Plan 9 from Outer Space hits Salem on Saturday

The final film in Count Orlok's Nightmare Gallery's 2010 film series is coming this weekend. Check out Plan 9 from Outer Space on Saturday, May 22. Bela Lugosi! Tor Johnson! Vampira! What a night...

Admission ($8.00) includes the movie and a tour of Count Orlok's Nightmare Gallery, a fantastic museum of horror cinema.

Count Orlok's Film Series

Count Orlok's film series continues this Saturday, May 8 at 8:00 PM when they show the George Romero classic Night of the Living Dead. Admission for the movie and a tour of the museum (Salem's only monster museum!) is $8.00.

If you haven't been to Count Orlok's Nightmare Gallery yet, now is the time. It's a must for cinema buffs and horror fans. The figures on display are incredible, and the museum gives you an excellent history of horror cinema, from Nosferatu to Jack Torrance ("I'm Baaaaack!"). Check it out. I'm not sure I can call the collection of scary characters "gems," but if I could, Count Orlok's would be a hidden gem in Salem.

The Witches Cottage & Count Orlok's Nightmare Gallery Garner 5 Stars on TripAdvisor

Out of 38 listed “Things to Do” in Salem on the website TripAdvisor.com, only two have received solid 5 star reviews from every tourist who has reviewed them – Count Orlok’s Nightmare Gallery (17 reviews – all 5 star) and the Witches Cottage at the Griffen Theatre (11 reviews – all 5 star). The two lesser-known attractions are hoping that the website reviews will give some much needed positive recognition to the commitment of quality they have invested in their attractions.

Visitors to Count Orlok’s Nightmare Gallery have commented on TripAdvisor:

• “New Englands finest collection of 20^th Century Monsters."
  
• “By far the best attraction we have gone to in Salem!”
  
• “The Must-See of Salem, Ma.”

In addition, not only does the Nightmare Gallery have the highest reviews, it is also currently ranked Salem’s #1 attraction on TripAdvisor's popularity index.

This is definitely welcome recognition for owner James Lurgio (otherwise known as Count Orlok) who has invested an entire lifetime to the love of horror movie monsters and put it into his museum. Actors, directors and special effects wizards of the past and present are all honored at his attraction with nearly fifty life-sized, realistic recreations of the horror genre’s most memorable characters – starting with legends such as Boris Karloff, Vincent Price and Alfred Hitchcock and ending with a zombie quiz that challenges even the most die-hard (pun intended) horror film fans.

Count Orlok’s Nightmare Gallery opened in Sept. of 2007, and they reinvest all money from admissions back into the museum. Six new monsters joined the museum last winter, and James continues to add and improve the Gallery regularly. The website at www.nightmaregallery.com links to a myspace site full of pictures, articles and blogs about the museum.

The Witches Cottage at the Griffen Theatre is a completely different type of tourist attraction but with a similar story. After opening in 2007, local Salem resident and owner Erik Rodenhiser has continued to upgrade his live shows with new fact filled dramatic tales and stunning special effects.

Comments on TripAdvisor rave that the Witches Cottage is:

• “Wonderful!”
  
• ”Entertaining and Informative.”
  

The Witches Cottage features a live entertaining show packed with educational and eerie stories of Salem’s witches, ghosts, myths and legends followed by a question and answer session. The website address with more info is www.witchescottageofsalem.org

The Witches Cottage was created to be educational but exciting, fun, and interactive. The live interactive show is packed full of suspense and excitement, and it provides a lasting impression and experience that stays with you long after you’ve left Salem. View a video preview of the show at The Witches Cottage here.

The Witches Cottage and Count Orloks’ Nightmare Gallery are now offering $2 off general admission on the Destination Salem website at Salem.org. Both attractions also offer special group prices and discounts. Call to enquire directly about Nightmare Gallery at (978) 740-0500 or the Witches Cottage at (978) 317 – 1169.