Crew members of Roeback's Nightmare in Bridgeview. (Photos by Nuha Abdessalam)
Bridgeview firefighter’s haunted house returns to spook locals
Bridgeview firefighter Tony Roeback’s graveyard-themed haunted house display is back for locals and neighboring townies to enjoy this Halloween season.
The go-to haunted house at 7216 W. 72nd St. is back, featuring popular animatronics from Halloween movie classics, unique light fixtures, projection shows, and live performances to get neighbors into the Halloween spirit.
Ringleader Tony and his wife, Kaylyn Roeback, along with dedicated friends and family members, continue to run this community-driven production. The Roeback crew has brought back classic horror characters like Michael Myers from Halloween and Beetlejuice, while introducing new sinister foes, including a jester, a creepy clown named Zipper, and a loose asylum zombie called Whisper.
“I married into this,” said Kaylyn, a Halloween enthusiast who complements her husband perfectly. Tony has been carrying on the tradition of his father’s love for the spooky holiday since he was a kid and doesn’t plan on stopping anytime soon.
“Ever since I was younger, my dad always did a front yard walkthrough for Halloween,” Roeback said. “The town won’t let me stop; I get calls from all over.”
Roeback shared that the Halloween extravaganza takes months to prepare. “We started late this year, in July,” he said. “We’re out here setting up props and organizing cables and outlets.”
Zipper the Clown, performed by Dustin Reinhart, added, “We love Tony, and the community really gets into it; it’s why so many of us keep coming back.” Many crew members, including Roeback’s father-in-law, Rob Dabrosz, who reenacts Michael Myers, have returned to help bring the haunt to life.
The Roebacks draw inspiration and ideas from the Halloween conventions they attend each year. “In St. Louis, thousands attend,” Roeback said. “It’s the haunted house marketplace enterprise,” where they network, purchase new products for their display, and get fresh ideas.
Returning attendee Amber Burton and her son William came back for a second year to see the new attractions and character plotlines. Burton’s 8-year-old son especially enjoys when the cast interacts with and scares people in line. “It’s so funny being chased by them!” he said.
Folks will have plenty of opportunities to visit Roeback’s Nightmare on 72nd Street, with performances at 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Visit the Roeback’s Nightmare Facebook page for showtimes, dates, and updates.
Local News
Young runners shine at 9th annual Howl Through the Hills 5K
Runners of all ages took to the streets of Hickory Hills for the 9th Annual Howl Through the Hills 5K Run/Walk last weekend. The event, which began at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 26, started at Hickory Hills City Hall and unfolded on a beautiful, brisk fall day. Hickory Hills partnered with North Palos School…
‘Like a wound that doesn’t heal’
Family shares memories at hearings for accused killers Two defendants appeared at Bridgeview Courthouse last week, facing separate charges related to the May murder of Arturo Cantu Jr., who was shot to death outside his Bridgeview apartment by his girlfriend’s secret lover. Anthony Calderon, charged with first-degree murder, remains in custody after a judge on…
Bob Yonker Steps Down as Secretary of Summit Neighborhood Watch
After more than 15 years of dedicated service, Robert “Bob” Yonker has stepped down as secretary of Summit’s Neighborhood Watch program. During an Oct. 17 meeting, Neighborhood Watch President Tula Beene, Summit Police Chief Mel Ortiz, Summit Fire Chief Anthony Anderson, Trustee Aurora Rodriguez, and Public Relations Assistant Chris Crisanti honored Yonker with an award…
Will La Grange approve $13.86 million for park renovations? Voters to decide
If a recent poll is any indication, the Park District of La Grange stands a good chance of seeing a $13.86 million referendum win approval on Election Day Nov. 5. Voters will cast “yes” or “no” votes on the following ballot referendum: “Shall the Park District of LaGrange, Cook County, Illinois, improve and equip parks and…
Aguilar hosts Dia De Los Muertos Family Resource Fair
Cook County Commissioner Frank Aguilar held his fourth annual Dia De Los Muertos Family Resource Fair on Saturday, Oct. 26, at his district office on Ogden Avenue in Lyons. This vibrant event, which featured 30 vendors, aimed at increasing access to health and family services for the local community. Aguilar (D-16th) partnered with the Village…
Argo High School celebrates Fall Fest with community fun
Argo High School hosted its annual Hocus Pocus Fall Fest on Friday, Oct. 25, coinciding with the last home varsity football game for the Argo Argonauts. The event, held at the Argo Track Field from 4 to 6:30 p.m., drew a large crowd of students and community members eager to enjoy a festive atmosphere. The…
Eduardo Seija, Curie earn first playoff berth since 2019
Eduardo Seija and his Curie teammates had plenty to celebrate on Oct. 24. Seija, a senior two-way starter at fullback and linebacker, scored the first touchdown of his career as the Condors shut out Urban Prep-Bronzeville 30-0 at Rockne Stadium to complete one of the state’s biggest turnarounds. A year after going 0-9, Curie is…
Area sports roundup: Stars to get the ‘Red’ out; SXU falls again
Starting in 2025, the Chicago Red Stars will tweak their brand. The team will be known as the Chicago Stars Football Club and will have a new logo. They are getting the “Red” out. “As the stewards of this club, Laura Ricketts, the ownership group and the leadership team believe it is time to evolve…
Postseason roundup: Marist’s Helena Klooster finishes fifth at state
Two of the best girls tennis players in Orland Park have taken each other on several times over the years during various tournaments. But they never had a match like this one. Marist’s Helena Klooster and Sandburg’s Estela Loureiro – both sophomores — met in the IHSA Class 2A state tournament consolation quarterfinals on Oct.…
Mike Walsh’s Football Top 10, Week 10
1. MARIST (8-1) Last week: Beat Notre Dame 34-0 This week: vs. Glenbrook South, Class 8A Comment: Jacob Ritter threw for three touchdowns and scored on a run for the RedHawks. 2. LYONS (9-0) Last week: Beat Proviso East 50-6 This week: vs. Joliet West, Class 8A Comment: This is the Lions’ first 9-0 team…
Neighbors
Jury deadlocks, mistrial declared in case of ex-AT&T boss accused of bribing Madigan
By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO – A federal judge on Thursday declared a mistrial after a jury deadlocked in their deliberations over whether former AT&T Illinois President Paul La Schiazza bribed longtime Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan via a no-work contract for the speaker’s political ally. After nearly 15 hours of deliberation…
High court: Smell of burnt cannabis is not cause for warrantless vehicle search
By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com Law enforcement officers in Illinois cannot rely on the smell of burnt cannabis alone to justify searching a vehicle without a warrant, the Illinois Supreme Court ruled on Thursday. The decision was unanimous, though Justice Lisa Holder White did not take part in it. Writing for the court,…
State wraps up case in challenge to assault weapons ban
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com EAST ST. LOUIS – A federal judge invoked images from the 1917 race riots in East St. Louis, Illinois, on Thursday at the end of a trial in a case challenging the constitutionality of the state’s ban on assault-style weapons and large-capacity magazines. Judge Steven McGlynn, who has…
Gun expert says assault weapons ban ‘describes the most popular firearms I’m involved with’
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com EAST ST. LOUIS – A firearms expert testified Wednesday that the weapons restricted under Illinois’ assault weapons ban include many of the most common firearms that American consumers use for self-defense. Steven Randall Watt, a combat veteran and retired law enforcement officer who now owns a private firearms…
Case of former AT&T boss accused of bribing Madigan heads to jury
By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO – On Valentine’s Day in 2017, then-AT&T Illinois President Paul La Schiazza got some good news: After years of trying to push for legislation in Springfield that would save the company hundreds of millions of dollars annually, powerful Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan had agreed to a…
State Supreme Court hears arguments in Jussie Smollett’s effort to overturn conviction
By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois jnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Supreme Court heard arguments Tuesday in actor Jussie Smollett’s appeal to overturn his conviction on disorderly conduct charges for falsifying a hate crime. Smollett, who was an actor on the TV show “Empire,” was improperly charged with the same crime twice, his legal team…
Testimony continues in 2nd Amendment challenge to Illinois’ assault weapons ban
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com EAST ST. LOUIS – An engineer who spent decades designing weapons for one of the world’s leading gun manufacturers testified Tuesday that the assault-style weapons now banned in Illinois are intended only for civilian use and cannot be easily converted into military-grade firearms. James Ronkainen, a former engineer…
Contractor’s unsecured databases exposed sensitive voter data in over a dozen Illinois counties
By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com Around 4.6 million records associated with Illinoisans in over a dozen counties – including voting records, registrations and death certificates – were temporarily available on the open internet, according to a security researcher who identified the vulnerability in July. The documents were available through an unsecured cloud storage…
Prosecutors rest case against former AT&T Illinois boss accused of bribing Madigan
By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO – After years of pushing in Springfield, AT&T Illinois’ executive team was thrilled when the Illinois General Assembly in 2017 passed legislation that would get the company out from under expensive obligations to maintain its aging copper landline wires in Illinois. “Game over. We win,” AT&T Illinois…
Trial begins in challenge to assault weapons ban
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com EAST ST. LOUIS – The owner of a gun store testified Monday that Illinois’ ban on the sale of assault-style weapons and large capacity magazines has had a significant impact on his business and prevented his customers from buying items they would normally use for self-defense, hunting, target…