Spook show asks "Where's the beef?"
By: Peter Kenter
By: Peter Kenter
SINCE 1997, JEFF COOKE HAS been putting on a Halloween night spook show for locals in his North Toronto
neighbourhood. Problem is, kids don’t scare so easily any more. The cost of constructing scarier props and the
rising cost of raw ground beef inspired Cooke to search for sponsors for The Keewatin Horror 2004.
The show features such macabre eye-openers as deceased cheerleaders and a life-sized gallows. “Even though
we shop at thrift stores for costumes, it can easily cost $200 to outfit the whole cast, and we have to spend at least
$100 on ground beef alone,” says 19 year old Cooke. “Ground beef is a staple of what we do.”
Inspired by the example of local causes, Cooke began circulating sponsorship letters (with personal followups) to
neighbouring businesses in pursuit of his $650 production costs. Cooke offers sponsors a choice of cash or in-
kind contributions: costumes, props...even beef. Sponsors receive logo placement on the show’s website (www.
thekeewatinhorror.com), appearances on official T-shirts and display banners on the night of the performance.
Cooke has also offered to have his team of ghouls hand out discount coupons and special offers.
The Horror’s first sponsor is Jack Ilios, owner of nearby Broadway Cleaners. Ilios was convinced by a member of
Cooke’s crack sponsorship team (his mom) to bankroll the $100 cost of a BBQ fund raiser, held in June. While Ilios
is happy with the exposure his business is receiving, he says he’s pleased just to support the local dramatic
endeavour. “I like what he’s doing,” says Ilios. “He’s trying to do something good for the neighbourhood, and I’ll
be there to support him again when the time of the show comes closer.”
The Horror has also netted a cash-andinsect offer from Bugs Without Borders, a company providing insects and
wildlife for parties. Kids Costumes, a local costume rental shop, will supply printing services.
In the meantime, Cooke has caught the sponsorship bug. An interest in criminology has given way to a quest for a
business degree, with an emphasis on marketing. “I want to be able to use the skills I’ve acquired here,” he says.
neighbourhood. Problem is, kids don’t scare so easily any more. The cost of constructing scarier props and the
rising cost of raw ground beef inspired Cooke to search for sponsors for The Keewatin Horror 2004.
The show features such macabre eye-openers as deceased cheerleaders and a life-sized gallows. “Even though
we shop at thrift stores for costumes, it can easily cost $200 to outfit the whole cast, and we have to spend at least
$100 on ground beef alone,” says 19 year old Cooke. “Ground beef is a staple of what we do.”
Inspired by the example of local causes, Cooke began circulating sponsorship letters (with personal followups) to
neighbouring businesses in pursuit of his $650 production costs. Cooke offers sponsors a choice of cash or in-
kind contributions: costumes, props...even beef. Sponsors receive logo placement on the show’s website (www.
thekeewatinhorror.com), appearances on official T-shirts and display banners on the night of the performance.
Cooke has also offered to have his team of ghouls hand out discount coupons and special offers.
The Horror’s first sponsor is Jack Ilios, owner of nearby Broadway Cleaners. Ilios was convinced by a member of
Cooke’s crack sponsorship team (his mom) to bankroll the $100 cost of a BBQ fund raiser, held in June. While Ilios
is happy with the exposure his business is receiving, he says he’s pleased just to support the local dramatic
endeavour. “I like what he’s doing,” says Ilios. “He’s trying to do something good for the neighbourhood, and I’ll
be there to support him again when the time of the show comes closer.”
The Horror has also netted a cash-andinsect offer from Bugs Without Borders, a company providing insects and
wildlife for parties. Kids Costumes, a local costume rental shop, will supply printing services.
In the meantime, Cooke has caught the sponsorship bug. An interest in criminology has given way to a quest for a
business degree, with an emphasis on marketing. “I want to be able to use the skills I’ve acquired here,” he says.
