Behind The Mask with AJ Good
Cody Willis
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Chilicothe, Ohio, a sleepy, run-of-the-mill type town. But every town has its own little secret, spooky attraction. And deep within Chilicothe is The House of Masks. An entire house lined wall to wall with every kind of horrific mask you could think of.
And who is responsible for all of this? Who is the man behind the masks? None other than 23-year-old, AJ Good. I was recently able to have a brief chat with AJ about how all of this began and grew to the empire it is today.
Now, let us begin…
DC: AJ, you have mentioned to me that the Halloween franchise has had a huge part in fostering your love for masks. What was it about Michael Myers’ mask that drew you in?
A.J. GOOD: Well, aside from the fact that he was the first slasher I ever saw, especially at a young age, I really think it comes down to the appearance. Especially Halloween and Halloween II. It’s so simple but so effective. As I got older, I started falling more and more in love with it. Particularly Halloween II. Warlock’s robotic walk, the way his face stretched the mask out, giving it a more angry look, his size and stature (for some reason him being a smaller sized/normal guy made it that much cooler to see his super-human – strength etc. There is something special about Michael Myers.
DC: You have told me that what sealed your love of masks was when you were flipping through a copy of Rolling Stone and came across a photo of Slipknot. What was it that was so endearing to you about their masks and music that really resonated with you?
Good: That’s a tricky one. I really don’t know, to be honest. I just felt like as soon as I saw that photo of them, and heard “Wait and Bleed” , it was like the end all, be all for me. I still get that way when I take a nostalgia trip. There just isn’t anything quite like that first album. It’s perfect. No other way to describe it, but I think everyone has things like that in their life.
DC: What was the first mask you ever bought for the purpose of collecting?
Good: Oddly enough, the first mask I got (it’s still in my collection to this day) was a gas mask. It’s called a “British civilian duty” mask. I got it the same day that I discovered Slipknot. For whatever reason, I called my dad’s best friend at the time, who I am still very close with and asked him if he had any masks. Couldn’t imagine what was going through his head, “Why the hell is this 6 year old asking me if I have any masks?”
But anyways, he actually had a gas mask that he brought me that day…and get this: Same exact mask Sid was using in the “Wait and Bleed” music video. I was way too excited about it.
DC: Now that’s what I call something being meant to be! Perfect! Outside of masks, what other medium would you like to be involved with in the horror business?
GOOD: I’ve been thinking about dabbling into reviews on both theatrical band stuff and horror movies, etc. But honestly, everything is falling into place just how I’d like. I’ve become a horror personality rather than just a mask collector and it just keeps opening up more doors. I’m extremely happy with what The House of Masks is creating.
DC: That’s awesome, man! Can’t wait to see what you do next! What is the most exciting thing happening with The House of Masks at the moment?
GOOD: This interview of course! Haha! Honestly, it’s tough to choose exactly what I’m the most excited about at the moment…but I’d have to say the new space. Up until now, everything was kept in my home. Hence, “The House of Masks”…But we’ve recently started squiring a new, huge, huge retail area that’s going to be at least five times larger than where the collection used to sit. I ran out of room well over a year ago and I’ve only acquired more and more since then, so we definitely need the space. Not to mention storage for our merch and all that. I can’t wait to have it ready to go!
DC: That is so amazing! I would love to visit the place one day! I’ve heard in other interviews with you on your YouTube page that you wear your masks to conventions. What conventions do you attend the most? Favorites?
GOOD: We always hit up the HorrorHound’s, both in Cinci and in Indiana. But hands down the best is MaskFest (which is in correlation with HorrorHound Indy). That’s the only convention we booth at, and I can’t express how great that con is. Everyone is family. A lot of conventions are, and no offense here, just a bunch of people basically gluing a photo of Jason Voorhees to a lightswitch cover and trying to sell it for thirty bucks. MaskFest is the real deal. The artists boothing there are genuinely interested in everyone there. The general admission, and fellow artists, etc… not just your money. We go to the Midwest Haunters Convention, the Horrorhounds, etc., but nothing touches MaskFest.
DC: That’s awesome, man. And I know what you mean about people just making cheap stuff to sell for outrageous prices. Will you be attending any cons in early 2017?
GOOD: Pretty sure the first convention I’ll be at this year is Midwest, but that could always change. Hanging out and meeting people is my absolute favorite thing, so I’ll always try to expand my convention attendance.
DC: Very cool, man! Okay, let’s talk John Carpenter a bit. With him coming back to the franchise this year, what are you hoping to get most out of it?
GOOD: Simplicity. Sometimes less is more… in my opinion (and a lot of other Myers fans) the franchise has shit all over itself! We all knew it should have stopped at H2 and moved on to the anthology-style route they wanted to go with, like Halloween III attempted to. Halloween 4 is a decent movie, but unnecessary. And the rest just suck. So, I’m hoping to see a John Carpenter movie. Bring back a normal-sized Michael, with ghostly attributes, super human strength, etc. I don’t want to see a seven-foot tall Myers that has a white trash backstory (sorry Rob). And I don’t want to see Michael tied into some ridiculous cult, having a baby with his niece. I want the Boogeyman
DC: All I can say to that is… AMEN! So, just so people can see just how amazing you and your collection are, where can people find you online?
GOOD: My big three are Instagram: @thehouseofmasks, YouTube – where I make daily videos, The House of Masks/The Crimson Ghost Mask Room and Facebook, which no one really gives a shit about, haha!
DC: Well, one thing I’ve been curious about is what do you hope to gain from amassing such a collection of masks? What is it about them that makes you so passionate about them?
GOOD: That’s a good question. I don’t know if there will ever be an end result. I think my biggest goal for the future, right now is to obtain a stage used Slipknot mask. That’s been a goal since I was a child. I can remember writing a 3 page letter to Slipknot when I was like 10 or something and asking for a real mask from the band. I mean they started this all for me anyways. But I guess now the whole point is to continue introducing the hobby to new people, educating them, and helping the community grow as a whole, as well as acquiring cool new shit that I like along the way.
What makes me so passionate is another tricky question because I really don’t know. It’s just the ultimate “thing” for me. I just fuckin’ love masks. Maybe one day I will understand but as for now I’m just embracing it and pushing it to the fullest extent that I can.
DC: That’s awesome, man. I too am a passionate mask person and I am also learning sculpting my own as a special fx artist. I’ve loved masks my whole and I don’t think I’ll ever stop!
You recently did an interview with Corey Taylor, frontman of Slipknot. How did that come to happen? Was it a nervous experience for you being such a big fan of his?
GOOD: It’s a really weird story. The day he made an Instagram he started following me and I was like “what? That must be a mistake” , so I made a post letting people know he made one and showed him my collection and we DM’d about possibly sending me a stage use daily mask…and ever since then we’ve kept in touched. I wanted to do something special with him and he was totally down for the interview and really it was him that made that whole thing happen. He was really awesome through the whole process. I can only hope he continues to toloerate me and keep me around and maybe possibly I’ll have anoiece of Slipknot/Corey Taylor history in the collection one day.
DC: Awesome, man. In closing, what would you like to say to all of your fans out there?
GOOD: I’d like to say thanks for everything! The fan art, letters, masks, purchases, pictures…everything. The only reason this whole thing works is because of you guys. And I never imagined I could do what I do, and make people out there happy by doing it. So, from the bottom of my little black heart, thank you.
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