Highlights from Feb 2009 Spirits with Spirits at Union Station

GHOULA would like to thank the employees that finally shared their ghost story. It seems there is the spirit of a military man who stands (apparently waiting) in the North courtyard outside the main waiting room. Eventhough his uniform is generic, it is thought that he is from the era of World War II. Also, staff have heard strange moaning sounds outside of the North East part of the station. Could this be the echos of a long ago murder that took place there when the area was Chinatown? We would like to propose another theory. Our city's first "lover's lane" was roughly located in that location, so perhaps those moans are another activity all together.

We would also like to thank the good people at Los Angeles’ main Train transportation hub for the impromptu tour of the abandon New Jersey commuter train on the normally inaccessible Track 13, and for letting us commandeer these sad, forgotten rail cars for the night.


I have heard it said that there is nothing as lonely as a train whistle in the distance. That may be true, but there is also nothing as eerie as an empty train in the moonlight. Thank you, Union Station. A ghoul time was had by all.


Apologies to those who showed up to the bar (i.e. that means you Jim and Cybele) and missed the great train exploration of 2009. Welcome new member Dave Melrose! Remember, once you attend a GHOULA meeting, you are a member for life, and then some.

(to read about the SPIRITS of this location...)

February Spirits with Spirits at Traxx Bar in Union Station

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 curios skeptic to the passionate phantom pursuer. Make friends, find ghosts! Come see all the “hot spots” with “cold spots.”

All those who attend will receive a free GHOULA button. If you have already received your button, please wear it so others can find you.

G.H.O.U.L.A. t-shirts will be available for sale. ($10.00 each)

Union Station began receiving trains in 1939, so be a part of its 70 years of history by taking one of the “light rail” (Red, Gold, Blue, or Purple) options to this deco-destination. Besides avoiding traffic, it will spare you any parking headaches.

THE DATE: February 13th, 2009 (Friday)
THE PLACE: TRAXX Bar (Union Station) map
THE TIME: 8pm to the Witching Hour

THE GHOST(S):

In addition to Union Station being one of the few truly iconic landmarks in Los Angeles (with its unique “mission moderne” design), it has also been one of those locations that members have felt GHOULA should explore. Although, several employees of the station (as well as Amtrak employees) have confessed that it is haunted, GHOULA, through research and interviews, could not get any first-hand accounts from witnesses (or even second-hand accounts). No one was willing to discuss who possibly haunts it (one employee said that management told them not to talk about the ghosts). However, even if these unknown ghost stories are just urban legends, it’s one of those places that should be haunted.

For starters, Union Station was built on the site of the bloodiest riot in this city’s history, in which a Chinese gang war erupted in to a lynch mob that spilled into neighboring communities. When the dust settled, fifteen bodies (some accounts claim as many 19) hung from the trees along Los Angeles Street, near where the entrance to the Union Station stands today. As a result, that dirt road was nicknamed “Hangman’s Street.” Although the legends of catacombs discovered during construction (Indian burial sites, Chinese opium dens, “Lizard People” tunnels, etc.) are apparently not true, the many stories of corpses, folded or in pieces, found in luggage at Union Station are true.

The most famous occurrence of trunks dripping blood involved Winnie Ruth Judd, the infamous “Tiger Woman” of Los Angeles (a.k.a. the “Velvet Tigress” to avoid confusion with the two other notorious local killers also given the nickname the “Tiger Woman”). In addition, the murderer of “Lower 13” was arrested on the platforms as he and his slashed victim rolled into Union Station (perhaps on the now-closed track 13, whose walled-in gateway can still be seen).

On top of all of that, the area near Union Station's baggage claim, was at one time this city's "lover's lane," where all kinds of illicit behavior took place. But the most “spirit-inducing” piece of strange history connected to the station doesn’t involve anything scandalous or macabre.

Union Station’s abandon (but preserved) “restaurant” had the good fortune to be designed by visionary architect Mary Jane Colter. Although notable for creating spaces that fuse Spanish and Native-American influences, she was also fascinated with the supernatural. She used to try to build places that felt like they had history, places where ghosts would feel comfortable. Two of her most famous commissions “The Ghost House” and “Phantom Ranch” reflect that spirit. It is not surprising that most of the locations she created have ghost stories attached to them. Thus, maybe the reason why no one will discuss Union Station's spirits is because they are locked up in the room where “ghosts feel comfortable,” and everyone wants them left undisturded.

http://www.traxxrestaurant.com/
(to read more about the ghosts of Union Station...)
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Highlights from Jan 2009 Spirits with Spirits at Mel's Diner

The spirits were against us. Or were they?

Water, sometimes known for its connection to paranormal activity, was to blame for our disastrous meeting. Due to a busted underground pipe, water service for Hollywood Blvd. was shut off. Musso and Frank’s Grill was forced to cancel dinner service and close their doors. GHOULA marched up and down “the boulevard of broken dreams” for an alternative haunted venue, but all other bars (ghostly or not) in the vicinity were also forced to close as well.

Tired and weary, GHOULA eventually had to settle for Mel’s Diner, located in the historic Max Factor Building and make due with rounds of sodas and milkshakes instead of the traditional cocktails. The strange turn of events however did not dampen the spirits of those that stayed. There were ghost stories a plenty from new members as well as an in depth discussion/debate of the nature of “orbs” in photos.

The surprise guest of the evening was Steve Cohen (pictured above with the "13" tattoo on his wrist), the owner of Larchmont’s Village Pizzeria, who joined our discussion while waiting for a take-out order. It turns out that in addition to his passion for creating great pizza, he also has a passion for the number 13, which seems to invade his life from all angles. So, you can imagine his interest and delight encountering a group of people that meet every 13th of the month.



(to read about the SPIRITS of our intended location...)

January 13th: Spirits with Spirits at Musso & Frank's Grill in Hollywood

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).

Musso and Frank’s Grill proudly boasts itself as “the oldest restaurant in Hollywood. How old is it? They first opened their doors in 1919, which means this year the restaurant turns 90 years old. So, come out and join GHOULA as we celebrate this local institution’s milestone of achievement.

THE DATE: January 13th, 2008 (Tuesday)
THE PLACE: Musso and Frank's Grill
(6667 Hollywood Blvd.) map
THE TIME: 8pm to the Witching Hour

THE GHOST(S):

Although just about every movie star one can think of (going back to the silent era) has at one time eaten here, and although the restaurant serves some of the best food in this town (especially their world famous flannel cakes), it is neither the celebrities nor the cuisine that has fascinated literate locals for decades.

For some inexplicable reason, writers (for better or worse) have always been drawn to this location. F. Scott Fitzgerald, William Faulkner, John O’Shea, Dorothy Parker, Dashiel Hammet, Ernest Hemingway, Nathanial West, Bud Schulburg, Jim Thompson, and Charles Bukowski are just some of the writer’s that have been linked to this famous watering hole.

Not only is Musso and Frank’s grill mentioned in Raymond Chandler’s “The Big Sleep,” it is said that the entire book was written between drinks while Chandler sat at the bar (which may explain the famously convoluted nature of his famous mystery novel). So many writers and screenwriters have frequented this place that it is sometimes referred to as “The Algonquin West,” a reference to the east coast’s “Algonquin Round Table” (the center of New York’s literary scene in the 1920s).

Strangely, none of these famous writer’s that ultimately drank their lives away at this location haunt this establishment, instead the ghosts appear to be a collection of famous celebrities that (even more strangely) haunt other local locations as well. The spirits of Errol Flynn (who also haunts his former residence), Lionel Barrymore (who also haunts his former residence), Orson Wells (who also haunts another restaurant in West Hollywood), Carole Lombard (who also haunts the Hotel Roosevelt), and Jean Harlow (who also busily haunts three of her former homes in Beverly Hills) have all been seen at various locations inside this famous upscale eatery.

Apparently, in the after-life, Musso and Frank’s Grill still serves as the “meeting spot” where Hollywood's ecto-elite go to take a break from their normal haunting duties and just relax and mingle with their phantom friends. It’s nice to know that even after death some things never change in Hollywood.

Additionally, there have been rumors that a hidden back room is said to be haunted by spirits connected to an age when that room was supposedly an illegal speak-easy. Interestingly, the restaurant neighboring Musso and Frank's to the West claims that they were the original site of Musso and Frank's before they moved to their current location next door, and as such they claim that their location was where the speak-easy was originally and that it also is haunted by spirits from that age.

http://www.mussoandfrankgrill.com

(to see last month's SPIRITS with SPIRITS location...)

December 13th: Spirits with Spirits at Carlito's Way Cocktail Lounge!

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).

This month’s installment takes us to another bar patronized by mysterious shadow people. We would like to thank GHOULA member Brenda for alerting us to this unique place.

THE DATE: December 13th, 2008 (Saturday)
THE PLACE: Carlito's Way Cocktail Lounge
15238 Victory Blvd. Van Nuys map
THE TIME: 8pm to the Witching Hour

THE GHOST(S):

In the heart of Van Nuys, (which in itself is said to be the heart of the San Fernando Valley) sits a strip-mall hole-in-the-wall that has all the characteristics that one conjures up when imaging the archetypical neighborhood bar. As you pass through the flagstone entrance, you find yourself in a watering-hole world that appears to have changed very little in the last thirty years. Just as the décor seems to be frozen in a time-warp, it appears that some of this tavern’s patrons are also from another era reliving moments from another existence taking on dark shadowy forms.

Who these shapeless spirits are and why do they feel comfortable in the amber interior of Carito’s Way Cocktail Lounge is still a mystery. Are they the residue energy of bar-flies that used to frequent this establishment? Do these presences predate this pub when a electronics store occupied this location selling modern conveniences like refridgerators and washing machines to the suburbia that sprang up to accommodate the GI’s returning home from killing fields of WWII? Perhaps these super-natural vibrations go further back to the Russell Poultry Farm and the millions of chickens slaughtered on this spot? Does this aura of death attract these dark figures?

The “shadow people” phenomenon is not uncommon in our golden state with stories of their existence going back to the days before Europeans settled this land. Although many occurrences have been reported (even by John Steinbeck) not much is known about this phenomena. So this may be your chance to explore and perhaps discover the truth behind the shadows in one of the places that they dwell.

http://www.carlitoswaycocktails.com/

Questions? Email us at ghoulahq@live.com

(to see last month's SPIRITS with SPIRITS location...)

November 13th Spirits with Spirits at the Mixville Bar in Silverlake

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 largest earthquake drill in U.S. history is scheduled to take place on November 13th at 10:00 am. So, in the spirit of earthquake safety, this month’s “SPIRITS with SPIRITS” will take place in a historic fire station haunted by former rescue workers.

THE DATE: November 13th, 2008 (Thursday)

THE PLACE: Mixville Bar @ The Edendale Grill (2838 Rowena Ave.) map
THE TIME: 8pm to the Witching Hour

THE GHOST(S):

“Mixville” was a 12 acre movie set (complete with a frontier town, an Indian village, a simulated desert, and a range of plaster mountains) in the Silverlake district of Los Angeles where a series of popular silent-era westerns featuring matinee-idol Tom Mix were filmed. Mixville was where Tom Mix buried his beloved horse “Old Blue,” and where John Wayne got his first job in the movie industry. Sadly, Mixville no longer exists, and in its place stands a strip mall with a Ralph’s Supermarket.

The Mixville Bar, on the other hand, can be found a couple of blocks away from its namesake’s former location. While the establishment’s name pays homage to the celluliod heroes of the past, the actual building is a monument to the memory of another kind of hero. The Mixville bar is located inside Historic Fire Station No. 56. Specifically, the bar sits in what was once the station’s fire-truck bay. Built in 1924, many of the buildings original features are still intact and lovingly preserved. The current owners, and the community, are proud of the building’s unique history.

However, in addition to fine food and cocktails, old Fire Station #56 is also home to some paranormal activity. If you ask the wait-staff or the hostess about ghosts, they will tell you that the place is not haunted. But, GHOULA recently spoke to one of the busboys, who swore that it is indeed very haunted!

Apparently, at the end of their shifts, when the employees clean up for the night, it is not uncommon to encounter “shadow people” on the walls of the fire station. These black forms are said to always be male, and to always vanish after a moment. The workers believe that they are the spirits of fallen firefighters that use to live and work at this site.

It has also been reported that the lady who cleans the restrooms (when the restaurant is closed) believes the restless spirits, on more than one occasion, have slammed the doors when she finished her duties. Perhaps, these ghostly acts are a reaction to the presence of a woman in what was once a male-dominated environment. Then again, maybe they’re just playful fire-house pranks. Either way, these spirits appear to be benign.

So, go to The Mixville Bar, and toast the brave men and women of the LAFD, who not only protect us from disaster (natural and otherwise), but even in death watch over us.

(to read about more SPIRITS at this location...)(to see last month's SPIRITS with SPIRITS location...)

Highlights from the September 13th “Spirits with Spirits” at the Haunted Culver Hotel

Earlier in the evening, before arriving at the Culver Hotel, two of the guests informed GHOULA that they conducted a tarot reading to forecast the evening’s events. The “Temperance” card, featuring a bartender, strangely enough was the prominent card of their session. For the record, neither member drank very much, heeding the advice of the great beyond.

As always the Culver Hotel delivered great service, good food, and a warm atmosphere, providing the perfect, casual place to soak up the glamour of old Hollywood.

Unfortunately, no ghosts were spotted that night, but two psychics in attendance picked up other-worldly energy from another era. One psychic felt the sad presence of a suicide victim near the John Wayne Suite, while the other psychic (Psychic Lee Barron from “Ghosts Wanted”) felt the presence of a man eternally walking down the stairs behind the bar. Could that have been the ghost of Harry Culver coming from his office?

The management of the Culver Hotel was kind enough to point out to us the second floor offices of Harry Culver, where most of the spiritual activity takes place.

The ghost enthusiasts present were also treated to an impromptu tour of the basement level, which was used as an “air raid shelter” for Culver City during WWII. The Management claimed the stories of a secret tunnel connecting to the Culver Studios are not true, or at least they haven’t found any evidence of it.

Another member of the hotel staff shared an experience with us she had in the lobby’s restroom. One night, as she was stepping out the ladies’ room, she turned around to witness the faucets turning on with the handles moving by themselves.

Also, two employees were overheard talking about a corner of the lobby where the lights from the lamps and sconces would occasionally, and mysteriously, flicker. The isolated flickering continued long into the night, just like the ghostly conversation at our table.

Thank you all who came out to our spectral soiree.

(to read about the SPIRITS of this location...)

Spirits with Spirits: Sept 13th at the Culver Hotel

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: September 13th, 2008 (Saturday)
THE PLACE: Culver Hotel Lobby bar at 9400 Culver Boulevard, Culver City, CA 90232 map
THE TIME: 9pm to the Witching Hour
THE GHOSTS:

The Culver Hotel opened its doors as the “Hotel Hunt” this month 84 years ago (September 4^th, 1924). At the time, people came from miles around to gaze upon the area’s only skyscraper. Past owners include iconic film stars Charlie Chaplin, Red Skelton and John Wayne (who according to legend won the hotel in a game of poker).

As Culver City grew to become the true motion picture capital of the world, so did the hotels connections with the film world. Not only did it provide lodging for some of the most famous people to ever grace the silver screen, it too graced the silver screen being used as a frequent location for many movies shot in the area. The hotel also has a very literal connection with the film world. There is a secret underground tunnel that connects the hotel to the nearby Culver Studios, which is said to been used over the years to smuggle all sorts of things including famous actors, mistresses, booze during prohibition, and most famously “Munchkins.”

Locally, the “Munchkin” connection is the hotel’s biggest claim to fame. During the making of the classic film “The Wizard of Oz,” over one hundred of the little people who played the “Munchkins” stayed in this hotel. The stories of the nightly exploits have become legendary. Over the years, this famous group of tiny actors has been accused of participating in everything from drunken debauchery to all-out orgies. They also have been blamed for much of the mischievous ghostly activity that happens in the hotel, including the disembodied conspiratorial whispers that get hushed as you approach.

The most prominant ghost of the hotel however, and very fittingly, is the spirit of Harry Culver himself, the namesake of the building (and the city). Harry culver maintained offices on the second floor for over a decade as his “base of operations” for city affairs. Members of the hotel staff occasionally see his ghostly form wandering the hotel. Many believe that even in death, he still keeps watch over the hotel and city that bear his name.

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August 13th: Spirits with Spirits at the HMS Bounty

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 complimentary limited edition square shaped G.H.O.U.L.A. button. If you have already received your button, please wear it so others can find you. G.H.O.U.L.A t-shirts will be available for sale ($10.00 each). Online for $13.00.

Since we have not had much luck with the “Haunted Mirrors” at our last two outings, let’s give it one more shot with a lesser known haunted mirror in the Wilshire Corridor.

THE DATE: August 13th, 2008 (Wednesday)
THE PLACE: H.M.S. Bounty (located on the ground floor of the Gaylord Bldg.) map
THE TIME: 9pm to the Witching Hour

THE GHOSTS: The H.M.S. Bounty is one of the last of a dying breed – the nautical themed bar. Decorated with boating regalia, this old watering-hole resembles the interior of a ship’s galley complete with low ceilings and portholes. This famous location is just one part of a bigger haunted site.

The H.M.S. Bounty (originally called “the Gay Room”) is on the ground floor of the Gaylord Apartments which was built in 1921 by the eccentric millionaire Gaylord Wilshire. Upton Sinclair, noted author, once said that Mr. Wilshire was “for all the world, the incarnation of Mephistopheles.” And true to form, later in life, Gaylord Wilshire claimed to have “mystical powers.”Mr. Wilshire purchased the original city dump (and surrounding swampy area) at a cheap price and converted it into the “Miracle Mile” we know today. It is said that before Mr. Wilshire gentrified this then remote section of the city, it was a popular spot to hide murder victims.
Tenants of this historic apartment building have complained of strange knocks on their windows and phantom footsteps in the empty halls. Most notably, there is a ghost that haunts the ladies’ room in the lobby. Women claim to feel an invisible hand pinch their posterior, as well as see the reflection of a leering man in the mirror, only to turn around and discover they’re alone. The identity this paranormal pervert is currently unknown.

The HMS Bounty is located at 3357 Wilshire BlvdLos Angeles, CA 90010. For restaurant and bar info, call (213) 385-7275.

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July SPIRITS WITH SPIRITS Summary: El Compadre

Although, El Compadre was bustling with human activity, the ghosts were not as active on the night we went. Unfortunately, the only spirits seen were the kind that comes in a glass with ice and flames on top. However, the historic restaurant’s atmosphere did not disappoint. The dimly lit rooms and colored lighting provided the perfect background for those attending to share ghost stories and other tales of personal encounters and adventures exploring the hidden haunted places in Los Angeles.

Haunted mirror report: This mirror is definitely strange. It is perhaps the ugliest and most garish mirror in all of Hollywood, and is worth a visit just on that level. Despite the psycadelic nature of the frame however, the mirror itself did not yield anything visually unusual on this night.

In conclusion, the rumors of ghosts are either overstated, or out-dated, or just untrue.

But then again, maybe we just picked the wrong night. Perhaps next month we will have better luck.

Stay tuned for information regarding August’s “Spirits with Spirits.” Remember, all attendees receive a complimentary limited edition GHOULA button!

(to read about the SPIRITS of this location...)

Spirits with Spirits: June 13th, 2008

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!

THE DATE: June 13th, 2008 (Friday the 13TH)
THE PLACE: The Library Bar (located in the haunted lobby of the Hotel Roosevelt) map

THE GHOSTS:

This hotel is as famous for the list of celebrities who have stayed there, as it is for the ghosts that continue to stay there, including a couple of celebrities who are also ghosts (or vice-versa). Most famously, Marilyn Monroe is said to haunt a mirror that hangs in the lobby near the elevators. Witnesses have claimed to have seen her phantom reflection smiling back at them. Legend has it that the mirror was one of her favorite possessions in her private poolside suite.

The lobby is also the home for two other ghosts. First, there is the unidentified “man in white” who walks along the mezzanine level of the lobby, eventually disappearing as he steps through the solid, locked doors on the north-east corner of the building... Many believe he is connected to the first Academy Award ceremony, which was held in that room. Perhaps, he is a forgotten celebrity from the silent era of movies.

Second, there is the ghost of a little girl seen playing in the lobby who is solid as can be one second, only to vanish into thin air the next. Could this be the ghost of Shirley Temple, who used to practice her dance routines in this very space?

Also, haunting this famous Hollywood landmark is Marilyn Monroe’s co-star from her last completed movie, Montgomery Clift, who is said to occupy Room 928. Over the years, people have claimed to have heard him pacing and practicing the trumpet (for his role in “From here to Eternity”). Some even believe the dark shadows seen moving in that hall are connected to his troubled spirit.

Other celebrity ghostly guests seen over the years include Carole Lombard, Clark Gable, and Harry Lee (who committed suicide by jumping of a fire escape). Maintenance workers, while on the rooftop, have felt invisible hands pushing them towards the edge. Could this energy by connected to Harry Lee's death? Perhaps, he was pushed, and his spirit will not rest until the true cause of his death is known.

In addition to those celebrity guests, Housekeeping and patrons have reported voices from empty halls and vacant rooms. Lights turning on and off by themselves, phone receivers that would lift from their cradles by an unseen force, telephones from vacant rooms calling the front desk, bedspreads that move off the beds, a typewriter in an office that types by itself, cold spots in the ballroom, and even one housekeeper that was shoved into a supply closet by invisible hands. Could this be the handy work of other temperamental stars that need attention? What ever the answer, one thing is for sure… The Hotel Roosevelt provides the best accommodations for ghosts with discerning tastes.

It is also worth noting, that across the street from the Hotel, at the world famous “Chinese Theater,” the ghost of TV star, Victor Killian, has been seen strolling along the side walk. It is said, that in death, he is repeating that last walk from the Roosevelt’s bar (his regular hang-out) to his Hollywood apartment, where he was murdered.