October 13th: Spirits with Spirits at Philippes the Original...

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, find ghosts! Come see the “hot spots” with “cold spots.”
All those who attend will receive a free G.H.O.U.L.A. button. If you have already received your button, please wear it so others can find you. Also, G.H.O.U.L.A t-shirts will be available for sale. ($10.00 each).

THE DATE: October 13th, 2008 (Monday)
THE PLACE: Philippes the Original (1001 N. Alameda St.) map
THE TIME: 8pm to 10pm (Meet on Haunted 2nd Floor)

THE GHOST: This Month, Philippes celebrates its 100th Birthday. For a century, this landmark restaurant, located in the heart of Los Angeles, has been serving up great food at reasonable prices. In that life-span, this historic eatery has also been the subject of many rumors and legends. Most of these tall tales concern the restaurant’s most famous creation, the “French Dipped Sandwich.” How exactly it was invented (or even if Philippes actually invented it) is still up for debate.

But, there is another set of stories that people don’t talk about in public, and these stories concern the building’s upstairs dining area.
Although, Philippes (as a business) has been around since 1908, it has only been at this location since 1951. So, what was at 1001 N. Alameda Street before Philippes moved in, and took over this building? The restaurant‘s website diplomatically referred to it as a “hotel,” though it was more likely a run-down boarding house. Furthermore, given that it was placed in the center of the area’s “red-light” district, it was most likely a brothel. Whatever the truth may be, the racy history is the one that employees repeat when talking about the other legend connected with the upstairs.

It is said that there is the ghost of a “lady of the evening” that haunts the 2nd floor. Many people, over the years, have seen her white form strolling down the hall only to vanish as she steps into one of the adjoining rooms. This prostituting phantasm is also said to be the source of a strong perfume that seems to invade the upstairs when no one else is present.
So, the next time you're enjoying the pleasures of their “French Dipped Sandwich” and a cold beer, take a look at the upstairs where women used to sell pleasures of another kind, you just might come face-to-face with something scarier than the jar of purple, pickled eggs downstairs.

For Questions: Leave message at GHOULA HQ at (323) 782 - 0616
(to see last month's SPIRITS with SPIRITS location...)

PALACE'S GHOSTS

WHERE: Palace Theater
(630 S Broadway, Los Angeles) Map
STATUS: Dormant

THE GHOST(S):

Although this theater is probably best known as the one Michael Jackson danced in front of in the Thriller video (before he turned into a werewolf), this movie palace has the distinction of being the oldest movie theater in Los Angeles, as in the oldest theater that showed movies. Since the Palace had an earlier life as a vaudeville theater before being converted to a cinema, it is much older than the other theaters that were build to show movies. Because of this little quirk, it was built in an era before amplified sound, so all seats had to be built within eighty feet of the stage (so patrons could hear the live actors), and thus is one of the more intimate movie palaces downtown. Also, because of this earlier life predating the cinemas as we know them today, it also has a dark secret. It is one of the few building still standing that had a segregated “Negroes Only" balcony (later transformed into a "third class" balcony for the poor) with it's own separate entrance from the side alley, making it impossible from someone in that balcony to mingle with anyone else in the theater.

Needless to say, that ominous third balcony is one of the spiritual "hot spots" of this very haunted theater. People, while standing on the stage, have seen "figures" in the darkness standing in, or walking about, the third balcony (when the only door to that level is locked). Additionally, witnesses have claimed to see a woman on stage walking from center stage to the wings (stage right), and disappearing once backstage. She is said to be dressed in a white (very lacy) gown. Her identity is unknown, but she is believed to be a performer from the days of the vaudeville circuit. It should be pointed out, that she always vanishes at the location of a giant electric transformers used to operate the lights. Perhaps these electric-magnetic fields generated affect the ghost. It is also interesting to note, that the cremated remains of two adults and one child were found in a box in the basement level of the theater. Who these people were, their connection to this theater, or why their ashes were placed there is still a mystery. Could it be related to the woman on the stage, or the people in the balcony? We may never know.

http://www.losangelestheatre.com/downtownpalace.html

If you know of another ghost story (or another version of a story mentioned), or if you have personally experienced something strange at this theater, please leave a comment.

(to read about another haunted theater in the L.A. area...)

GHOSTBUSTERS' L.A. TOUR

Before seeing GHOSTBUSTERS again, take a moment to virtually tour Los Angeles, and reflect on L.A.'s influence on this classic ghost-hunting movie.

Although the exteriors used for the Ghostbusters' headquarters were shot in New York, all of the interiors of that abandoned fire station (including the containment area in the basement) were from Los Angeles’ very own decommissioned station house #23. said to be haunted by a former controversial fire chie, who penthouse luxurious apartment was on the top floor People hear his pacing footsteps. map

The fictitious “Sedgewick Hotel's” lobby and ballroom (where the Ghostbusters first encounter "Slimer") were actually inside the Biltmore Hotel located in downtown Los Angeles, which in real life is said to be haunted by a phantom nun, the "Black Dahlia," a little girl, a man in a tuxedo, as well as other ghosts. The stairwell in the Biltmore were also used as endless flight of stairs in Dana’s Apt. Building near the climax of the movie. map

The New York Library “stacks,” where the Ghostbusters come face-to-face with their first ghost (the scary librari-an) was actually filmed at this city’s central library also in downtown Los Angeles. Although this library's stacks are said to be ghost-free, the upstairs reading rooms (according to the security staff) are haunted by a woman that walks down the aisles between the reading tables. map

The “rooftop” set (one of the largest indoor sets ever built in Los Angeles) for the movie's climax, as well as many other sets, including Dana’s Apt. and the halls of the “Sedgewick Hotel” were filmed at Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank (formerly known as the "The Burbank Studios" since its shared the lot with Columbia Pictures). A full-scale recreation of the exterior of Dana’s Apt. Building was constructed (with the torn street in front) on the back lot Incidentally, like most movie studios in the area, this one is also said to be haunted. map

Additionally, all the special effects for the movie were created at the now defunct Boss Film Studios in Marina Del Rey. This was the birth place, so to speak, of "Onion Head" (better known as Slimer), the Demon Dogs, and all the other spooky and kooky creations. map

Although Dan Ackroyd was always interested in the paranormal, 7708 Woodrow Wilson Drive is said to be the haunted house that Ackroyd was living in when he was inspired to write the script for GHOSTBUSTERS. Former residents (and possible sources for the haunting) of the house include “Mama" Cass Elliot and Natalie Wood. map

Ackroyd has also been quoted as saying that the movie "Poltergeist" (set locally) was another strong influence on the Ghostbuster script in terms of that film's treatment of ghosts (both in story and in special effects). It is worth noting that that film has since been associated with a "poltergeist curse," where by cast members have died tragically. Also, the original case that inspired the movie "Poltergeist" even supplied the name "Gozer" which appears in GHOSTBUSTERS as the villain's name. map

John Belushi was originally supposed to star in Ghostbusters along side his friend, Dan Ackroyd, as they had done in the 1980 comedy "The Blues Brothers." Unfortunately for the movie (and the world), Belushi passed away to the after-life before Ghostbusters went into production. In an interview about "The Real Ghostbusters" animated TV show, Ackroyd says about the Slimer character that, in many ways, it embodies the spirit of Belushi with its playful lust for life, and enormous appetite for food and drink. So, maybe in some small way Belushi did made it into the film posthumously. Incidentally, the room at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood, where Belushi died is said to be haunted by his ghost. (map)

Speaking of "The Real Ghostbusters," the animated TV version of the movie, the entire series (including the renamed version, "Slimer!") was produced at DIC Entertainment, which is directly across the street from Warner Bros. Studios, where much of the movie was shot. (map)

The reason for the use of  the word "Real" in the title of this movie's cartoon spin-off was because Columbia licensed the term "Ghost Buster" for the movie's title from the now defunct Filmation Associates (based out of Receda in the San Fernando Valley), which produced a live-action children's show in the 1970's with that title that was set and filmed in Los Angeles. In a convoluted mess, when Columbia rejected Filmation's bid to produce a cartoon show based on the movie, they just made their own show based on their original 1970's show, changing the name from "The Ghost Busters" to "Ghostbusters" (known later as "The Original Ghostbusters"), which prompted DIC to title their version "The Real Ghostbusters."  (map)

The Doheny Mansion in Beverly Hills, which has been used in many movies and TV shows over the years, also claims to have been used for GHOSTBUSTERS on their website. Although, not readily visible in the movie, the building does appear in the sequel, GHOSTBUSTERS II. It should also be noted, that this mansion is also said to be haunted by the restless spirit of Ned Doheny, who walks the halls late at night waiting for someone to solve the riddle of his murder (or suicide). map

It should be no surprise that the "Ectomobile" (Ecto-1) was created here in the "custom car capital of the world." The original vehicle is supposedly still on the Sony Lot (in storage) and has not been moved since it was used in GHOSTBUSTERS II. Several other "ectomobile" production cars have been built locally over the years as needed. The Petersen Museum has one of these vehicles as part of its “star cars” collection. Sometimes, it is even on display. Ask, before paying the admission price. map

Then, there's always The Ghost buster Disposal Service (map)

Finally, go to Hollywood Toys and Costume (map) and get your very own “Ghostbusters” costume, or just a “ghost” costume, so you will be appropriately attired for the GHOSTBUSTERS screening tonight at the "almost free" outdoor screening at the Circuit City Lot. map

For an overall map of these locations click here.