Ever since Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room opened in 1963, animatronics (automated puppetry that uses prerecorded sounds and movements) has been entertaining people at amusement parks and in film.

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Halloween is on the horizon — the scariest day of the year — and with it comes plenty of ghosts and goblins, and spooky, scary, skeletons and creepy characters. And what about ...