After seeing this and thinking what 2 yr old mingled other peoples ideas, folklore and a serial killer who got one over on the FBI etc into a rubbish story full of holes and stereotype notions... None would be my answer. Universal literally has no excuse for not using their existing horror characters from actual horrors in their arsenal and upping their game. Weirdly, all of this HHN seems like a comparatively cheap and lazy way to get everyone to part with their wedge.
Oddfellow is absolutely an Icon for HHN. His story was interwoven through every aspect of the event, providing an overarching narrative and a level of cohesion not seen in years. The *only* thing he wasn't featured in was advertising... and I firmly believe that without the double whammy of Stranger Things and The Last Of Us, he would have been. Icon, without any question.
Dr. Oddfellow is 100% an icon in my eyes, and I think it's a shame Universal didn't advertise him more! At least they made him a prominent figure in the event itself, giving him a house and tying him to all the scarezones.
The Dr. Oddfellow performers were amazing this year. those guys really channeled their inner Oddfellows to bring that creepy vibe. The Darkest Hour was also one of their houses that is totally worth checking out.
Yeah, I'd consider Dr. Oddfellow more of an icon than Fear. Great video, I remember wanting to go to this event for years but mom said I was too young. When I finally did, it launched me into my career and now hobby building haunted houses, special effects, and dark attractions. Follow your passions folks but also don't forget to find your passion too.
My favorite Icon...Usher.. just like you said because of something pretty cool the Usher did back during our HHN25 visit that made it so awesome. Can't wait for this year...3 days and counting!
So happy to have a new HHN video from you! Your videos are the definitive compendium on the history of HHN. Love the Dr Oddfellow storyline through the park this year. Very charismatic character. Jack will always be the best, but Oddfellow is up there with Fear.
@@Rainspector yes it is, precious. But after a couple of failed attempts, the California events do not utilize the Icons the way the Florida events do. Hope this helps. ❤️
I think it’s pretty obvious that a HHN icon is defined as an original character who is used in the marketing and theming of the event. By this definition, Chucky, the Crypt Keeper, and the Demogorgon are not, nor have ever been, icons because they come from preexisting franchises.
Ngl, I like how you incorporated the best songs from the park-wide soundtrack into the video. I was expecting some circus-ish rock music to be played while many others were expecting darkwave music to return- but I’m surprised in a good way that they went with dark trap music.
I sat at the morning cafe for hours waiting and watching for dr offellow while my wife and adult so were off doing the houses … they and i had a great time at hhn
it's amazing how a yearly theme park halloween event has it's own complex and intresting lore to it with characters that also have complex and intresting backstories with most of the original houses relating to said characters and expanding the lore like it's a shame universal never made a cinematic universe film series based on this.
Nice! I love that you put together the entire story so well! I love Dr. Oddfellow as an icon! My first HHN was year 26 and Chance was my first Icon. She has remained my favorite throughout and Dr Oddfellow feels a bit like Chance's year in that he is subtly woven through the event just like she was.
This years HHN was so great & scary! The houses I did were Stranger Things, The Exorcist Believer, The Last of Us, Dueling Dragons: Choose Thy Fate, & Bloodmoon Dark Offerings.
I loveeee the spooky haunts editions! This was soooo good, well done! Dr Oddfellow is just the best, i love the backstories and just how much Universal puts into HHN! Thanks for this Sam!!
Loved seeing you and Jackie on her channel SuperEnthused tour HHN 2023. Was great to see Jackie's cameo in this video. BTW very well done video Sam. Really enjoyed it!
By the sounds of it, if Dr. Oddfellow wasn’t an icon (in the sense that an ‘icon’ is the starring main face of each event) already then he 100% is now.
Ohhh I was so hoping you'd do any sort of video on this year's event! I love, love LOVE Oddfellow, and the event this year has been SO fantastic so far, I've gotten to go several times already with the frequent fear pass and it's been awesome so far. I 100% consider him an icon, and I think he is my favorite tbh.
I first went in 2021 when I had just moved to the Orlando area for college, my roommate and their family were going and had asked if I wanted to as well. I said sure, bought my ticket, drove us there (their car was being worked on lol) and had THE TIME OF MY LIFE. I had looked up your videos before we went and binged the entire playlist, for what it was at the time, and was immediately obsessed. I went back twice in 2022, once with my dad and once by myself, but it slightly lacked the feeling of that first time I went. We had also gotten rained on in 2021, and I got SOAKED, having to walk through the park barefoot at one point cause of how bad my shoes were rubbing, I literally had to buy an entire new outfit from how much I got rained on, but I wouldn't trade that experience for anything. The past icon house, the beetlejuice house, the texas chainsaw house (which I hated at the time, we had only gone through it because the queue was inside and out of the rain, but it's what inspired the franchise to become one of my favorite hyperfixations), the handful of rides they keep running, it was almost otherworldly to me. We even saw the cast changing out for the beetlejuice house, and I got noticed by the scareactor playing beetlejuice in the queue into the proper house, I was decked out in a full beetlejuice themed outfit since it's one of my favorite movies ever, my mask having his name on it 3 times. I was talking nonstop while we were at the event, sharing facts and interesting tidbits I had learned from your videos. Thanks to you, this event has well and truly become one of my top hyperfixations :] (I didn't get to go in 2023, and most likely won't get to go this year either, since I've moved back home from college😭)
Would love to see more Icon analysis videos like this one and the ones you've done on The Director, Fear, and Jack. These videos get me instantly in the Halloween spirit.
I've been waiting on your take on this. Your channel is most detailed on the history of HNN on yt and it's only cos of it that I have any frame of reference.
Loved this video! Would also love to see a review/overview of the event this year- even though I went myself, it's nice to see if other people agreed with my ratings
Love your HHN coverage Sam!!!! Was at the event Wed- Friday this week and was hoping to run into my favorite TH-cam couple! No such luck. Keep up the great work and stay enthused!!!🧟♂️🤡👻🎃🍟🍕🤘
So I always wondered this. How did Universal get the rights to use "Carnival of Carnage"? It was copyrighted by the Insane Clown Posse and Psychopathic Records going back to 1992. Makes me wonder what deal they made.
I just came across this channel, with this being the second video, the first the abandoned Flintstones theme parks! Finding this video I just the perfect & so close to the best time of the year!!!
Oddfellow is the event icon but Vecna was the marketing icon and I think that took some wind out of Oddfellow’s sails. It is great when the marketing builds up hype for an icon (remember when the Bloody Mary billboard on I-4 was deemed “too scary”) but Oddfellow didn’t get that.
Personally I’d say he’s an Icon now, he encapsulates this year’s event and is in promotion to a point and has a back story already forged etc. As far as Pumpkin Lord id say he’s a pseudo icon, the same level as Cindy or Eddie. But he doesn’t have any back story like the others do. I wouldn’t call just anything an icon though like Lil Boo because that’s a fan created character and because I really don’t want Universal to get lazy. I find the years I’ve been when there is an icon the year is superior to the years where it’s just IPs as the focal point. I’ve been to 19-32 and 19,20,21,25,26,30 just stick out because the icons and I’m sure 32 will as well
I’m genuinely curious what the creative minds at HHN came up with for twisted versions of the zodiac signs. Some of them lend themselves to monstrosities (e.g. Capricorn) but others (e.g. Libra) would be more challenging.
Good video. My fav is definitely Jack. And, if one can afford it (not cheap), I recommend taking the R.I.P Tour at least once. The tour guides give the story line of each house before going through.
By your definition as one who has never attended the event but due to proximity, had it's vocal evidence become part of October memories, I suppose then that the screams and howls that echo in the cold night air from up the road are the Icon.
I went to Horror Nights several years ago (against my will) and wasn't a big fan, but Dr. Oddfellow sounds interesting enough that I'd go back just to see him
At least the one in Orlando feels it has icons in Hollywood they are still catching up. As a tm for that park is getting weaker each year due to lawsuits from the past from crossing the line. That why I go to Knott’s when I can
Mine Is Jack, I was there on the wed. 21st and 27th the best house was monsters for me hunchback was great but it rainined all night so there was no scare actor out 😢 but can wait for next year
Take a sip every time stronger or powerful is said and you'd be dead halfway through the video. Honestly they should have made it so he's maintaining his power, not eternally gaining power imo.
Idea for a new video: shoot the rapids cedar point. For enthusiast the story of Intamin falling out of favor with American parks is well known, but as the manufacturer seems to have regained it's footing with well regarded attractions in Europe and Asia, it is conspicuous the Cedar Point actively avoided working with them on the Top Thrill Dragster revamp. I strongly believe that harrowing, thankfully not fatal incident may've be the culprit.
The is the first I’ve heard of this, not being much of a park goer and living in the US Midwest. The similarity between this character and the “shadow man” of Dr. Facilier (Princess/Frog) has similar 1920’s voodoo/hoodoo imagery mashup with fashion sensibilities of the time. You might be tickled about the origins of Theatre Bizarre, which looks a lot like this with Zombo the Clown except with a lot of both fake and real 🩸 and a lot of extreme displays of both horror and body-mod type suspensions and circus sideshow, along with mandatory costumes for everyone, and lots full of clandestine, homemade rides and attractions. It was not a well-kept secret and it was hella shut down about a decade ago, sent to the Detroit Masonic Temple for a SLIGHTLY more OSHA-friendly (😂) event.
Who is your favorite Halloween Horror Nights icon?
The Usher
The Director
Dr. Albert Caine aka The Caretaker
After seeing this and thinking what 2 yr old mingled other peoples ideas, folklore and a serial killer who got one over on the FBI etc into a rubbish story full of holes and stereotype notions... None would be my answer. Universal literally has no excuse for not using their existing horror characters from actual horrors in their arsenal and upping their game. Weirdly, all of this HHN seems like a comparatively cheap and lazy way to get everyone to part with their wedge.
Jack
Does anybody else wish these backstories and plot lines were a series of books? Cause Dr. Oddfellow sounds like his book would be an awesome read.
I agree I also would not mind some films as well or maybe a TV show with each episode concentrating one one icon
It could be something like American horror story or Goosebumps style.
Oddfellow is absolutely an Icon for HHN. His story was interwoven through every aspect of the event, providing an overarching narrative and a level of cohesion not seen in years.
The *only* thing he wasn't featured in was advertising... and I firmly believe that without the double whammy of Stranger Things and The Last Of Us, he would have been.
Icon, without any question.
Dr. Oddfellow is 100% an icon in my eyes, and I think it's a shame Universal didn't advertise him more! At least they made him a prominent figure in the event itself, giving him a house and tying him to all the scarezones.
They did do a complete podcast on odd fellow which was pretty cool
@@NotOldGreyWolf I loved that, but the average guest isn't going to see/hear it! They should have added him in the commercials or something!
I mean I do agree for like one billboard projection with him but most people were always gonna go because of IPs
The Dr. Oddfellow performers were amazing this year. those guys really channeled their inner Oddfellows to bring that creepy vibe. The Darkest Hour was also one of their houses that is totally worth checking out.
Yeah, I'd consider Dr. Oddfellow more of an icon than Fear. Great video, I remember wanting to go to this event for years but mom said I was too young. When I finally did, it launched me into my career and now hobby building haunted houses, special effects, and dark attractions. Follow your passions folks but also don't forget to find your passion too.
neat
that’s awesome!! so glad to hear things worked that way for you and u found ur passion through it all
If Fear is an HHN icon, Dr. Oddfellow 100% is as well.
I've never been to a single HHN event but it's videos like these that make me want to go even more!
Jack Schmitt probably freaked out upon seeing his wanted poster right outside the circus tent.
My favorite Icon...Usher.. just like you said because of something pretty cool the Usher did back during our HHN25 visit that made it so awesome. Can't wait for this year...3 days and counting!
For someone who has built and scared at many haunted houses. Being on the team that designs and builds houses is a dream job
The Director holds a special place in my heart because he was HHN Hollywood’s “icon” when I first started going in 2006. 🤩
So happy to have a new HHN video from you! Your videos are the definitive compendium on the history of HHN. Love the Dr Oddfellow storyline through the park this year. Very charismatic character. Jack will always be the best, but Oddfellow is up there with Fear.
Last week at a Hot Topic in California I came across a HHN hoodie featuring Jack and Chance. Never thought I’d see their merch on this coast!
HHN is also held in California
@@Rainspector yes it is, precious. But after a couple of failed attempts, the California events do not utilize the Icons the way the Florida events do. Hope this helps. ❤️
I think it’s pretty obvious that a HHN icon is defined as an original character who is used in the marketing and theming of the event. By this definition, Chucky, the Crypt Keeper, and the Demogorgon are not, nor have ever been, icons because they come from preexisting franchises.
Dang, Orlando really does show up Hollywood on every front. Have to say Knott's Scary Farm was my favorite event ever though.
Dr. Oddfellow is without a doubt an icon. I hope eventually they do proper lore stories for all of them because it would be so cool. I love the icons.
I really want that Dr Oddfellow theme as an MP3 😅
I've been to HHN too many times to count, but I never knew the history of this. I knew bits and pieces, but this brings it all together. Thanks!
Ngl, I like how you incorporated the best songs from the park-wide soundtrack into the video. I was expecting some circus-ish rock music to be played while many others were expecting darkwave music to return- but I’m surprised in a good way that they went with dark trap music.
I mean, they did also say he was an icon in a tweet. That being said, I do consider Pumpkin Lord an Icon and I wish he had an original kill.
I sat at the morning cafe for hours waiting and watching for dr offellow while my wife and adult so were off doing the houses … they and i had a great time at hhn
it's amazing how a yearly theme park halloween event has it's own complex and intresting lore to it with characters that also have complex and intresting backstories with most of the original houses relating to said characters and expanding the lore like it's a shame universal never made a cinematic universe film series based on this.
Nice! I love that you put together the entire story so well! I love Dr. Oddfellow as an icon!
My first HHN was year 26 and Chance was my first Icon. She has remained my favorite throughout and Dr Oddfellow feels a bit like Chance's year in that he is subtly woven through the event just like she was.
This years HHN was so great & scary! The houses I did were Stranger Things, The Exorcist Believer, The Last of Us, Dueling Dragons: Choose Thy Fate, & Bloodmoon Dark Offerings.
I loveeee the spooky haunts editions! This was soooo good, well done! Dr Oddfellow is just the best, i love the backstories and just how much Universal puts into HHN! Thanks for this Sam!!
Loved seeing you and Jackie on her channel SuperEnthused tour HHN 2023. Was great to see Jackie's cameo in this video.
BTW very well done video Sam. Really enjoyed it!
Have I ever been to Halloween Horror Nights? No
Am I extremely excited and dedicated to watching these videos every year? YES YES YES
I can't stand Halloween, or horror, but I do love lore. It's one of the reasons I hope to go to Alton Towers someday.
My wife and I are going to be Carl and Ellie from Disney's Up for Halloween.
I'll dress up as an old guy and she'll dress up as a tombstone.
This year was so awesome to be honest. I really liked Oddfellow and esp his house!!!
Hear hear! Across all the parks (internationally), there was some real clever planning this year. Oddfellow was great
I would argue he was before, and now this year has really cemented it. I LOVED his house this year in Orlando, it was awesome
Love that you mentioned Bill & Ted as icons, I agree with you... And miss them!
By the sounds of it, if Dr. Oddfellow wasn’t an icon (in the sense that an ‘icon’ is the starring main face of each event) already then he 100% is now.
Watching this along with your whole playlist on HHN history. Keep up the amazing work!!
Jack forever. Absolutely love him.
Ohhh I was so hoping you'd do any sort of video on this year's event! I love, love LOVE Oddfellow, and the event this year has been SO fantastic so far, I've gotten to go several times already with the frequent fear pass and it's been awesome so far. I 100% consider him an icon, and I think he is my favorite tbh.
I first went in 2021 when I had just moved to the Orlando area for college, my roommate and their family were going and had asked if I wanted to as well. I said sure, bought my ticket, drove us there (their car was being worked on lol) and had THE TIME OF MY LIFE. I had looked up your videos before we went and binged the entire playlist, for what it was at the time, and was immediately obsessed. I went back twice in 2022, once with my dad and once by myself, but it slightly lacked the feeling of that first time I went. We had also gotten rained on in 2021, and I got SOAKED, having to walk through the park barefoot at one point cause of how bad my shoes were rubbing, I literally had to buy an entire new outfit from how much I got rained on, but I wouldn't trade that experience for anything. The past icon house, the beetlejuice house, the texas chainsaw house (which I hated at the time, we had only gone through it because the queue was inside and out of the rain, but it's what inspired the franchise to become one of my favorite hyperfixations), the handful of rides they keep running, it was almost otherworldly to me. We even saw the cast changing out for the beetlejuice house, and I got noticed by the scareactor playing beetlejuice in the queue into the proper house, I was decked out in a full beetlejuice themed outfit since it's one of my favorite movies ever, my mask having his name on it 3 times. I was talking nonstop while we were at the event, sharing facts and interesting tidbits I had learned from your videos. Thanks to you, this event has well and truly become one of my top hyperfixations :] (I didn't get to go in 2023, and most likely won't get to go this year either, since I've moved back home from college😭)
This was my favorite Icon for sure
I’m not a HHN fan, but I love the stories!
Would love to see more Icon analysis videos like this one and the ones you've done on The Director, Fear, and Jack. These videos get me instantly in the Halloween spirit.
Been waiting another one of these but here it is 🔥
Enjoy!
@@ExpeditionThemePark I will!!!!
I’ve never been to HHN but I love the phrase “you don’t know Jack” 😂
Awesome video, and the first 2 minutes was great music/editing
the werewolf and the Mummy are my Icons
I've been waiting on your take on this. Your channel is most detailed on the history of HNN on yt and it's only cos of it that I have any frame of reference.
Loved this video! Would also love to see a review/overview of the event this year- even though I went myself, it's nice to see if other people agreed with my ratings
Love your HHN coverage Sam!!!! Was at the event Wed- Friday this week and was hoping to run into my favorite TH-cam couple! No such luck. Keep up the great work and stay enthused!!!🧟♂️🤡👻🎃🍟🍕🤘
So I always wondered this. How did Universal get the rights to use "Carnival of Carnage"? It was copyrighted by the Insane Clown Posse and Psychopathic Records going back to 1992. Makes me wonder what deal they made.
I just came across this channel, with this being the second video, the first the abandoned Flintstones theme parks! Finding this video I just the perfect & so close to the best time of the year!!!
I'm going this year with my husband I can't wait to visit
Oddfellow is the event icon but Vecna was the marketing icon and I think that took some wind out of Oddfellow’s sails. It is great when the marketing builds up hype for an icon (remember when the Bloody Mary billboard on I-4 was deemed “too scary”) but Oddfellow didn’t get that.
Loved this! 😍
One of my favorite "icons" was the Madame from Vanity Ball HHN 29
YESSS, Vanity Ball was the absolute best
I like the concept. I especially love the character. The event has just grown so dominated by third party IPs that any lore is diluted at this point.
The fact that you got his theme song is dope
Personally I’d say he’s an Icon now, he encapsulates this year’s event and is in promotion to a point and has a back story already forged etc.
As far as Pumpkin Lord id say he’s a pseudo icon, the same level as Cindy or Eddie. But he doesn’t have any back story like the others do.
I wouldn’t call just anything an icon though like Lil Boo because that’s a fan created character and because I really don’t want Universal to get lazy. I find the years I’ve been when there is an icon the year is superior to the years where it’s just IPs as the focal point. I’ve been to 19-32 and 19,20,21,25,26,30 just stick out because the icons and I’m sure 32 will as well
I’m genuinely curious what the creative minds at HHN came up with for twisted versions of the zodiac signs. Some of them lend themselves to monstrosities (e.g. Capricorn) but others (e.g. Libra) would be more challenging.
Oh man, you should totally do a video on Detroit’s Theatre Bizarre.
Good video. My fav is definitely Jack. And, if one can afford it (not cheap), I recommend taking the R.I.P Tour at least once. The tour guides give the story line of each house before going through.
Wow, I had no idea there was such a large back story.
By your definition as one who has never attended the event but due to proximity, had it's vocal evidence become part of October memories, I suppose then that the screams and howls that echo in the cold night air from up the road are the Icon.
I feel like this year proved that they really need to expand the event, perhaps into IOA. It's been so crowded.
Amazing video! Thanks for this :)
I wish they could make a jack vs odd-fellow house
At least they finally brought back an icon or icon adjacent figure.
I am way to invested into the hhn lore due to this channel
Hopefully we can see jack and oddfellow battle for HHN35
I would give so much money to see the Oddfellow Vamp 60 movie.
Little Boo for hhn2024 icon 🎃
more moRE mORE MORE!!! 😎🙆♂️this was a great video bud !!
I went to Horror Nights several years ago (against my will) and wasn't a big fan, but Dr. Oddfellow sounds interesting enough that I'd go back just to see him
Nicely done ! We do need Bill & Ted back at HHN.
At least the one in Orlando feels it has icons in Hollywood they are still catching up. As a tm for that park is getting weaker each year due to lawsuits from the past from crossing the line. That why I go to Knott’s when I can
Can you do Yosemite Sam And Gold River Adventure Six Flags Over Texas
@ExpeditionThemePark Make a video on Kings Island's Flight Commander. Great videos btw
Could you do a video on The Enchanted Forest in Running Springs, California?
🙌🏽 let’s gooooooo!! Niiceee
I would say a reimagined icon
Mine Is Jack, I was there on the wed. 21st and 27th the best house was monsters for me hunchback was great but it rainined all night so there was no scare actor out 😢 but can wait for next year
Can you please do a video on boblo island? I grew up near it but never got to go. It would make one of the best videos ever
I will
I'd love to see Jack vs Oddfellow in a battle for souls at a future HHN
Take a sip every time stronger or powerful is said and you'd be dead halfway through the video. Honestly they should have made it so he's maintaining his power, not eternally gaining power imo.
What happened to the 1970's? Discos power was too strong?
Idea for a new video: shoot the rapids cedar point. For enthusiast the story of Intamin falling out of favor with American parks is well known, but as the manufacturer seems to have regained it's footing with well regarded attractions in Europe and Asia, it is conspicuous the Cedar Point actively avoided working with them on the Top Thrill Dragster revamp. I strongly believe that harrowing, thankfully not fatal incident may've be the culprit.
Yay i love these videos! Keep up the great work!
Thank you! Will do!
Could you maybe do a expedition on Canadas wonderland
Did I spot a reference to The Funhouse with those opening credits? 👀
You do aha
My favorite icon is Batilda :)
Who says he can't be both?
Great video. But Oddfellow's story is so weird and convoluted. They made his story more than it really needed to be.
Been going since year 2( went to UCF..GO STARLET KNIGHTS❤)and yes..hè shouĺð nè
Morning ❤
Morning!
Can you make a paradise pier video please
Where is the doctors theme song found???
The is the first I’ve heard of this, not being much of a park goer and living in the US Midwest. The similarity between this character and the “shadow man” of Dr. Facilier (Princess/Frog) has similar 1920’s voodoo/hoodoo imagery mashup with fashion sensibilities of the time.
You might be tickled about the origins of Theatre Bizarre, which looks a lot like this with Zombo the Clown except with a lot of both fake and real 🩸 and a lot of extreme displays of both horror and body-mod type suspensions and circus sideshow, along with mandatory costumes for everyone, and lots full of clandestine, homemade rides and attractions. It was not a well-kept secret and it was hella shut down about a decade ago, sent to the Detroit Masonic Temple for a SLIGHTLY more OSHA-friendly (😂) event.
What is the music at 9:09 - 9:35 ? It sounds good.
I follow oddfellow
What’s the name of the theme song?
Expedition Universe of Energy please Sam
where did you find his theme song?
i paid to license it for the video.