I think I'm getting used to my insomnia.  Just take a nap every so often, instead of one large rest at night, and you can reduce the nightmares.   I feel terrible, but at least I'm not going to die of sleep deprivation.  Even still, I can barely focus while typing this.  Coffee is really helping out.

As for the mystery women our camera man informed us of, I believe that I found her.  Once again I was told to not share any names.  It took quite a lot of searching and messaging, but I finally got contact with her.  We ended up chatting via face cam.  Because I can't show any video I will simply list the transcript of the chat.

[Audio Transcript ]

V1: Thanks for agreeing to this.  Any information you may have about the show will help in our full on investigation of its mysteries.

V2: I will try to help you the best I can, but I do have some...discomfort speaking about this particular subject.  I'll do my best to answer your questions.

V1: Okay, where to begin.  Could you try to recollect what happened the day you attended the show.  Walk us through what you experienced that day so we may better understand what really happened behind the scenes.

V2: It all started back when I was in elementary school.  My family was invited to a studio nearby where they were going to shoot the pilot of a new children's show.  I was very excited to see the program, being amazed at the figures on my television.  To see one in real life before all of my friends would be something to brag about.  I begged my parents to take me, and without any convincing agreed.

We attended the show that Saturday.  Hundreds of people gathered outside the old warehouse doors, slowly making their way inside.  I had to stand still in that line for an eternity, but we finally made it within the building.  The stage was light up and everyone was finding seats for the show.  The children spoke, played, and had fun with others as their parents relaxed.  It was like a celebration of something exciting finally coming to our little town.

A man came on stage dressed in a suit and held a microphone in his hand.  He told us all to take our seats so that our very special guest could come out.  We didn't know what he was speaking about; it was a surprise to us.  We thought we were seeing a show, not someone visiting us.  Boy were we wrong.

Everyone sat down and then he came out.  It's funny how many people had a smile on their faces just watching him come out that clubhouse door.  We children laughed at his funny appearance.  He looked so silly, dressed up like some sort of animated character wearing clothes made of every color of the rainbow.  That clown was the center of attention.

He said  to us in that friendly goofy voice, "Hello kiddies!  Who wants to have fun with your pal Mr. Gooffo?"

We cheered him on, on the edge of our seats.  This guy seemed like he knew how to really have some fun.  We wanted to get up on that stage and play.  And as luck would have it, the first group of kids went up on the stage and began to play a funny little game.  They had to make shapes by arranging themselves into a pattern.  The clown would call out the form and the children would dash to the spot they needed to go.  It looked like fun; I wanted to do that!

The first group finished up and the next group replaced them.  I had began to join the third group.  We watched as the ones on stage now began to sing some song Gooffo was singing to them.  It was about the joys of the outdoors and playing outside, but with these weird rhymes and words.  It made us giggle in joy to watch them sing such a stupid song, but we were enjoying every minute of it.

Finally my group got to walk up on stage.  We were anxious to see what we were going to do.  He now positioned us into a circle and explained to us a game.  In one second, we were going to race to the center of the circle and acquire a colorful ball.  Who ever got the ball first was going to win a prize.  I was ready.

Against all odds, I was the one to acquire it before all the others.  I didn't know how.  I wasn't the fastest there, I wasn't the strongest, and certainly not the smartest, but that day I was the luckiest.  I walked over to the clown ready to receive my prize.  He smiled at me, but I didn't know what would come next.

"It appears we have our victor!  Little one you have won the great privilege of entering the funhouse.  Not just everyone is allowed in, only those I believe deserve it the most."

I was excited; my family applauded my prize.  I watched them as I went into the small wooden door leading within.  It lead into a dark tunnel, the only light coming from behind me and in front of me.  The clown was rapping the show up as I made it to the end.  I decided to sit and wait for my reward.  It was as good as mine. 

Gooffo now came into the room and took a seat on the other side.  He seemed less happy than he was on stage.  He then asked me a simple question.

"Do you have any friends, people who didn't get to come to my show?"

I nodded.  My friends were all jealous of me being here.  They would have loved to come along.  At that moment, I think they had just gotten done watching the show on their own televisions.  I wondered if they saw me.

The clown sat back in his chair and fiddled into his pockets.  He then extracted several small pieces of paper.  His arm stretched out and gave them to me.  I took them and read the words inscribed on them.  Free admission.  He had just given me tickets for the whole season.  It couldn't have been a better prize at the time, but now I regret ever receiving it.

I ended up giving my friends the passes.  They were overjoyed and praised me as one of the greatest people they knew.  We attended every show after that, or at least I did.  I never really noticed until it was too late.  I never noticed the fate I cost my friends.

One by one, each of my friends and their families were allowed into the funhouse.  One by one, they started to disappear.  When I finally realized what was going on, I was all alone.  All the people I knew, vanished from the face of the Earth.  It was just me and my family.  Others attended the shows, but they were new people.  People I knew it was pointless to meet.

I went to the clown after a show once, asking him where my friends were.  He would only brush me aside or tell me they were still enjoying themselves in his funhouse.  I never found out their true fates.  I was the lucky one, the one he allowed to live.  The others are dead, I'm sure of it, but what the clown did, I am not certain.

No one believed me or my family.  My parents were taken away on accounts of insanity, and I was sent to my grandparents, far from that evil studio.  I moved on from then, but that clown still lies in the back of my mind.  He could have taken me as well.  I had fallen into his trap, and he loosed the knot for me.  He used me.  He made me gather more like me for his own sick gain.  I can never forgive him.

V1: I...never suspected something like this.  I'm sorry.

V2: There's nothing I can do!  I'm the one who killed them!  I sent them off to the executioner, fooled by a fool himself!  It's all my fault...all my fault...my fault...

(At this point she had began to cry, streams of tears coming from her eyes. I felt really uncomfortable at this point.)

V1: Is there anything I can do for you?  Something to help lighten your mood?

V2: I want you to find the answer.  I want you to find out the fates of them and so any others.  That clown has taken too much, but only one of us can steal the knowledge he has hidden.  I know where that wicked studio has been rotting for the last decade.  I want you to put an end to all of this.  We need to know what happened in that backstage area.  We need too.

V1: I can do that, no, I will do that.  Tell e where it is, and I'll do my best to make my way up there as soon as possible.  I want to put this search to an end, no matter what the cost is.

V2: Thank you.  The studio can be found in...(Location edited out for protection purposes and by request of interviewee.) Go.  Make it as soon as you can.  Consider it payment for this interview.  I want you to discover the truth.  Thank you for having me.

V1: Thank you for agreeing to do this.  That studio is my next stop on this search, so don't worry.  We are going to get some answers...

[End Audio Log]

She gave me an address and information about the town via email afterwards.  Its too late to travel there today, but I'm starting to make arrangements.  A buddy of mine said he would take me up in two weeks, has a relative he needs to visit.  What luck.  

Other than that I'm starting to get some things together: a camera for visual evidence and photos of the scene,  a few bits and bobs for exploring the warehouse, and a weapon, for whatever may still be inside...  Hopefully it won't come to that.

Its hard to believe that a month or two ago, this all started over my grandfather's hording.  I never did get anyone to buy those tapes.  The offer is still on the table for anyone interested, but that is besides the point.  We really have learned a lot about a children's show.  We noticed the creepy details, viewed at the mind of its creator, found out what those more official thought of it, talked with someone who lived behind the stage, and then to someone who lived a nightmare...

These last weeks have been the most eventful in my life.  Sometimes I even doubt if this search is even worth it.  Why am I putting so much effort into something I barely knew.  Maybe its the feeling I knew something about it, that a part of my mind remembered something long ago. Or maybe my curiosity has overwhelmed my ability to say "no".  Whatever the reason, I'm here now, and I'm going to that warehouse.

That clown has become the bane of mine and apparently many peoples; existences.   What was the secret he's been hiding?  What could be beyond those doors?  Who is he...?  Time and time again the name Garth has come up, but never a last name.  Even still,  Gooffo has never been show without makeup and out of costume.  Its almost as if there was no Garth...

I'm over thinking everything.  Its like 3 in the morning, and I'm typing this random nonsense into my blog page.  I may just be mad.  I think I'm just going to relax after this, clear my mind of the clown for the next two weeks before I go to investigate his domain.  Maybe if I'm lucky I can go back to sleep like a normal person instead of some animal.  Probably not.

Well I think I may say goodbye for now.  In two weeks get ready to see my update about the exploration of the studio.  May it be the thrilling conclusion to the never ending nightmare of a show.  Good night.