When I was about six years old, my parents took my brother and I to Disney World for the first time. At such a young age, I experienced a magic and awe that has no comparison. Walking through the park, going on the rides was like being in an amazing movie. I even got to meet Mickey Mouse in his dressing room after a show. The picture I took with him hung on my bedroom wall until I was fifteen. While we went back when I was ten and since I was an adult, I never thought the magic I experienced that first time could be matched again. That is, until I got to visit Tom Savini’s house.

Walking through his front door, I felt that same wonder and awe I felt walking through Disney’s gates. Now, it might sound like I’m overreacting here, but if you’re a huge horror fan and a film fanatic, then Tom’s house kicks any Planet Hollywood’s ass; and trust me, I freaking love Planet Hollywood.

From the outside, Tom’s house is decently inconspicuous. Just another house on a road with dozens of other attached homes. Only if you look carefully, you’ll see the gargoyle on the roof and the Demon—that Tom made himself—on the gate. A quick glance at the picture window and you’ll see skulls and other creepy items, but not so over done that the house seems out of place. In fact, it just seems like some left over Halloween decorations. As you walk in the door, everything changes, and you’re transported into a world where film and family are the only things that matter. Inside the breezeway you are instantly greeted by a life-sized skeleton-demon type thing with red hair, next to a scary looking vampire. While it’s just a small area, there are still several movie posters in it, FROM DUSK TIL DAWN being one of them. Looking at this poster, then to the figures and finally to Tom, I was speechless. Here I was with Tom “Freaking” Savini, in his house, looking at his personal collection of items. I was almost hesitant to step into the living room. I wanted this magical feeling to last forever. Regardless, I crossed the threshold and my jaw dropped.

The old wood paneled living room was perfectly common as a television viewing area—like any house—though the decorations were drastically different than any living room I had ever been in. The first thing that drew my eye was a life-sized suit of armor in the corner, next to two giant wooden thrones (that I would later find out were the thrones in George Romero’s KNIGHT RIDERS, starring Tom and Ed Harris). The walls were adorned with various swords and gold-painted life masks of all the great Golden Era horror film stars, like Vincent Price. Next to the door was a giant pedestal of skulls with a giant demon sculpture on top of it. In the far corner was a massive King Kong sculpture, along with another regal chair and wall of leather books. Mixed in among all of these amazing pieces were family pictures of Tom, his parents, children, grandkids and more. While the room felt like this amazing museum of movie memorabilia, it also felt like a home, a home that was comfortable and livable.

The best part about this visit was Tom. He was more than eager to give me a tour and explain what all the items were. Some he would point out and explain what it was from, others I would ask and he would go into detail. The pure passion and enjoyment he got out of every piece was so refreshing. It really made my heart swell with joy to see a horror legend, who actually loved horror and movies. There are a lot of stars out there who respect and appreciate the genre, but just aren’t fans. I have been lucky to work with Kane, who is a fan, and now Tom, who is a super-fan, just like the rest of us who go to conventions. In fact, a lot of the pieces around the house he showed me were bought at conventions that he just thought looked cool. He even buys a ton of his students’ work. If he likes what they made, he offers to buy it. Could you imagine making something for fun, then not only having a legend like Tom like it, but want to buy it and even display it in his house?

As we walked through the kitchen into the game room, the smile on my face kept growing. The first things you are a full scale Darth Vader and T2 Terminator, complete with lit up eyes. The room was covered in a beautiful blood red paint, with dozens of posters, busts, life masks, weapons, portraits and skulls all around a pool table. I didn’t think things could get much better, but then Tom led the way out the back door into the courtyard between his house and his studio/gym. The well maintained yard was an elegant, quiet little piece of space filled with plenty of greenery, nice furniture and of course… more memorabilia. In a small garden were a few more life casts, including one from Bill Moseley that was done for his Chop Top character in THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE 2. The crowning piece in the yard though, was a life-sized Creature from the Black Lagoon. Looking around the yard I wondered to myself if my wife would ever let me turn our house into an amazing play land like this. While she lets me put whatever I want in my office, I doubt I could talk her into monsters throughout the house.

Opening the door to the back building, my mind started racing as to what more there could possibly be. Again, it was like being at Disney and being amazed that around every corner, there was something even more magical awaiting you. This time, we walked into his gym. It was well furnished with equipment and filled with posters of bodybuilders and other motivational figures like Steve Reeves. The real treat though was waiting on the other side… the workshop. When I followed Tom in, I kept my eyes on him.  He turned the light on, turned around and slightly put his arms out. He had a smile of pride and joy that spoke volumes about how much he enjoyed this space and everything in it. As I took my eyes off Tom, I almost fainted. The room was filled with hundreds of masks, from countless movies. I won’t bother listing them; you can look at the picture to get the feel. As I started to ask about each one, I was again thrilled to find out that most of them were just masks he loved, so he bought them. Yet, mixed in were real items from films he worked on. When my eyes set on the dummy from FRIDAY THE 13TH IV: THE FINAL CHAPTER, I almost fell over. It’s probably one of the most inventive kills in history, and there was the real thing, right in front of me. I have been in that room several times since that first visit and yet, it’s still an incredible experience where I find something new I didn’t see each time.

We went back into the house to finish the tour. Last to see was his bedroom and office. Now, I really don’t know how to explain—let’s just say it’s every horror fan’s perfect room. There are thousands of figures on shelves, tens of thousands of DVDs, more figures, rows of heads and masks, weapons galore, books everywhere, a whole row of zombie masks from DAY OF THE DEAD, posters, framed bugs and skeleton things, a gothic chair and desk, a beautiful stained glass window and just pure cool in every inch of the room. On my last visit, I just kept looking at everything, when I finally blurted out that he should turn his house into a museum when he dies. He laughed, as his daughter already suggested this idea. Amazingly, it really is so great that people would pay admission. Hell, I paid to go to Edgar Allan Poe’s house and there’s nothing in the damn thing, but a few pieces of furniture. In fact, I found out I’m not the only one to think this. When Alice Cooper is in town, he stops by, as do professional wrestlers and many other celebs.

But the best part of Tom’s house… was Tom himself, and just witnessing the pure passion he has for his craft and movies. I was already thrilled and proud to be working with Tom, but after seeing how he is just like us, I respect and appreciate him even more.

Part One - Sealing The Deal with the Godfather of Gore

Part Two - Meeting Mr. Savini

Michael Aloisi, known to most as AuthorMike, is the author of Kane Hodder’s official biography, Unmasked. After spending a year with Kane Hodder, the two developed an odd couple friendship. Kane being the fearless, troublemaking stunt man and Mike being a writer out of his element. Together the two had so many adventures, Mike wrote a book about it called, The Killer & I. In addition to his non-fiction, Mike is the author of two novels and two collections of short stories. Currently, Mike is working with Tom Savini on his official biography and just released his first collection of horror short stories called, TALES FROM A MORTICIAN, written under his pen name, Michael Gore. Fore more information on Mike, visit his website at Author Mike.

Bloody Blogs - Savini and Me