Clarksville and Jeffersonville fire units got knock-out calls at 6:08 this morning. Psychomania was in flames. No injuries were reported, but the haunt itself looks like a total loss.

I spoke with co-owner Matt Kemp for a few minutes this morning. He and some of his crew had been working late into the night on Monday but hadn’t noticed anything unusual. The Trans-Lux theater, later known as the “Old Greentree 4”, had stood vacant for years before Matt and his business partner, Phil Grainger, rescued it from the wrecking ball four years ago.

Matt, in his typical upbeat fashion, was … typically upbeat. Nevertheless, this is a hard loss and our thoughts are with them.

Fire destroys Clarksville theater – Courier Journal

Fire damages former movie theater – video – WDRB

Psychomania’s website

Category: Stuff   Tags: fire, psychomania

The dilapidated Trans Lux theater is tucked in beside the Green Tree Mall in Clarksville. I saw the original Willy Wonka movie there when I was a kid. Its glory days were well behind when it became the “Greentree 4” dollar-cinema, and then it closed for good some 10 years ago. Since then, it has fallen into serious disrepair and was slated for demolition.

That is, until Matt Kemp, Phil Grainger, and William McHugh of Fright Night Productions talked the owners into a lease and began a major renovation that would turn the once crumbling building into “Psychomania – Theater of Terror”.

That was nine months ago, and despite having to fix a leaky roof, screwy electrics, exploding plumbing, and even being harassed by real “live” ghosts, they just kept working. And now it looks like they’re going to pull it off.

On Saturday night, Psychomania – Theater of Terror opens its doors for their “Press Night Gala”. A couple of Spookyblue props will also debut, and I’m looking forward to seeing everything up and running.

Here are some behind-the-scenes pictures. I’m not giving anything away, and there’ll be more to post later. This is what you can accomplish if you work really hard and aren’t afraid of a dumb ol’ poltergeist stealing your hammer when you’re not looking.

Note: You have to be as old as Spooky Blue to refer to the old Greentree 4 Theater as the Trans Lux.

Category: Halloween   Tags: psychomania, theater of terror, trans lux