Alas, this is the last. Or at least probably the last episode of I Have Seen Niagara. Our 3 year run ends with this one from 2053, the story of Kopex Repurposing Plant.
Hey, we're just getting busy with other stuff, and you gotta know when a project has run its course. There might be one last sound/text collage cap off, but maybe not!
Anyway, thanks for listening. And if you want more things Niagara, one of the things I've been busy with is my new book about Niagara Falls called, fittingly, "Niagara Falls, NY." You can order it on amazon or from the publisher at Pig Roast Publishing.
Signing off,
Ric and Lucas
In our second story about famous blizzards of Niagara Falls, an idiot gets a chance at a new life, but it might cost him his own. If you like self-help tapes, snow worship, and deformed man-babies, this creepy cringer is for you.
Written by Ric Royer
Sounds by G Lucas Crane
Voices: Ric Royer, Admiral Grey, Julia Mounsey, Zach Keebaugh, Jeff Benjamin.
Welcome to a new season. In the next batch of episodes, we bring you stories about notable blizzards from Niagara Falls. Every snowstorm in Niagara seems to bring with it a mysterious energy, covering Niagara in a blanket of weird. In our first episode, we go back to the Blizzard of '95, where some young slackers hanging out in an adult video store find a VHS tape advertising "The Most Shocking Footage Ever," and boy does it deliver.
Written and narrated by Ric Royer
Sounds by G Lucas Crane and L.A. Fontaine
Additional vocals by Sarah Reiter and Zack Keebaugh
A juicy tidbit to satisfy the meaty cravings of our listeners as we work up a new season of episodes. This one is called THE LENG! The legend of the woman with a face larger than her own head!
Written by Ric Royer
The Leng played by Sarah Reiter
Additional vocals by Angela Moore and G Lucas Crane
Sounds by G Lucas Crane
A recap and capping of our story of the poisoned neighborhood of Love Canal. Now held captive in the Niagara Falls Crazy Asylum, the Lord of the Mushroom house delivers prophecies for clandestine government agencies. They believe all of his predictions, except for the one he was sent back in time to deliver.
The stubborn, sole inhabitant of Love Canal, who dismissed the reports of toxic waste in the neighborhood as "baloney," becomes a sudden believer when a toxic life form takes him hostage in his home and proposes marriage. In his attempt to escape, he gets sucked into a time warp pipe and sent back twenty years. He finds himself in the flourishing new neighborhood of Love Canal, and now he's gone from the only disbeliever, to the only one who knows its toxic fate.
Written by E.C. Norwood
Narrated by Ric Royer, G Lucas Crane and Angela Moore.
Sound by G Lucas Crane
The new season of IHSN takes a deep dive into Love Canal, the neighborhood in Niagara Falls that was built upon the burial grounds of 21,000 tons of toxic waste. Love Canal became the site of the country's biggest environmental disaster and led to the first Superfund.
After the chemical remains infiltrated the homes, playgrounds and school, the neighborhood was evacuated... except for one resident, who refused to leave. The House in Love Canal is a three-part story about this mysterious figure, and his home, which in the local lore bore the name, "The Mushroom House."
Story and narration by Ric Royer
Sounds by G Lucas Crane and L.A. Fontaine
Additional voices by Jeff Benjamin, Lois Gibbs and Zach Keebaugh
Our next season begins in just a couple weeks. This time, it will be one story broken into 5 episodes, called MOUNT CECOS
For humans, the oldest and strongest sport is fear, and the oldest and strongest fear is Sports of the Unknown. That is, the sports that you don’t know you are playing. Ancient practices. Like lying, and epic fantasy, grifting and childlike wonderment. The queasy realization that you have been playing a sport unwittingly this whole time unites us across time. The most ancient sport of all, the one you don’t know you are playing. Smelling salts were invented in the 13th century. You thought you were rescuing your family from a burning building, but it was actually just a bunch of sport for a whole other class of people, peering at you.
We go Beyond the Western Door again, opening and closing the rat king of doors at the end of 2022, we hear echos of the cockroach essay at the bottom of a soggy dungeon, of a cute grifter lost in a sea of molten diamonds, of the many middle places we can become trapped in, and the ways we can be with you, everywhere.
In our season finale, we take you on a Choose Your Own Adventure ride through graveyards, bowling alleys and underground lairs. But when this adventure becomes a matter of life or death, you don't get to choose. Join us for a little game of sacrifice called... HEARTBALL.
Subscribe to our Patreon for secret episodes and more: https://www.patreon.com/ihaveseenniagara
Written and narrated by Ric Royer
Soundtrack G Lucas Crane
Additional vocals: Tony Pepp.
Watch the season finale video by Zach Trebino on our youtube channel! https://youtu.be/Ez1PL_CDoO8
We return to Focazio's Lanes, a bowling alley in Niagara Falls famous for being the place where the hoagie was invented. We meet Deanna, the area's greatest bowler to ever have her fingers ripped off by a sinister bowling ball named Bocephus and then have her whole body turned into a spoon. As Knock Em Down Deanna always said, "What more you need to know, pal?"
Written by Zach Trebino
Deanna: Admiral Grey
Additional voices: Deanna Knapik, Tony Pepp, G Lucas Crane, Zach Trebino
Violin: Dee Yan Key
Sounds: G Lucas Crane
[Want more IHSN? Secret episodes and dark stealth codes when you sign up for our Patreon, https://www.patreon.com/ihaveseenniagara]
Sports in one culture may sometimes seem strange to those in a different culture. But to those in Niagara Falls, there is nothing weird at all about The Upstate Mechs, a cosplay Fight Club for children that takes place in the woods surrounding St Joseph's Cemetery. It provides much mirth and merriment, and also anachronistic violence and chaos once the ancient Orange Cloud opens up time portal mind swap. You know, sports!
Written by G Lucas Crane.
Soundtrack by G Lucas Crane.
Want more IHSN? Secret episodes and totems: https://www.patreon.com/ihaveseenniagara
Sports reporter Brad Van Boxmeer, who is filling in for Bob Von Hayes (deceased), interviews Niagara Falls boxing legend Tony "Pepperoni" Pepp, in pursuit of the truth behind GRAVEYARD BOXING. Is it just an urban legend, or was it real? Does anybody care? Is Van Boxmeer just wasting our time and should he just go straight to hell? He's a crap reporter, a loser. Just sayin.
Written by Devon Fick.
Vocals: Zach Trebino, Tony Pepp.
Welcome to a new season of IHSN. Sports are so integral to everyday life in Niagara Falls, and in Western NY in general, that it can sometimes get a little creepy. In the next 6 episodes, we explore the weird world of sports in the Niagara region. There will be touchdowns, knockouts, wins, losses and a lot of murder and chaos.
There is one question that many in the area ask, but can't let themselves thoroughly explore, at risk of spiraling into an existential dilemma: What would happen if the Bills won the super bowl?
That question gets answered in our first episode, when a lonely truck driver stops off in Niagara Falls for a bite to eat at a tavern on Super Bowl Sunday, the night when the local Buffalo Bills win it all. As the Buffalo Sports Cosmic Curse is lifted, our truck driver is entangled in a strange and terrifying ritual.
Voices: L.A. Fontaine (trucker), Miriam Atkin (bartender), Zach Keebaugh, Matthew Thurber, Joseph Keckler, Zach Trebino.
Written by E.C. Norwood
Soundtrack by Bruce Allen
Last month, the I Have Seen Niagara team lost a good friend, and important member of the show, with the passing of David Crandall.
David's unmistakable noir baritone was featured in several episodes, most notably as the recurring character, The Sergeant. He was also a skilled audio engineer, and someone we could also go to for ideas and advice.
In this special episode, The Ice Bridge, we use some of our remaining bits from recording sessions with David, and retire his character by weaving him into the fabric of Niagara Falls.
We'll be taking the rest of the summer off to regroup, but in the meantime, here are a few of our favorite episodes feature David Crandall, enjoy:
"Dear Diary, I Kill Daredevils"
"Birthmark of the Beast"
"A Chimp Named Mark Twain"
"The Massive Entering"
The Ice Bridge was written and narrated by Ric Royer. Soundtrack by G Lucas Crane. Additional vocals by Crane and David Crandall.
Have you ever wondered why anytime anyone needs to escape the many civic predators here in Niagara Falls, the first place they run is the forest? Well, running into the woods is part of a grand tradition in times of need here, and rightly so. For the woods surrounding the falls are full of helpful animals who can talk, and who love to provide advice, tidbits, and hints to whatever ails you. There is candy hidden in their feathers and an otter can always be counted upon to sharpen a pencil. If you even need a band-aid, they got you covered. But beware, animal advice is not always made for humans, and the music the animals play may not be fit for human ears. This time, Beyond the Western Door, we will try to hear their call.
Voices:
Miriam Atkins
Angela Moore
Jason Conklin
Clemence Freschard
Stanley Brinks
Robert Norman
Joseph Ahearn
Kengo Ikeda-Iyeki
Simone Bonzon´e
Season finale! A great wooden spacecraft is being built. The ship is intended to fly the last few remaining daredevils away from Niagara Falls, and to a new planet of refuge (or at least as far as Detroit). But the ship has one last stunt to pull before leaving town, it will either be the greatest daredevil stunt of all time, a complete disaster... or both.
Written and narrated by Ric Royer, soundtrack by G Lucas Crane. Additional voices by David Crandall, Jasmine Knapik, Zach Trebino, Zach Keebaugh.
The daredevil body count is on the rise in the City of Niagara. The Sergeant of the Police Squad is playing a dangerous game of cat and mouse with the killer. Only, he is both the cat AND the mouse. How far will his mind let him go with delusions of heroism, when deep down he knows he's just a puppet for the twisted plans of the Mayor with the Unpronounceable Name? As he nears his breaking point, he turns to drinking and watching too much television. BUT WILL IT HELP??
Written by Zach Trebino. Voices: David Crandall (Sergeant), Admiral Grey (Ursula), Tony Pepperoni and Zach Trebino.
Soundtrack by Alice Kemp.
Anthony comes from a long line of daredevils, but he has always fought the thrill-seeking impulse in his blood. But his blood is getting louder, and more dramatic. Anthony finds himself in a battle against his own hemoglobin, beckoning him to dare against the devil. With the draconian Niagara Falls daredevil ban in place, Anthony must choose a life struggling against his calling, or a life hiding in the forest.
Story, narration and soundtrack by G Lucas Crane. Additional vocals by Angela Moore.
Legendary Niagara Falls daredevil The Nabisco Kid takes one last plunge down the mighty waterfall, this time without a barrel, head first, right into a boulder. His son must identify the body at the coroner's office, but without a map, and far from home, the Nabisco Kid's kid could be in for trouble, especially if he doesn't start dreaming!
Written by Devon Fick, soundtrack by Alice Kemp. Voices: Aaron Lowinger (Coroner), Deanna Knapik (mom), Ric Royer (son), Zach Keebaugh (The Classicist)