GHOULA meets for cocktails in haunted places on the 13th of each month. “SPIRITS with SPIRITS” is a casual gathering of regional ghost hunters. Open to all, from the curious skeptic to the passionate phantom pursuer. Make friends, and toast a ghost! Let's put the “Boo!” back into “booze.”
All those who attend will receive a free G.H.O.U.L.A. button. If you already have, please wear it so others can find you.
THE DATE: July 13th, 2009 (Monday)
THE PLACE: The Cat and Fiddle Pub (6350 Sunset Blvd.) map
THE TIME: 8pm to the witching hour
THE GHOST(S):
This complex of Mediterranean/Spanish facades facing an inner courtyard first opened its doors to the public in October of 1927 and was designed by the architectural team of Gogerty and Weyl, who thanks largely to this "shopping court," the Blaine Building (6601 Hollywood Blvd.), and the Hollywood Playhouse (1735 N. Vine St.) became nationally recognized as the authorities on this unique style of regional architecture that is synonymous with Southern California.
Over the decades, the space that The Cat And Fiddle Pub now occupies has been home to many restaurants, including a commissary for a nearby studio and the famous Mouling's Mandarin/Shanghai-style restaurant, where one could have the undisputed best "Peking Duck" in town while listening to "Mr. Tahiti" tickle the ivories at the piano bar. Although, the names and owners have changed with each era, one thing has remained the same since the beginning. For whatever reason (perhaps the Gogerty and Weyl design), this restaurant/bar space has always been a place where the wealthy and the working class feel comfortable lounging for hours over a couple of drinks (especially on warm summer nights). Not only does that casual condition continue to the current "Cat and Fiddle," but is at the root of their longest lingering "lamentor of life."
All those who attend will receive a free G.H.O.U.L.A. button. If you already have, please wear it so others can find you.
THE DATE: July 13th, 2009 (Monday)
THE PLACE: The Cat and Fiddle Pub (6350 Sunset Blvd.) map
THE TIME: 8pm to the witching hour
THE GHOST(S):
This complex of Mediterranean/Spanish facades facing an inner courtyard first opened its doors to the public in October of 1927 and was designed by the architectural team of Gogerty and Weyl, who thanks largely to this "shopping court," the Blaine Building (6601 Hollywood Blvd.), and the Hollywood Playhouse (1735 N. Vine St.) became nationally recognized as the authorities on this unique style of regional architecture that is synonymous with Southern California.
Over the decades, the space that The Cat And Fiddle Pub now occupies has been home to many restaurants, including a commissary for a nearby studio and the famous Mouling's Mandarin/Shanghai-style restaurant, where one could have the undisputed best "Peking Duck" in town while listening to "Mr. Tahiti" tickle the ivories at the piano bar. Although, the names and owners have changed with each era, one thing has remained the same since the beginning. For whatever reason (perhaps the Gogerty and Weyl design), this restaurant/bar space has always been a place where the wealthy and the working class feel comfortable lounging for hours over a couple of drinks (especially on warm summer nights). Not only does that casual condition continue to the current "Cat and Fiddle," but is at the root of their longest lingering "lamentor of life."
The apparition of a well-dressed man has been seen many times in "The Casablanca Room." The room, itself, received its name because of the restaurant's role in the Humphrey Bogart classic film, (who incidentally was a frequent guest of the restaurant when it was called "Le Gourmet"). However, unconnected to "Casablanca" or Bogart, legend has it that during one of this restaurant's previous incarnations, a group of local mobsters were having a dinner party in that room when one of the guests opened fire and murdered another guest in front of the other diners. Not wanting to spoil a good time, the victim's bloody body was dragged into a back room, and the dinner party continued leisurely into the night as if nothing had happened. It is said that although the body was removed, his spirit has never left (maybe eternally reliving those last unsuspecting moments before death).
In addition to this mob-hit manifestation, employees of the "Cat and Fiddle" claim that after hours when the patrons have left, they hear the distinctive sound of a set of keys jingling in the restaurant, and yet, upon exploration, can never find the source of this phantom sound. Those that knew the beloved former owner, Kim Gardner (an unsung rock musician/artist of the "British Invasion"), before his passing in October of 2001 believe it is his spirit still keeping an eye on the successful tavern that he helped create. Or, maybe in death, like the other ghost, and like the "Cat and Fiddle's" clientele, he just enjoys hanging out and listening to one of the "best" jukeboxes in the city in one of the great landmarks of old Hollywood.
http://www.thecatandfiddle.com/
In addition to this mob-hit manifestation, employees of the "Cat and Fiddle" claim that after hours when the patrons have left, they hear the distinctive sound of a set of keys jingling in the restaurant, and yet, upon exploration, can never find the source of this phantom sound. Those that knew the beloved former owner, Kim Gardner (an unsung rock musician/artist of the "British Invasion"), before his passing in October of 2001 believe it is his spirit still keeping an eye on the successful tavern that he helped create. Or, maybe in death, like the other ghost, and like the "Cat and Fiddle's" clientele, he just enjoys hanging out and listening to one of the "best" jukeboxes in the city in one of the great landmarks of old Hollywood.
http://www.thecatandfiddle.com/
2 comments:
I am so sorry I missed this. I just found out about your group, and from what I can tell from online, you seem to have a wonderful group camaraderie! I really love this idea of "Spirits with Spirits", and love all the other blog postings, and events such as the Ghost Busters screening. Please keep posting these events, because I would love to join you at one and meet the faces behind the names. Thanks you for all your are doing to preserve Los Angeles' history!
Erin
I heard that the Cat & Fiddle's security cameras once caught a book moving by itself.
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