All of Manny Duarte’s skeletons have fallen out of the closet … and onto his front yard in Middletown.
But he’s not ashamed of those bags of bones. They are actually LED lights on display in his yard along with other spooky-themed props such as “evil” pumpkins and a crazy clown that sings as good as Michael Jackson — no lie.
Duarte said there are a total of 17,537 lights in the Halloween display outside his home (103 Cazier Drive, Middletown), which will be on view for the public through Halloween.
This 56-year-old horror buff gained national attention last year when he introduced a Christmas display assembled in his yard. He estimated that show featured close to 24,000 lights.
Similar to his Christmas display (which he said will return around Thanksgiving time), his Halloween light show is synced to a soundtrack of popular songs, all controlled by software.
Middletown man has over 24,000 lights: It’s like a mini Firefly festival in his yard
On Halloween night only, Duarte said, he’ll bring out speakers for people to enjoy the music better. Meanwhile, folks within a few blocks of his house can listen to the tunes from the radio in their car by tuning into 97.7 FM.
We caught up with the holiday light king well ahead of Halloween to find out more about him and his creations.
Question: What’s one of your favorite horror films?
Answer: When I was little, I remember my older brother and sister were watching “The Exorcist.” I snuck downstairs and I was sitting behind the chair and they didn’t see me, so I watched it. That movie scared me for years [laughs]. It was horrible because I was really young when I watched it. I was 12.
Did you sleep by yourself that night?
No, I didn’t sleep alone. I couldn’t sleep alone. There was no way! I slept in my parents’ room.
How’d that work because you were too old to sleep in your parents’ room?
I went in there and just acted like I fell asleep. I stayed there the whole night. I wasn’t moving out of there [laughs].
What songs are in your Halloween light show?
Halloween types of songs. There’s “Bring Me to Life” from Evanescence. There’s “Thriller” by Michael Jackson. You know the song from the movie “It,” that’s called “You’ll Float Too?” There’s a band called Drowning Pool, and they sing the song [“Bodies,” which has the lyrics]: “Let the bodies hit the floor.” There’s Marilyn Manson’s “This is Halloween.” I have another song, but it’s not Halloween. It’s the song “Mony Mony” by Billy Idol. I wanted to do the theme from “Ghostbusters,” but I don’t have it ready.
Whether it’s Christmas or Halloween, how does it feel when people come to see your lights?
The thing I like the best, I’ll be honest with you, is when I look outside and I see people have pulled over and they get out of the car and they’re running up and down the sidewalk dancing, or they’re just enjoying it. That’s what makes me happy.
People were dancing to your light show last year?
I can’t tell how many times I would look out there and there are kids that are laughing, dancing and running. It was cool.
Andre Lamar is the features/lifestyle reporter. If you have an interesting story idea, email Andre Lamar at alamar@gannett.com.
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