Haunted Mansion of Long Branch: Employees

This section of our website is devoted to former employees of the Haunted Mansion at Long Branch. If you have any pictures or information about Haunted Mansion workers, past or present, please email us. We would love to include the information on our site.

The names of many of the employees in these pictures are unknown to us, so if you know someone's name in a picture, please email us. Also, if you notice a name misspelled, please send us a correction.

Sam Aaron (formally Sam Perlmutter) Nicknames: The Machine & Samwise	Sam worked at the following attractions: Six Flags Great Adventure, Haunted Castle, Jackson, NJ - Actor (79-80) Doorway to Hell Seaside Pier, NJ - Actor (80) The Haunted Mansion Long Branch, NJ - Actor (81-82), Gyro's World of Terror: San Fernando Valley, CA - Actor (97) Bob (& Dave's) Spooky House: San Fernando Valley, CA - DIRECTOR (98-99) Bob's Spooky House: San Fernando Valley, CA - Actor (02)
Vinnie J. Borelli	Vinnie worked at the mansion for a couple years in the early 80s. He can be seen in the middle of this group picture. Unfortunately, he passed away on April 20th, 2005. Below is his obituary from the April 22nd Asbury Park Press. VINCENT J. BORELLI, 53, of OCEAN TOWNSHIP, died Wednesday, April 20, at St. Barnabas Hospice & Palliative Care Center, Long Branch, after a courageous battle with cancer. Born in Hoboken, he lived in Long Branch before moving to Ocean Township 18 years ago. Mr. Borelli had a B.A. from Montclair State University and an M.A. from Hunter College of the City University of New York. He has a supervision certificate from Monmouth University. Mr. Borelli appeared in numerous theatrical productions. He was in his 33rd year of teaching in the Long Branch Public Schools as a speech and theater educator. His present role was Head Teacher for the Visual and Performing Arts. Mr. Borelli was voted "Best Director" at the Bucks County Playhouse 21 times. He coached his students to the following achievements; 27 district champions and 17 state champions in forensics and speech. His students also were named speech and forensic state team champions in 1984, 1990 and 1996. Mr. Borelli was the winner of the "Outstanding Teacher of Speech and Theatre Award" in 1998 by the Speech and Theatre Association of New Jersey, and earned the "Teacher of the Year" in 1988 and 2000 representing Long Branch High School and the Long Branch Public School's as "District Teacher of the Year." He was also the winner of the Speech and Theatre's "Distinguished Achievement Award" in 1990. The NAACP honored Mr. Borelli in 1993 with the "NAACP Freedom Award." The Long Branch High School Student Council voted him the "Educator of the Year" in 1989 and 1996. He and Mrs. Angela Mangione-Borelli were voted "Man and Woman of the Year" in 1998 by the Figli di Colombo Society, Long Branch for their service in education. He was voted the "Outstanding Teacher of the Speech Arts" by the New Jersey Forensic League in 1999. In May 2000, he won his fourth Governor's Award in Arts Education as the "Outstanding Educator of the Year" by the Very Special Arts Education of the Year in 2002. He was awarded the Monmouth County Arts Educator of the Year in 2003. Put all awards aside, his treasurers are his wife Angela and daughters Annamaria and Antonia.
Pat Cicalese	Pat was co-owner, and then owner, of the Long Branch Pier and Haunted Mansion. He still lives in the Long Branch area and works developing land.
Tony D. (a.k.a. Barragonis Wreap)	Tony was the mansion's "blacksmith" building axes and other assorted weapons from 86 to 87 (13 in all). He also sculpted some gargoyle and devil heads that were installed on the Hellmouth set only a week before the fire. Tony's day job is a licensed plumber for a school district in central N.J., but he still builds props for Zachary Malice and Co. (www.zmalice.com) and for the Chiller Theater Expo in East Rutherford N.J. twice a year.
Lil Grauman	Lil was the manager at the Haunted Mansion from 1979 until the end of the 1985 season. She still lives in the Long Branch area and was the Director of Operations for the Garden State Arts Center before it became the PNC Bank Arts Center She currently works for the New Jersey Turnpike and also works in the entertainment industry organizing and working on concerts.
James MacDonald	James was both an actor and technician at the Haunted Mansion. Unfortunately, he passed away in January of 2004 at the age of 40. Several former mansion workers attended his service at the Stone Pony, and former mansion manager Lil Grauman offered a eulogy.
Mark McAvoy	Mark was an actor at the haunted mansion during the 80's. Unfortunately, he passed away on February 24th at the age of 41. Below is his obituary that appeared in the local newspaper. MARK TIMOTHY MCAVOY, 41, of TINTON FALLS, passed away suddenly at his home on Thursday, Feb. 24. Mark was a 1981 graduate of Ocean Township High School, where he wrestled and played on the football team. He attended St. Leo's University and he graduated in 1985 with a business degree. Mark began his career in retail management, which led to his most recent position as vice president of sales and marketing at J&B Incorporated. Mark will always be remembered for his gift of laughter and his great smile. Born and raised in Arlington Heights, Ill., he lived in Wayside for 25 years before moving to Tinton Falls six years ago. Surviving are his loving parents, Joseph and Barbara Mayo McAvoy of Nokomis, Fla.; his dear brother, David of Wall, and a host of loving relatives and friends.
Mary (McMurray) Flaherty	Mary worked at the mansion as an actor from 1983 until 1986. She was known as Scary Mary or Mary Mc. She ended up becoming a drug/alcohol counselor for adolescents in Fairfax County, VA, where she met and married her husband Mike who is a Lt. Col. in the Air Force. They live in Hampton Roads and are moving to Shaw AFB in SC when Mike gets his squadron command.
Roj	Roj worked at the mansion as an actor, makeup artist, and security guard. He started at the mansion at the beginning of its second season and left at the end of the 1978 season. He donated a substantial inventory of professional costumes and props to the Mansion's wardrobe department which were still in daily use when he left.
Debbie (Wasson) Tantarelli	Debbie worked at the mansion from 1982 until the place burned down. She played the part of Lizzie Borden many times and even dated Larry Wolf for 7 years. She currently lives in Sacramento, California.
Kathleen Vollo (Kathy Karp)	Kathy, a.k.a. lil weasel, worked at the mansion from 1980 until 1982. She can be seen working the front door of the mansion in the horror movie documentary, "The Horror of it All." She now lives in Brick, NJ and works as a medical assistant.