At 3343 Chatwin Ave., on the corner of Chatwin Avenue and Wardlow Road near St. Cornelius Catholic Church, Jeff and Ann Haberman open their home’s Halloween display to visitors for free each night through Halloween. Families from the surrounding blocks have made it a regular stop, drawn by the singing pumpkins, film clips, fog effects and costumed figures.
The Long Beach Press-Telegram reports that the Halloween show has run for 14 years. In its December 2022 coverage, the paper said the hourlong holiday display had entertained thousands of visitors since beginning 13 years earlier. The current setup uses 28 computers to coordinate lights, moving spotlights, film clips, music and smoke; the 2022 story reported 18 computers for that year’s holiday display. The Halloween show runs Sunday through Thursday from 6:45 p.m. to 9:15 p.m., and until 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
What the city says about amplified sound
According to the City of Long Beach Noise Control Program, amplified music is among the sources addressed under the city’s Noise Ordinance. That information confirms amplified music is covered by the program but does not establish a specific decibel limit or schedule for this display.
Skeletons, Villains and a Flying Zero
Among the display’s figures are skeleton versions of Snow White, Pocahontas, Tinker Bell and Rapunzel, as well as Harry Potter villains. Zero, the ghost dog from The Nightmare Before Christmas, appears to fly around the chimney. A screen at the front of the house plays “This Is Halloween,” also from the film. The Habermans have added photo props along the side facing Wardlow Road; visitors can view the display and decorations without charge.
Jeff Haberman, who created the Halloween show and is preparing a Christmas version, told the Press-Telegram that the displays developed gradually over the years. He said the couple chose technology instead of conventional decorations to expand what they could create, using light, images, music and effects to shape the experience. Ann Haberman described the work as a “labor of love.” Jeff said the shows bring happiness to children and adults.
An Engineer and a Disney Veteran Behind the Scenes
According to the Press-Telegram, Jeff Haberman is a retired controls engineer who worked at McDonnell Douglas and Boeing, and he received energy-conservation awards, including Energy Manager of the Year from the Association of Energy Engineers. He's also a musician who sings and plays low brass and bagpipes around the country, performs with the Civil War Brass Band, and recorded, edited and mixed sound for radio commercials and film earlier in his career — interests that fed his long-running fascination with theatrical lighting and film editing. He was born at MemorialCare Long Beach Medical Center and graduated from Millikan High School, where he was marching-band drum major.
Ann Haberman spent 45 years working at Disneyland’s Blue Bayou Restaurant inside Pirates of the Caribbean before retiring. The Press-Telegram’s 2022 story reported that she had worked there for 44 years and planned to retire the following year. She was born at Dignity Health — St. Mary Medical Center and graduated from Wilson High. Both Habermans are Long Beach natives, and they add new features and displays to their collection each year.
Neighbors Make It a Nightly Stop
Families have returned to the property throughout the season. Corey Matte visited with his son Carter and 8-year-old daughter Olivia; he called the display “fantastic” and “good for the community.” Carter singled out the figure he called the headless man, referring to the Headless Horseman.
Andrea Hofland said her family walks over nightly: she and her husband, John, live nearby with their children Lukas, 5, and Sophia, 2. Lukas’s favorite part is the skeleton bones. Emily and Will Sisto brought their children, Liam, 4, and Ellis, 2; Liam picked “This Is Halloween” as his favorite song.
A Christmas Encore on the Way
After Halloween, the Habermans plan to start a monthlong Christmas show on Dec. 1, according to Haberman’s Holiday Magic. The couple also maintains a GoFundMe account supporting For the Child, which provides mental health services for children, as noted by the Press-Telegram.
