83rd Annual Rudolph Valentino Memorial

Note: This event is not hosted by GHOULA. This is just a local (ghost related) event that exists independently that GHOULA wants its members to know about. As such, docents and staff at this event may not wish to discuss this landmark's haunted history.

Where: Hollywood Forever Cemetery
6000 Santa Monica Boulevard (map)
Date: August 23 (Monday)
Time: 12:10 pm

One can read about Valentino's many achievements and super stardom elsewhere, but what is of interest to local ghost hunters about this silent film celebrity is the ubiquitous nature of his ghost. Valentino is said to repeatedly haunt many buildings and places throughout Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and Downtown. Even the ghosts of his horse and favorite dog have been spotted over the years

The reason for these many sightings probably stems from two facts from his time in Southern California. First, because of his popular and fun-loving nature, there are not many places locally that he didn't visit, stay at, dance at, entertain at, or was entertained at (both before and after stardom). Secondly, he (along with his wife) were outspoken believers in the spirits, and participated in many demonstrations of seances. Incidentally, he has also been known to show up at many more seances after he departed.

Although Hollywood Forever Cemetery is easily one of the most haunted local cemeteries, ironically his ghost has not been seen there. But, it has been seen in the neighboring Paramount studios (some have even claimed his ghost goes through the adjoining wall as if going into the cemetery). Though Valentino may not haunt the premises, the ghost of a "women in black" has been seen periodically visiting his marker. The identity of this "woman" is difficult to determine, since over the decades, many women (including one who does these duties today) have also donned that same mourning outfit and repeated the ritual of visiting his final resting place. The idea of Valentino's "woman in black" seems to be a local tradition past down through the generations (as well as something often imitated).

So, come out and celebrate the life (and after-life) of one of the silver screen's most unique stars.

For more info...

http://blog.allanellenberger.com/book-flm-news/83rd-annual-valentino-memorial/

(Ghost-assisted) Art!

Note: This event is not hosted by GHOULA. This is just a local (ghost-related) event that exists independently that GHOULA wants its members to know about.

Date: August 20, 2010

Time: 9pm

Place: Human Resources (510 Bernard St.)

Spectral Psychography is a form of psychic mark-making invented by Los Angeles based artists Christian Cummings and Michael Decker. The Psychographer uses an adapted Ouija device (a planchette) to collaborate artistically with unseen forces. Blindfolded, the hand forms an image while the mind remains unaware of what the hand is doing. Since 2004 Cummings and Decker have been collaborating with ghosts in the service of drawing, painting, poetry, sculpture and musical composition. To date they have created hundreds of Spectral Psychographs and have collaborated with the likes of Barnett Newman, Paul Klee, Walt Disney, Kieth Harring, Tony Smith, David Smith and Norman Rockwell (to name a few).

"Fright Night in the Heights" Film Fest

Date: August 21

Time: 8:00pm - 11:00pm
Place: Linda Vista Hospital
610 S. St Louis Street, Los Angeles (map)
Movie: The Haunting (1963)

When the good people at the BHPP (Boyle Height Paranormal Project) asked GHOULA to participate in this event, we jumped at the chance. "The Haunting" is one of the greatest "haunted house" ever made. This movie is #1 on Martin Scorsese's 11 Scariest Horror Films Of All Time, and it also served as inspiration for Disneyland's Haunted Mansion attraction. (for more Disneyland info...)

The film's tale is so complex that even the filmmakers disagree whether it is a "ghost story" or a movie about one woman's descent into madness. Is it about the paranormal or is it about psychosis? Either way, what better place to see this film than in a haunted hospital. (for more hospital info...)

Note: This BHPP fundraising event is a private by invitation/RSVP only. there will be only 150 seats available, so be quick to rsvp and secure your seat, BHPP will go down the list of RSVP's and select the first 150. Tours of this historic hospital will be offered after the movie for a $20.00 donation. (for event more info...)

Highlights from August's SWS

(an early photo of the Derby)

Thank you to all who came out to the Derby. There was such a large turn-out, at first the restaurant had nowhere to put all of us. That was quickly solved for those that didn't leave because of the initial crowds. Thus, a special thank you also goes out to the staff of the Derby for not only accommodating our large numbers, but for also walking around and sharing their personal encounters with the old tavern's ghosts.

Some of the stories told that night included...

A woman (working late) saw a man walking down the hall to the bar on one of her surveillance TV monitors. Knowing that she was alone, and that the restaurant was locked, she called the police. After a thorough search of the empty restaurant, they consulted the video tape. The "man" is seen walking down the hall, and into the bar, where he sits on the last stool at the end of the bar (the stool even swiveled as he sat), and then he disappears into thin air. Apparently, that stool was where George Woolf sat (and still sits?) when he used to visit the restaurant.

A man painting the walls of the bar (after hours) kept hearing footsteps and knocking sounds in other parts of the restaurant. Knowing that he should be the only one there, he would investigate, but obviously never found anyone else in the locked restaurant. The sounds and searches went on all night. The next day, when talking to the bartenders, they told him of the ghost stories. They purposefully did not mentioned any of this the night before, because they wanted to see if he would have his own encounter. From that night on, when the painter worked in the restaurant, he would shout out a greeting to George Woolf, with an assurance that he was beautifying the restaurant. He never had another problem with the ghost.

A waiter told a story that one night (after closing time), he went around blowing out the candles on the tables. He went clockwise around the perimeter of the large dining room, blowing out each candle. However when he circled back to his first candle, the flame was still there. He then looked around the room, and each candle had re-lit itself.

The current owner of the Derby even confided to our group that he doesn't like to be alone in the restaurant. Thus, he always makes another employee close, and lock up, the restaurant after he leaves.

(to read more ghost stories from the Derby...)