do. And it’s only getting busier– since circa 2015 (the year my book Monster Hunters was published) October has been quite a busy month for me. It is, you see, to weirdos what June is to the wedding industry. Everyone want to tap into some creepy expertise and get a little spooo-kay.
This October is even busier than usual. Here’s what I got going on.
American Ghost Walks: I lead tours for AGW, they’re a good mix of Milwaukee history and ghost stories. Any time of year is a good time for a ghost tour, but there’s of course a big bump in interest in the autumnal season. I generally lead Third Ward tours Friday nights and Shadow of City Hall tours on Saturdays. AGW can help you book me for private tours, too. Check it out: www.americanghostwalks.com/wisconsin/milwaukee
Milwaukee Paranormal Conference: 8 years! MPC is happening this year with a Friday the 13th Fest pre-party at the Falcon Bowl on Oct.13, Saturday, Oct. 14th the conference returns to the Irish Cultural and Heritage Center and is FREE, Activities Day is Sunday, Oct. 15 at various locations. See schedule and get tickets here: milwaukeeparacon.com
I’m Your Host Work-in-Progress Premiere: Alicia Krupsky has done such a great job putting together this documentary on horror hosts from the Kenosha area. I’m a producer and this was inspired by an article I wrote for Milwaukee Magazine. I saw an almost final cut and it hit the right notes. I laughed out loud, got a little teary eyed and just enjoyed seeing the story unfold. A work-in-progress premiere takes place Friday Oct. 20th at the Twisted Dreams Film Festival at Times Cinema, 9pm, free after party at Bay View Bowl. Tickets and more info on Twisted Dreams: www.twisteddreamsff.com
What happens with I’m Your Host after that? We have a Kenosha screening on Saturday, Nov. 11 at UW-Parkside Student Center Cinema and are going to continue to submit it to film festivals.
October Reading Material I’ve Written Just for You
Monster Hunters (2015, Chicago Review Press). This book is about my adventure hanging out with paranormal investigators around the country.
Wisconsin Legends & Lore (2020, History Press). Collects tall tales, folklore, urban legends, etc. from around the state. It sells well this time of year.
Chicago Mothman (2023, Tea Set Press). An e-book that looks into the cases and investigators surrounding the “Chicago Mothman” sightings.
Don’t got a few bucks to support your poor old pal Krulos? I get it. Many TWW columns are creepy, kooky, all together ooky (and free to read), here’s just a couple that strike the right October mood:
TWW: I Love Those Old Monster Movies
TWW: The Ghost Hunter’s Daughter
TWW: Paranormal Real Estate Mogul
Have a Happy October and Stay Spooky, my Friends!
Wisconsin Horror Host Documentary “I’m Your Host” Work-in-Progress Premiere in Milwaukee October 20, Kenosha screening November 11
“Horror hosts” are people who dress up as a creepy kooky character of their own invention and create a show (network, cable access, or Internet) where they introduce and screen old B-horror movies. Some famous examples are Vampira, Elvira, and Svengoolie.
As cable access and the internet made creating horror host shows more accessible, shows shot in homemade sets in basements and spare rooms proliferated across the country.
I’m Your Host was inspired after Milwaukee journalist Tea Krulos began to notice an unusually high concentration of horror host shows in Kenosha, Wisconsin, including Dr. Destruction’s Crimson Theater (on air for over 20 years), his former collaborator Deadgar Winter’s Deadgar’s Dark Coffin Classics, Deadgar’s former co-hosts new show Hexen Arcane, and Nightmare Cinema starring Uncle Wolfman. Krulos wrote about this scene for the October 2021 issue of Milwaukee Magazine.
I’m Your Host follows the laughter and spooky fun as well as the difficult human moments of this unique group of people.
I’m Your Host is directed by Milwaukee artist and filmmaker Alicia Krupsky (BFA). Tea Krulos and Christopher Kai House are producers. The documentary has a work-in-progress premiere at the Twisted Dreams Film Festival on Friday, October 20 at 8:30pm at Times Cinema (5906 W. Vliet St.). Tickets: https://omniwebticketing6.com/theatre2/?schdate=2023-10-20
A free, horror host themed after party will take place at Bay View Bowl (2416 S. Kinnickinnic Ave.) The party starts at 11pm on October 20.
A Kenosha screening at the UW-Parkside Student Center Cinema (930 Wood Rd, Kenosha) takes place Saturday, November 11 at 7:30pm. Tickets are just $5 and available here: https://milwaukeekrampusnacht.ticketbud.com/i-m-your-host-kenosha-screening
Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/4386935464864864/
Here’s the trailer:
Contact:
Alicia Krupsky: aliciakrupskaya@gmail.com
Tea Krulos: teakrulos@gmail.com
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Tea’s Weird Week: Our Horror Host Doc, “I’m Your Host,” Won a Brico Forward Fund Award!
I’ve been wanting to keep up with Tea’s Weird Week as a weekly column (as the name implies) but it’s been a real busy time for me. The Milwaukee Paranormal Conference happened. I’ve been running that thing since 2015. I think it went fine. I’m a little burnt out on everything, but it went fine. I hosted a panel with my colleagues Matthew Prigge, Anna Lardinois, and Gavin Schmitt. All three are authors and Matthew and Anna are also Milwaukee Magazine contributors. There were a lot of other great talks and I had a lot of fun on our Sunday Activity Day.
Up next: Milwaukee Krampusnacht. We’re pushing for our biggest year yet so please head over to milwaukeekrampusnacht.com to check out the schedule, ticket info, and you can be a Krampus– put together a costume and register on our site!
Here is a BIG FREAKING DEAL though– a documentary project I’m producer on, I’m Your Host, won a Brico Forward Fund Award by Milwaukee Film!
I’m Your Host is somewhat based on an article I wrote for the October 2021 issue of Milwaukee Magazine. It’s title in print was “Terror on the Tube.” It’s about Kenosha, Wisconsin’s unusually high number of “horror hosts,” people who have their own shows where they introduce old, usually public domain, or independent horror films. You know, like Vampira, Elvira, Svengoolie, etc.
Kenosha has four of these shows– Dr. Destruction’s Crimson Theater, Hexen Arcane, Nightmare Cinema, and Storm’s Eclectic Realm (which features some of the cast of Deadgar’s Dark Coffin Classics. Curtis aka Deadgar Winter passed away shortly after we interviewed him for this doc last year. I wrote about his death for MilMag’s website here: www.milwaukeemag.com/beloved-horror-host-deadgar-winter-has-died)
As I was wrapping the article up, I put together a crew for a documentary that includes our director, the talented Alicia Krupsky, as well as Christopher House, director of the Twisted Dreams Film Fest as a producer. We hired local filmographer Stephen Vincent Anderson for some of the shoots, and Heather House and others have helped, too. The soundtrack features local bands Ratbatspider, Imperial Fall, and The Almas.
It’s been a roller coaster! We have shared in our subject matter’s heartbreak over the death of Curtis (Stephen and Alicia helped with his memorial show, I wrote his obituary) but were also able to share the success of Dr. Destruction being inducted in the Worldwide Television and Radio Horror Host Hall of Fame (we helped plan his party).
We applied for the Brico award and Tuesday was the big day. Me and Alicia showed up for Milwaukee Film’s event to announce the award recipients. There were a good number of people there and I did feel intimidated. Shortly before the announcements started I told Alicia, “ya know, if we don’t win it, at least we tried. A lot of people don’t even make it this far.”
They began, introduced the award jury, and then started talking about the first award winner. Me and Alicia looked at each other. They were talking about us! It was quite a great moment in my life. I’ve had some wins and some failures, but this was a big win. The award is going to provide us with some funding as well as some free access to professional services that will really help make our doc the best it can be. We’re all very excited to get it finished and share this story by getting it out to both traditional and horror film fests.
A big THANK YOU to everyone who has been supportive of this project, especially the horror hosts themselves.
Here’s our first trailer, which was part of our award application.
I’m Your Host – Trailer from Alicia Krupskaya on Vimeo.
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My latest books are:
Brady Street Pharmacy: Stories and Sketches (2021, Vegetarian Alcoholic Press)
American Madness: The Story of the Phantom Patriot and How Conspiracy Theories Hijacked American Consciousness (2020, Feral House)
Tea’s Weird Week: Live from the Midwest Haunters Convention
Last weekend (June 26-27) the Tea’s Weird Week crew (Me, Andrew, and Heidi) tabled with the Milwaukee Paranormal Conference and American Ghost Walks at the Midwest Haunters Convention. I was glad to be there to promote the events, but I was also excited to be there to take a look at the world of “Haunters” which is a term for people in the professional haunted entertainment industry or amateurs who just enjoy decorating and appreciating Halloween and the haunting season 365 days a year. It was a fun experience– Haunters are creative, artistic, and like to have spooky fun. I had some interesting conversations and saw a lot of great costumes and props. Since this was such a visual experience, I’m just going to share a bunch of pictures I took for this column.
If you scroll through to the end, you’ll find a link to this week’s Tea’s Weird Week column which features interviews and clips me, Andrew, and Heidi captured live on the conference floor, plus an eerie trivia question by Miss Information and the perfect track for this event “Halloween 365” by Ratbatspider.
Paranormal Real Estate Mogul: I like to add a little reoccurring project to the tail end of this column sometimes, so I’m glad to announce this new section. “Paranormal Real Estate Mogul” will share listings I come across that are either haunted, cursed, or have some paranormal tie. We’ll start with this listing:
Property: Village of Lawers
Location: Perthshire, Scotland
Listed at: £125,000 ($175,000US) Realtor: Goldcrest Land and Property Group
Notes: Lots to like with this listing– own your own haunted village! Well, the “village” is just 3.31 acres of the 17th century ruins of Lawers, a village of just 17 people that dropped down to 7 by 1891 and was completely abandoned by 1926. Bonus– it does have it’s own beach on the shores of Loch Tay and huge bonus– it does have a ghost, the “Lady of Lawers” a former resident of the village that had “known for her eerie prophecies.”
Tea’s Weird Week, season 2 episode 7: Live from the Midwest Haunters Convention:
Tea, Heidi, and sound engineer Android138 check out the Midwest Haunters Convention, an event geared towards “Haunters,” or people who work in or are fans of the haunted attraction industry, or simply love decorating for Halloween or keeping it spooky year round. The TWW crew did some floor interviews with vendors and other event participants.
In the news segment, Tea and Heidi talk about a “Redneck Rave” (what could go wrong?), Moorish Sovereign Citizens, Heidi has a new mission for the Satanic Temple (read: #FreeBritney), that new UFO report, and more. Plus an eerie trivia question from Miss Information and we close out with the perfect track for this episode, “Halloween 365” by Ratbatspider. Happy hauntings!
Listen here: Tea’s Weird Week, S2 ep07: Live from the Midwest Haunters Convention (podbean.com)
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Check out my latest books:
American Madness: The Story of the Phantom Patriot and How Conspiracy Theories Hijacked American Consciousness (2020, Feral House)
Apocalypse Any Day Now: Deep Underground with America’s Doomsday Preppers (2019, Chicago Review Press)
Wisconsin Legends & Lore (2020, History Press)
Tea’s Weird Week: Happy (Virtual) Halloween!
This has been a busy week for me (as you can see by this week’s “Please Clap Dept.”) with writing, podcast interviews, ghost tours, etc. October is always the busiest month for me and especially the last week of the month, so I’m mostly just sharing Halloweeny links in this column.
First off, here’s a column I wrote last October, “October is Mad Ghost Boo Biz,” and last week’s column, “I Love Those Old Monster Movies,” both good reading on my eerie life.
Halloween, like everything else, is pretty much cancelled this year– it sucks, I know. I’m going to celebrate by watching some of those old monster movies, hopefully going for a walk in Forest Home Cemetery, leading ghost tours for American Ghost Walks, and I made a play list of creepy cool music– 101 songs (plus a reading of Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Masque of Red Death” by Basil Rathbone!) That’s 6 and a half hours worth of music for your stay-at-home Halloween party. I tried to get a good mix of classics, obscure, and a few bands I am friends or acquainted with. You can listen on Spotify here:
“Tea’s Weird Week: 101 Songs of Halloween Party”
Have a Happy Halloween, and of course VOTE. This election is not just about the McDonald Trump, but the local elections. Check your ballots– is someone who is a QAnon supporter on it? What about someone from the III%er militia or one of the Proud Boys or someone dangerous and terrible like Laura Loomer? There’s a lot of extremist candidates on ballots this year– vote the bastards out!
Please Clap Dept.: Busy week, I had a lot of great media opportunities:
* I was on the CripesCast, with the very funny Charlie Berens (Manitowoc Minute): https://cripescast.podbean.com/e/episode-19-tea-krulos
* I joined the guys on Lumpen Radio’s Eye 94 book show, includes some American Madness excerpts read by Shanna Van Volt, giving it a nice conspiracy jazz lounge tone: https://www.mixcloud.com/lumpenradio/eye-94-10-29-2020-tea-kroulos-conspiracies-and-qanon/
* I was part of a written roundtable discussion on misinformation for LitHub with authors Renata Salecl and Jonathan Berman. You can read it here: https://lithub.com/the-misinformation-superhighway-a-roundtable-on-the-rise-of-the-great-american-conspiracy/
* Last, I’ve never been on a baseball podcast before, but was glad to talk to Hall of Very Good to talk about the Pfister Hotel, where many MLB players have been haunted by ghosts: https://hallofverygood.libsyn.com/episode-255-tea-krulos
Buy my books American Madness: The Story of the Phantom Patriot and How Conspiracy Theories Hijacked American Consciousness and a special Halloween treat, Wisconsin Legends & Lore.
teakrulos.com 