Dan Ellis Braves Cancer, Says ‘Show Must Go On’
By Space Coast Daily // October 13, 2014
DEDICATION AND love of entertaining carries on
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Dan Ellis is a one of a kind, a true entertainer. One who believes that the quality of the show is the most important thing, and that the show must go on.
Ellis has throat cancer and has been fighting it for many years. Last December, the cancer took one of his most precious possessions – his voice and his ability to sing.
However, his courage, resilience and love of entertaining carries on.
His love of performing is amazing and although he can not sing live anymore, he continues to volunteer where needed for shows and entertainment even through the toughest of times.
His wife Susan stands by his side, and they make an incredible team working together.
Ellis has been in Brevard County for many years and has been one of the most sought-after entertainers on the local scene.
Dan and Susan as a duo, have opened for bands like The Beach Boys, KC & the Sunshine Band, Charlie Daniels and many others.
This January the couple will open for the Beach Boys at Port Canaveral.
DIRECTOR OF UNIVERSAL HAUNTED HOUSE ATTRACTIONS
Earlier in his career, he was the director of haunted house attractions at Universal Studios in California, and he has taken that experience and his many years of setting up entertaining shows, to create this incredible haunted house attraction at the Palm Bay Fair called the “Castle of Horrors.”
Dan has terminal cancer. but on his bucket list is to build the ultimate haunted house.
“I have been collecting Halloween props for years and always wanted to do this, and thanks to my friends Giles Malone and Tom Palermo, my dream is coming true,” said Ellis.
“We are so happy that this all worked out,” said Malone. “Dan has always been there for the community and has such a passion for entertaining people, that we thought we should do this.”
The end result is that Ellis is the creative genius of the most incredible haunted house attraction of his career, which will be featured at the Palm Bay Fair from Oct. 16 – 26 at Space Coast Harley-Davidson in Palm Bay.
The greatest thing about Ellis is his drive to entertain people at his many shows over the years.
This is exemplified in his effort to build a fun and scary Castle of Horrors at the Palm Bay Fair held at Space Coast Harley-Davidson, even during his own personal fight with cancer.
Ellis is the technical director of the “Castle Of Horrors,” built underneath a 10,000 square-foot pavilion, which will encompass an incredible maze of passages and hallways leading into a series of horror rooms with various different scary scenes.
“We think this is a terrific haunted house that Brevard County scare fans will really enjoy,” said Ellis from the site of his masterpiece, which he is creating as a volunteer for the fair committee.
LOVES TO ENTERTAIN AND MAKE PEOPLE HAPPY
Ellis is a U.S. military veteran of 20 years with five tours of duty. Susan is incredibly strong during this very difficult time of their lives and continues to support Dan in this incredible project, even at this very difficult time of their lives.
“Dan loves to entertain and make people happy through his shows,” said Susan. “This is a project that he has always wanted to do here and now it is happening, even at this very difficult time of his life.”
Dan Ellis is a fighter and a true entertainer. Dan will win his fight against cancer, one way or another and will always be one of the greatest entertainers in the history of Brevard County.
Admission to the the Castle of Horrors, and unlimited thrill rides, are included in the gate admission to the Palm Bay Fair, which opens on Oct. 16 at Space Coast Harley-Davidson in Palm Bay.
Admission to the Palm Bay fair is $10 Monday – Thursday, and $15 Friday – Sunday, and includes unlimited thrill rides, as well as admission to the Castle of Horrors, the Urias Family Circus, the Human Cannonball Lady, professional bull riding, and many other entertaining shows during the 11-day run of the Palm Bay Fair.
For more information go to www.PalmBayFair.com or call 1-855-386-3836.
