Today we’d like to introduce you to James Lurgio.
Thanks for sharing your story with us James. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I opened Count Orlok’s Nightmare Gallery in September of 2007. It’s a monster museum, very much like a wax museum for Horror fans. I started collecting monsters in my teen years. That developed into a yearly haunted house we produced locally. It traveled with me when locations would open up around October. I had taken 3 seasons off when I was asked to produce a “Monster Museum” for something called “Hallowscream Park” in 2005 at the Boston Bayside Expo Center. I worked under their umbrella for two more years producing a very popular and expanding museum for their indoor haunted theme park. In 2007, I was introduced to my space by another business owner in Salem. We opened after the museum was built out, and have continued to add to the museum ever since. We’ve become a popular attraction in Salem because it was something that was completely different. Fans of the museum have always said to us that they love it because of the quality and that they can tell it was built and maintained by a horror fan. We have extra programs going in October including turning our museum into a Haunted House on some weekends and inviting Horror Celebrities for fans to meet! Count Orlok’s Nightmare Gallery remains one of the most unique and fun fan experiences in Salem.
Has it been a smooth road?
In ten years in business, the road hasn’t always been smooth. There are always going to be snags. The first was navigating the town with all the business regulations. Another that comes to mind were the neighboring attractions engaging in rather nefarious and unfriendly tactics like their “information booth” during October proposes to give information about everything in sight but they clearly don’t (which is fine) but they tell people routinely that we’re closed, even when we’re clearly open. Even when we have lines out the door and we’re a swarm of activity. I wish we had better and friendlier neighbors. That’s a snag but it hasn’t hurt us in any real way. Another issue we’ve dealt with forever is just getting people in the door. Our concept is a little unusual. Horror fans get it right away most of the time but for others who would really enjoy the museum, it remains a struggle to get them in the door. It’s not a haunted house for most of the year. We DON’T try and scare people for museum tours and people don’t really read signs… Like AT ALL. So, we’re always working on new and innovative ways to communicate what is INSIDE the museum to potential visitors on the outside. Not to load up on “business struggles”, but The Salem Visitors Center just stopped carrying any advertising materials that aren’t part of their Heritage trail, which is just a few properties. So up until April they were happily carrying over 300 or so different rack cards for businesses in Salem for visitors to peruse. That has stopped. This will no doubt negatively affect many businesses in Salem and leave countless visitors clueless, but some are actively working on a solution, or so I am told.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
I think I touched on this in some of the other areas. Like I said, we are a Monster Museum. Very much like a wax museum for Horror enthusiasts. We feature life-size creatures made by over 35 industry Special Effects Artists. They are lifelike and unique to Salem. I suppose I am most proud of the fact that we seem to get a LOT of repeat visitors here and for many, we are THE reason visitors come to Salem and THE REASON they return!
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
I’ve been lucky to feel very proud many times over the years. I am proudest if I can inspire the imaginations of young people to do something creative with their lives. We get kids here all the time who LOVE the museum and it sparks their imagination. That’s the way I felt when I first saw my first “monster museum” of sorts when I was a kid. I’ve had adults tell me that they’ve switched careers and gone into special effects or even changed up their Halloween game because they were inspired by the museum. That I’ve had a lasting and positive impact on people’s lives. That makes me very proud.
Getting to hang around and be friends with actors that played Iconic characters in Horror films over the years is pretty great too.
Pricing:
- Adults (13 and up) are $8.00
- Kids (ages 5-12) are $6.00
- Ages 5 and under are FREE.
Contact Info:
- Address: 285 Derby St.
Salem, MA 01970 - Website: www.nightmaregallery.com
- Phone: 978-740-0500
- Email: nightmareproductions@hotmail.com
- Instagram: countorloksnightmaregallery
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CountOrloksNightmareGallery/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/CountOrloks
- Yelp: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g60954-d1456967-Reviews-Count_Orlok_s_Nightmare_Gallery-Salem_Massachusetts.html
- Other: https://www.yelp.com/biz/count-orloks-nightmare-gallery-salem-2
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