Some scary with charity

Hilber Graf hopes to scare up some money for a good cause this Halloween.

Graf has been setting up a free haunted-house attraction in his Costa Mesa garage each Halloween for the past seven years.

This year, visitors to “Curse Of The Forbidden Jungle” haunt will be asked to make a donation to benefit the Boys and Girls Club of the Harbor Area.

Graf is as passionate about the charity as he is about all things spooky.

His wife, Rhea, is treasurer of the Costa Mesa Kiwanis Club, and the couple is hoping the public will come out and help support children in the community.

Graf’s obsession with Halloween was ignited more than 50 years ago, when he was cast as a ghost in his second-grade school play.

At age 10 he began decorating the family’s house, and in high school he volunteered to work every Halloween haunted house in the community.

“This haunt stuff really is like malaria,” Graf wrote on his website.

“Once you catch the bug, it never goes away.”

His resume also includes a stint as a special-effects artist in Hollywood.

Graf worked on movie projects in the 1980s that included “The Abyss” and “Flash Gordon.”

His “Curse Of The Forbidden Jungle” haunt has been upgraded from last year to include more thrills and chills, more nasty creatures and scary obstacles, and a mixture of animation and live theater.

Guests will be welcomed by a mad scientist and subjected to a moving display of full-size creatures that include giant spiders, ants and zombies.

Graf said he leaves the decision for admitting children younger than 10 to the discretion of parents.

“In the past, we’ve had adults lose it, while at the same time a 6-year-old eagerly attempted a second expedition through the jungle.”

Describing himself as a “home haunter,” Graf purchases many of his props and decorations at holiday close-out sales.

“I’ve been very lucky and have unearthed many terrific items that I wouldn’t have otherwise been able to afford,” he said.

His themes over the years have included Spider Lair, Toxic Terror, Resurrection Cemetery and Dead Man’s Chest, but “Curse of the Forbidden Jungle” is the one he’s sticking with these days “because it’s different than what most home haunters do.”

Black-light chambers have also appeared in several of the haunts.

Graf said it’s a simple way to make visitors feel uneasy, and it’s easy to hide “live spooks” in the room’s dark corners.

His interest in Halloween and spirits takes him in other directions, as well.

As a member of the Orange County Paranormal Investigation Team, Graf is an “active professional paranormal investigator,” and author of ghost hunter guide books.

“I’m a ghost hunter who not only searches for spooks, but also creates them for fun.”

IF YOU GO

WHAT: “Curse Of The Forbidden Jungle” Haunted House

WHEN: 7 to 9:30 p.m. tonight

WHERE: Newport Landing, 2330 Vanguard Way-G Building, Costa Mesa

COST: Free; donations accepted to benefit Boys and Girls Club of the Harbor Area

INFO: (714) 751-1811 or go to www.forbiddenjungle.net

SUE THOENSEN may be reached at (714) 966-4627 or at sue.thoensen@latimes.com.