Happy 4th of GHOULY!

"Anyone want another Hot Dog?"

Every year, GHOULA pays tribute to this great country by profiling a ghost from American pop-culture that has ties to Southern California. This year, we spotlight the great green ghost of filmdom's phatoms.

It can be argued that a large part of Ghostbusters continued success is thanks to a flying ball of neon-green ecto-plasma with an insatiable appetite for food and drink. Although, he was originally referred to as "onion head" during the making of the movie, this lovable scene-stealing spirit quickly became known to fans as "Slimer," and "he" went from a couple of scenes in the movie to a central figure of the cartoon version of the movie (the "Scooby-Doo" of this team), to the star of the renamed show ("Slimer!"), to a prominent figure in all video game and comic book versions (and to the subject of his own breakfast cereal and sugary beverage, presumably to consume while watching the show or reading the comics or playing the games).

Fictionally speaking, Slimer is a New Yoker. In reality, the physical creation of this character has no ties to the "Big Apple." Not only was he designed and crafted by the talented people at the now defunct Boss Film Studios (which at the time was based in Marina Del Rey), but all of his scenes in the fictional New York-based "Sedgewick Hotel" were either shot at Los Angeles' very own (haunted) Biltmore Hotel, or in the sound stages at Warner Bros Studios located in Burbank. Even the interiors of Ghostbuster HQ, a converted fire station, where Slimer takes up residence in the sequel, where shot at LAFD's decommissioned Station #23.

Additionally, the successful animated show that continued to chronicle the adventures of Slimer were produced at the now defunct DIC Entertainment, which was directly across the street from the sound stages that Slimer called home in beautiful downtown Burbank.

On a stranger note, it has been said that Slimer's personality may have been inspired by John Belushi, the comic genius and the buddy of Dan Ackroyd (star and co-writer of Ghostbusters). Belushi was suppose to star in the film (with Ackroyd), but died before production started at West Hollywood's Chateau Marmont, where his actual ghost is said to haunt. Is this a case of life (or the after-life) imitating art?

GOD BLESS AMERICA'S GHOSTS! Happy 4th of July, everyone!

(to see last year's ghost from American pop culture...)
(to see more Ghostbusters-related locations...)