REAL GHOSTS with REEL GHOST!

DATE: April 7 - ?
TIME: Various (check show times)
PLACE: Majestic Crest
1262 Westwood Blvd, Los Angeles (map)
MOVIE: Insidious (2010)
ADMISSION: $11.00

Your chance to see this movie about ghosts in an actual haunted theater! (Note: this event is not hosted by GHOULA, and is just an event our members should know about. Thus, the event staff may not answer any questions regarding their ghosts.)

The Crest is said to be haunted by a phantom projectionist (to read more about this theater's ghost...)

(for more info on this event...)

Highlights from March's SWS

Sadly, one of the great "only in Los Angeles" landmarks (a bar plastered with minuscule residual checks) has been converted into yet another fake Irish pub, but even still it seemed appropriate to have our St. Patrick's Day celebration there, and thank you all who came out for this event.

Although GHOULA was able to confirm that this bar does have a ghost story (from an overheard telephone conversation between a bartender and the bar's owner), and the unusual location of the haunting was confirmed (the crawl space above the storage room), the exact details of the haunting were never confirmed.

The bartender told us to talk to the owner about the ghost. The owner didn't want to talk about it, and suggested that we talk to the former owner. After several failed attempts at meeting the former owner, we still don't have the story.

With such a wild goose chase, GHOULA would normally reject this venue as haunted, if it weren't for the initial overheard conversation, which involved the bartender (away from the bar) asking the owner if the place was haunted, and then recoiling from the stories told to her over the other end. It's seems unlikely that the staff would stage such an incident in the chance that it would drum up business, especially considering every one's unwillingness to talk about it after being approached.

This just goes to show, that every restaurant/bar/business handles their ghost lore differently, and why for the most part our group does not announce to the venue that we will be coming. You never know what kind of reaction you are going to get.

(for more info on this haunted location...)

March's SPIRITS with SPIRITS

GHOULA meets for cocktails in haunted places on the 13th of each month. “SPIRITS with SPIRITS” is a casual gathering of regional ghost hunters and those that just like ghost stories. 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 (square) G.H.O.U.L.A. button. If you already have one, please wear it so others can find you.

THE DATE: March 13th, 2011 (Sunday "Bloody" Sunday)

THE PLACE: Maeve's Residuals
11042 Ventura Boulevard, Studio City (map)

THE TIME: 8:00pm to Midnight

THE GHOST:

On March 13th, exactly twenty-five years ago this Sunday, "Residuals," a little bar catering to local actors opened its doors for business in Studio City. In the last 4 years, Maeve purchased the bar and gave it an Irish Pub atmosphere, and made it a destination for fans of the mixological arts, particularly on Sundays when gourmet "Bloody Marys" ("the best in the San Fernando Valley") are served for their "Sunday Bloody Sunday" celebration.

Like most neighborhood bars in the San Fernando Valley, it is a dark cave-like environment stuck in the middle of a sunny roadside strip mall. However, supernaturally speaking, there are many things that make this tavern special.

First, Residuals was built (and billed) as an "actor's hang-out." As such, many depressed, rejected, out-of-work, and down-on-their-luck actors have passed though it's doors and wallowed in their misery at this site, which are wonderful ingredients for a great haunted location. The name "Residuals" comes from the term for the reduced payments actors get when their work is rerun on television. Sometimes the checks mailed to them were less than the postage on the envelope. There was a time when one could give the bartender a residual check (valued less than a dollar) and receive a free well drink in exchange. As a result, the walls quickly became plastered with studio checks for minuscule amounts, as the actors themselves got "plastered." Although, these sad souvenirs of the acting profession were removed recently, some can still be seen on the walls of the restroom.

Secondly, Residuals is in the shadow of (and walking distance from) two famously haunted/historic studio lots. To the East, Universal (home to all the famous monsters of filmdom) and to the west, the old Mack Sennett Studios (now known as CBS Studio Center). Is there a better place for a haunted actor's bar to be located than in between these two vortexs of entertainment industry paranormal activity?

Thirdly, the land Residuals sits on top of has history and was part of the original alignment of the old "El Camino Royal," California's first road, dating back hundreds of years to when the Native Americans used this footpath to travel between tribes throughout the state. Later the Spanish Missionaries used it to connect their Missions. Eventually, it was paved over with the invention of the automobile, and this section is known today as Ventura Blvd. Needless to say, many hardships occurred on this well-worn trail thru the decades, and much of it is said to be haunted.

Lastly, the name "Residuals" is also coincidentally a ghost-hunting term for latent (non-intelligent) spirit energy left at a location of significance that manifests as a form that seems to repeat an action over and over again (and is always seen doing that same action).

Thus, is it any wonder that this unique watering hole has its own resident ghost in their attic above the actual bar? To hear more about this and other nearby ghosts come out for a drink this Sunday (Bloody Sunday).

http://www.maevesresiduals.com/

(for more info about the ghost of this location...)

(to read about last month's location...)

REAL GHOSTS with REEL GHOSTS: The AMAZING World of GHOSTS

(This is not a GHOULA Event!)

THE PLACE: The Silent Movie Theater
(611 N. Fairfax Ave.) map

Come out and see a movie about ghosts in an actual haunted theater!
The Silent Movie Theater is said to be the home of a phantom projectionist and a disappearing/reappearing blood stain in the lobby... (read more)

SATURDAY MARCH 26

Phenome-Con 2011!, Day One
(feat. The Amazing World Of Ghosts, The Legend of Boggy Creek, Journey Into The Beyond & The Devil's Triangle!)

The Amazing World Of Ghosts - 7:30pm-ish

Is it accidental surrealism, an arthouse hoax -- or both? The Amazing World of Ghosts holds a special place in our hearts as the single strangest entry in the ‘70s Phenome-con sweepstakes. Comprised out of piles of seemingly unrelated stock footage, glued together with a rambling, Joycean stream-of-consciousness voice-over, the film is a schizo treatise loosely linking the universe’s colorful rainbow of ghosts: Bigfoot ghosts, space alien ghosts, voodoo ghosts, Loch Ness ghosts, wild child ghosts, goat herder ghosts, Chilean earthquake ghosts, bicycle-riding ghosts, and more.

Amazingly, this creation was “directed” by renowned movie historian/experimental filmmaker Wheeler Winston Dixon, and most likely was an influence on a young Craig Baldwin. Like a fuzzy transmission from the heart of the Fourth Dimension, drenched in raw, harsh zonked-out Moog blurps and library record funk cuts, the demented results of this enigmatic oddity make your average paranormal doc look positively -- uh, normal!

Presented in a truly rare archival 16mm print, flown in from Australia!
Dir. Wheeler Winston Dixon, 1978, 16mm, 91 min.



Here's the ticket link! See ya there...and if you go, wear your button so we can come say hi!

Highlights form Feb's SWS

Thank you all for coming out and supporting the (dark) arts!

We had a great turn-out for GHOULA's first foray into the art world, and promoting a local artist that uses ghost lore as her subject matter.

Based on the success of this event, we hope to do more summarily themed art shows in the future.

As a weird footnote to the evening after the exhibit showing, a group of us went Cross's the street to Hop Louie's for a night cap. While conversing, it suddenly dawned on everyone that the interior was filled with boxes coincidentally marked "SWS" (as in SPIRITS with SPIRITS).

How did they know we were coming?

February's SPIRITS with SPIRITS

GHOULA meets for cocktails in haunted places on the 13th of each month. “SPIRITS with SPIRITS” is a casual gathering of regional ghost hunters and those that just like ghost stories. 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 (square) G.H.O.U.L.A. button. If you already have one, please wear it so others can find you.

THE DATE: Februay 13th, 2011 (Sunday)
THE PLACE: The Studio for Southern California History
977 North Hill Street, (Chinatown) Los Angeles (map)
THE TIME: 6:00pm-8:00pm (then across the street to Hop Louie)

"Playful ghosts have interrupted our tour"
-Haunted Mansion, Disneyland

GHOULA is going to do something a little different this month (we just couldn't resist this unique opportunity). Instead, of the normal "SPIRITS with SPIRITS," we will be celebrating local ghost lore (with libations) with the good people at the Studio for Southern California History for a special art show (and reception), featuring the "Haunted Art" of Cathrine Brogger.

This collection of "plein air" style paintings of local haunted sites has never before been displayed in public. Yes, these 13 works of art will be shown for the first time on the 13th, and the reclusive artist, herself, will be present.

This one-night-only event will be in conjunction with SFSCH's current exhibit "Love is Living Large in Los Angeles," their virtual love letter to the "City of Angels."

So, come out and celebrate the eve before St. Valentine's Day, in the historic West Plaza of Chinatown (aka "New Chinatown") as we explore the dark side of our feelings for the city we all call home.

"SPIRIT with SPIRITS" will resume as usual next month.

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

Jan's SWS Highlights

This "Spirits with Spirits" elicited one of the oddest responses from our host restaurant. The staff was extremely put-off by the size of our group (about 30), and almost refused to serve us. They apparently were hoping they wouldn't have to work on this quiet Wednesday evening, and enjoy the solitude of an empty restaurant. I guess they don't want/need customers in these slow economic times.

That said, they finally reluctantly took our orders, and brought out lackluster entrees. Maybe the cooking staff was also bothered by our presence in their otherwise quiet establishment.

Unfortunately, our group's members were the only presences present that night. The only ghost stories of note to report, were the ones told at the table.

On the plus side, GHOULA co-founder, Richard Carradine, was shocked when everyone erupted into a rousing rendition of "Happy Birthday," as a blase waiter brought out a platter of "Blood Red Velvet" cupcakes (with lit candles) and a large decorative skull in the center to his seat. He was so not-expecting-it, that he was even singing along, trying to figure out whose birthday it was that night. (Mr. Carradine's birthday was actually the following week) It was a nice, and appreciated, surprise. It just goes to show you, you never know what to expect at "Spirits with Sprits."

(to read about the ghosts of this restaurant...)

January's SPIRITS with SPIRITS

GHOULA meets for cocktails in haunted places on the 13th of each month. “SPIRITS with SPIRITS” is a casual gathering of regional ghost hunters and those that just like ghost stories. 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 (square) G.H.O.U.L.A. button. If you already have one, please wear it so others can find you.

THE DATE: January 13th, 2011 (Thursday)
THE PLACE: Antonio's7470 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles (map)
THE TIME: 8:00pm to 11:00pm

THE GHOST(S):
The arrival of a new year is usually a time to wish others good luck and prosperity in the coming year. So, it seems fitting that GHOULA kicks off 2011 with a lucky charm of a location. Antonio's on Melrose has, over the last fifty years, gotten a reputation as being the place that celebrities hang-out at just before they become famous (Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts, Jennifer Aniston, Jennifer Lopez, etc.) as if this magical Mexican restaurant had something to do with their good fortune.

This urban legend further states that these windfalls occur when the spirits that haunt this eatery favor an individual. Although, the idea these ghosts actually influence the destiny of the patrons seems far-fetched, there does seem to be something super-natural about this establishment. The lights have been known to turn on and off by themselves, a bell in the kitchen rings when there is no food for pick-up, and staff have even felt phantom tugs on their clothes as if some unseen "person" wants their attention. A male ghost has also been seen throughout the building (at the end of the bar, the office, back room, etc.)

When asking the owner, Antonio Gutierrez, who he thinks the ghost might be, he doesn't even venture a guess since it really could be anyone from the restaurant's history (from beloved staff to celebrity customers). Some have even speculated that ghost is ol' blues eyes, himself, Frank Sinatra, since he loved this place, and spent many nights there. Then again, it could also be the spirit of eccentric billionaire Howard Hughes, who ate at Antonio's so much (and spent so much time there) he had a phone installed (which is still there) next to his usual table. Gutierrez also was told when he moved in that when the building was under construction, the builders discovered several caskets in the ground at that site that dated back to when this area was under Mexican rule. Do these long gone Mexicans haunt this Mexican restaurant? Come to Antonio's and find out, and if you're lucky, the spirits might look favorably on you.

http://www.antoniosonmelrose.com/Antonios_on_Melrose.html

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

GHOULA's Annual Report 2010

(Alhambran F.E. Ormsby, creator of HAPPY NEW YEAR!

GHOULA has many great things planned for the upcoming year.

But first, let's take a last look back at 2010.

SPIRITS with SPIRITS continued its monthly meetings, visiting 12 new haunted restaurants/bars in the Los Angeles area. Our June "two-year anniversary" was held at the historic Aztec Hotel with tours of the haunted rooms and themed live music all night (over 100 people attended this event). In October, the LA Weekly declared (in their "Best of LA" issue) SPIRITS with SPIRITS was "The best place to toast a ghost." (To revisit the 2009 "SPIRITS with SPIRITS" locations see below)

Last Year, GHOULA continued its "REAL GHOSTs with REEL GHOSTS." As a way to celebrate "Tinsel Town's" film history and Hollywood's haunted history, anytime a movie about ghosts was shown in a haunted local theater, the details were posted on this site. (for an example...)
In 2010, GHOULA began a new feature called "LOST," where ghost stories from long gone haunted buildings were retold, in hopes of preserving this lost and mostly forgotten lore. (for an example...)

Also, this last Halloween, GHOULA attempted the world's largest paranormal investigation with our "Million Dollar Ghost Hunt." Unfortunately due to circumstances beyond our control, it had to be cancelled at the last moment. Because of the positive response to this aborted event, GHOULA will most likely try it again. (for more info...)
2010 was also the year of our "Haunted Films in Haunted Places" film series. In a partnership with the Echo Park Film Center's Filmmobile, a different movie with "haunted" in it's title, was screened in an actual haunted location that corresponded thematically to that film on each Sunday in the month of October. It was so much fun, GHOULA will hopefully make this an annual tradition.

Speaking of partnerships, GHOULA and filmmaker Anthony Deptula teamed up with The Center of Inquiry (Los Angeles' skeptic society) for "See You in a 100 Years: The Houdini Project," an experiment based on Houdini's failed attempt to contact his wife, Bess, with a pre-arranged secret message.

However, the biggest event that happened to GHOULA in 2010 was the creation of GHOULA Press, the publishing arm of our group. Under this banner, two books were released (with plans for many more). The first book was "The Park After Dark: An Unofficial Guide to the Happiest (Haunted) Place on Earth," a collection of the ghost stories connected to Disneyland, which was released in April, and then after a couple modifications (for legal reasons) was re-released in June.

The second book was "GHOULA Comix #1: Welcome to LA," an anthology of short ghost stories in comic form by local artists. The plan is to release a new issue every year in October, so if you (or someone you know) would like to contribute to this project, please submit entries before June 2011. All profits then go towards funding future club activities.

Lastly, GHOULA ended the year with "The 13 Days of Christmas," a daily celebration of the darker aspects of the holiday season from SPIRITS with SPIRITS (on the 13th) to Christmas Day.

2010 was a great year for GHOULA, and judging from the surprises that are in the works, 2011 will be even better.

The SPIRITS with SPIRITS locations of 2010

January - Miceli'sFebruary - Down & Out Bar (Alexandria Hotel)March - Old Spaghetti FactoryApril - The Tam O'Shanter InnMay - The Snow White Cafe
June - The Aztec HotelJuly - Mexico
August - The DerbySeptember - 1642 Temple
October - Gallery Bar (Biltmore Hotel)November - Barefoot Bar (Duke's in Malibu)December - Pickwick Bowl

(To view last year's annual report...)
(For the SPIRITS with SPIRITS locations of 2009...)

Scary Christmas Everyone!

"There'll be parties for hosting
Marshmallows for toasting
And caroling out in the snow
They'll be scary ghost stories
And tales of the glories of
Christmases long, long ago"

(from the popular Christmas song
"It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year")

"We're all familiar with Dickens's A Christmas Story, and the three ghosts who visit Ebenezer Scrooge on Christmas Eve. But few know that Dickens did not pluck this idea of a Christmas haunting out of thin air - that, in fact, he was continuing the age-old tradition in England of telling ghost stories on Christmas Eve, a period of time believed to provide and open door to the other side." ---Mary Beth Crain (from her book Haunted Christmas)

Mondo Xmas (Day #13 of 13)

Note: This event is part of the "13 Days of Christmas." There will be more events for each day leading up to X-mas. (Info on all the upcoming events @ creepyxmas.com)

Mondo Xmas (featuring The Christmas Martian)

THE DATE: December 25th (Saturday)
THE TIME: 8:00pm
THE PLACE: The Silent Movie Theater
(611 N. Fairfax Ave.) map
THE MOVIE: The Christmas Martian (1971)
(plus some twisted holiday short films)
THE PRICE: $12.00

Come out and see these creepy Christmas films in an actual haunted theater!
The Silent Movie Theater is said to be the home of a phantom projectionist and a disappearing/reappearing blood stain in the lobby... (read more)

Macabre Marionettes (Day #12 of 13)

Note: This event is part of the "13 Days of Christmas." There will be more events for each day leading up to X-mas. (Info on all the upcoming events @ creepyxmas.com)

Date: December 24th (Friday)
Location: Bob Baker Marionette Theater
1345 W. First St. (map)
Time: 10:30am
Tickets: $15-$20 SOLD OUT!

Bob Baker’s Nutcracker

How this collection of rambling, psychedelic episodes about a little girl and vermin royalty became a holiday staple is one of the great mysteries of Christmas (perhaps the composer, Tchaikovsky, sold his soul to Krampus). Fortunately, Bob Baker's famous puppet players elevate this uninspired source material into high art. So, come out and experience one of the truly great treasures of Los Angeles.

Creepy Christmas Crawl (Day #11 of 13)

Note: This event is part of the "13 Days of Christmas." There will be more events for each day leading up to X-mas. (Info on all the upcoming events @ creepyxmas.com)

Date: December 23rd (Thursday)
Time: 8:00pm - 11:00pm
Location: Sci-Ti Santa (Starting Place)
Hollywood Blvd. & McCadden Place (map)
(the "Winter Wonderland" in the parking lot)

CREEPY CHRISTMAS CRAWL

Come out and enjoy the "Holiday Spirit, or "spirits" as the case may be, when GHOULA (with creepyla.com) conducts their first ever BAR CRAWL to some of the haunted taverns along the real "Santa Claus Lane" (the one that inspired the song). We will visit with "the ghosts of Christmas' past" where they reside, and even follow the path of a famous drunken ghost that walks the "boulevard of broken dreams" (and not the sugar plum kind).

8:00pm - 8:30pm Meet-up & photo w/ Sci-Ti Santa
8:45pm - 9:15pm Miceli's
9:30pm - 10:00pmMusso & Franks
10:15pm - 10:45pm Snow White Cafe
11:00pm Roosevelt Hotel Lobby Bar

Ecto-Ice Skating (Day #10 0f 13)

Note: This event is part of the "13 Days of Christmas." There will be more events for each day leading up to X-mas. (Info on all the upcoming events @ creepyxmas.com)

Date: December 22 (Wednesday)

Location: Pershing Square

Downtown, (map)

Time: 8:00pm - 10:00pm

Skating at (the haunted) Pershing Square with the Spazmatics!

(WEATHER PERMITTING)

Seriously? Ice skating in this weather? Yeah, I didn't think so.

But, if for some reason you do go, here's the ghost story...

Aside from being situated in front of the famously haunted Biltmore Hotel (pictured above), Pershing Square is also the setting for one of the oldest ghost stories in Los Angeles. The South-East corner of this civic park is said to be where a "dark-skinned woman wrapped in a blanket" is seen walking along the curb (two feet above the ground). This tale goes back several generations, and even predates Pershing Square, itself. Sightings of this silent siren started back when an aqueduct cut through this site, and her spirit (according to earlier witnesses) strolled along it's banks.

Spooky Shopping Spree (Day #9 of 13)

Note: This event is part of the "13 Days of Christmas." There will be more events for each day leading up to X-mas. (Info on all the upcoming events @ creepyxmas.com)

Location: Burbank Media District (map)

Wrap up your last minute ghoulish gifts in scary Burbank, where all sorts of strange and funky stores can be found within a couple of blocks from each other, such as...

Atomic Records, The Train Shack, American Way Thrift Store, The White Elephant, Halloween Town, A Better Way Cremation, Autobooks-Aerobooks, The Writer's Store, It's a Wrap!, The Victorian Rose, Hubba Hubba, Burbank Sports Cards, etc.

Then, take a dinner break at Pinocchio Restaurant (where 6 creepy paintings of "the puppet without strings" hang against vintage wood-paneling).

Lastly, finish the day at Dark Delicacies for a Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab event (7:00pm - 10:00pm)

Film Radar Field Trip (Day #8 of 13)

Tonight FilmRadar is partnering with Creepy LA and GHOULA for a FilmRadar Field Trip. We will meet at Greenblatt's Deli at 8:30pm for dinner and then we'll see

RARE EXPORTS: A CHRISTMAS TALE

Date: December 20th (Monday)
Location: Laemmle Sunset 5
8000 Sunset Blvd.West Hollywood (map)
Time: 10:15 pm
Admission: $11.00

"A film for those who think they don't believe in Santa Claus anymore."

VIEW TRAILER

GHOULA Comix Signing (Day #7 of 13)

Note: This event is part of the "13 Days of Christmas." There will be more events for each day leading up to X-mas. (Info on all the upcoming events @ creepyxmas.com)

Date: December 19th (Sunday)

Location: Hi De Ho Comics

1431 Lincoln Blvd, Santa Monica (map)

Time: 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm

Come down and pick up a copy and do some pop culture holiday shopping!

GHOULA COMIX #1: Welcome to L.A. is the first issue of the regional anthology of ghost-themed comics about Los Angeles. The premise for participating authors was that the story must contain a ghost, and must take place in Los Angeles. All proceeds from this edition go to support events for Ghost Hunters of Urban Los Angeles, a social networking club dedicated to the preservation of greater L.A.'s rich haunted history, and the promotion and celebration of this local lore through ghostly gatherings, events, and publications.

Featuring...

MICHAEL AUSHENKER (El Gato Crime Mangler)

JIM WHEELOCK

JOSE CABRERA (Crying Macho Man)

TOMER BAR OR

JAVIER HERNANDEZ (El Muerto The Aztec Zombie)

TED SEKO (The Devil Has a Funny Laugh)

RAFAEL NAVARRO (Sonambulo)

RICHARD CARRADINE

GHOULA authors will also bring their own paranormal themed comics to sign for your blossoming comic ghost stories collection! (Authors Jose Cabrera, Javier Hernandez, and Ted Seko will be with us only in spirit)

*Now accepting submissions to GHOULA COMIX Issue #2 - if you have an idea for a story, come down and talk to us! We also pair writers with artists for collective comic producing power.

Cemetery Tour (Day #6 of 13)

Note: This event is part of the "13 Days of Christmas." There will be more events for each day leading up to X-mas. (Info on all the upcoming events @ creepyxmas.com)

Hollywood Forever Cemetery Tour

Date: December 18th (Saturaday)
Location: Hollywood Forever Cemetery (meet at the flower shop)
6000 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles (map)
Time: 12:00 pm (high noon)

This special tour of the final address for many of Hollywood's famous (and infamous) former residents will be conducted by one of Los Angeles' living legends, Karie Bible, the current (and official) "Lady in Black."

The GHOSTs:

When Rudolph Valentino, the uber-star of stage and the silent screen died, a mysterious mourning lady dressed all in black with a veil, faithfully visited Valentino's marker (annually) to place a rose on it. This simple gesture became the stuff of legend as people began to come year after year just to catch a glimpse of her. The identity of this "lady" is difficult to determine, since over the decades, many women have also donned that same mourning outfit and repeated the ritual of visiting his final resting place. The idea of Valentino's "lady in black" seems to be a local tradition past down through the generations (as well as something often imitated). This bizarre practice is said to have even inspired the song "The Long Black Veil," which has been covered by Johnny Cash, The Band, the Dave Matthews Band, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan and many others.

Strangely, this odd local occurrence has also led to possible super-natural occurrences. Over the years, there have been claims by tourists of an additional phantom lady in black seen entering the mausoleum of Valentino's tomb, when the witnesses follow her inside to snap a picture of this famous act, they find that she is nowhere to be seen, as if she vanished into thin air. Is this one of the former black-clad beauties doomed to making her rounds for eternity? If she is, than she is not alone, this historic cemetery in the shadow of Paramount Studios is said to be haunted by other spirits as well, including the ghost of actor, Clifton Webb.

Nihilist Film Festival (Day #5 of 13)

Note: This event is part of the "13 Days of Christmas." There will be more events for each day leading up to X-mas. (Info on all the upcoming events @ creepyxmas.com)

Date: December 17th (Friday)
Location: Echo Park Film Center
1200 N. Alvarado, Los Angeles (map)
Time: 8:00 pm
Admission: 8pm / Tickets: $5 / 1200 N. Alvarado

"Uli doesn't care about anything. He's a Nihilist." - Bunny Lebowski
"Ah, that must be exhausting." - The Dude

Those that have seen the LA-centric film, "The Big Lebowski," know there's nothing scarier than LA's Nihilists, especially during the holidays. Yes, nothing kills the "Christmas Spirit" like Nihism. 

Since the end of the year is usually a time of reflection (which is why the suicide rate is so high during the holidays), come out to the Echo Park Film Center, located off of (haunted) Route 66, and ask yourself "What's it all about, elfie?" at the...

NIHILIST FILM FESTIVAL
For the eleventh year, the Nihilist Cultural Foundation presents the Nihilist International Film Festival. The festival includes two hours of short films from around the country and around the world. The films range from troubling to hilarious, from profound to completely silly. Pretty much, something for everyone (except children and clergy). Festival Director Elisha Shapiro commented, “If you are tired of all those ‘namby-pamby’ film festivals with artsy film-school projects, grab your wig and keys. The Nihilist Film Festival dares to go to someplace different. How weird can a film get and still be entertaining?” As a special feature, all those who bring their own televisions and arrive fifteen minutes early will be able to include their appliances in the traditional ritual Blessing of the Televisions.Nihilist Film Festival director Elisha Shapiro is a Los Angeles-based conceptual artist. He is known for presenting the 1984 Nihilist Olympics and the 1999 Nihilism Expo. He was also the Nihilist Party candidate for Governor in 2006, for President in 1988, and for LA county sheriff in 1992.

Disney on Ice! (Day #4 of 13)

Note: This event is part of the "13 Days of Christmas." There will be more events for each day leading up to Christmas, itself. (info @ creepyxmas.com)

Date: December 16 (Thursday)
Time: 7:30 pm
Location: STAPLES Center
1111 S. Figueroa Street (map)
Admission: $16.00 (for the cheap seats)

What do you do the day after Disney died (December 15th)?
You put him on ice, of course!

DISNEY ON ICE: Let's Celebrate!

Ever since these costumed skating shows began touring, people have cracked jokes about the unintentional reference to the urban legend that Walt Disney's body (or maybe just his head) is somewhere (maybe under Disneyland) perfectly preserved, frozen in ice. Now, GHOULA is taking the same cheap shot at (along with some cheap seats to) this ice-tastic spectacle.

Let's Celebrate is a compilation show that is "one big colossal party on ice!" It's a "magical medley of holidays, celebrations, and festivals from around the globe," including a "Winter Wonderland" with Mickey & Minnie, a "Halloween Haunt" with several of the Disney Villains, and Alice's "Very Merry Unbirthday" (for baby Jesus).