Holiday Movies @ Haunted Theater (Day #2 of 13)

THE DATE: Tuesday (Dec.14)

THE TIME: 7:30
THE PLACE: The New Beverly Cinema
(7165 W. Beverly Blvd.) map
THE ADMISSION PRICE: $7.00 (for the double feature)

THE MOVIES:
Black Christmas (1974) Trailer
Silent Night, Bloody Night (1974) Trailer

To all those who plan to attend this event: If you have a (square) G.H.O.U.L.A. button, please wear it so others can find you.

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)

The New Beverly Cinema is said to be the home of a phantom projectionist, and an audience member apparition... (read more)

December's SPIRITS with SPIRITS (Day #1 of 13)

BOO! BOO! BOOOOOOOO-OWLING!

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: December 13th, 2010 (Monday)
THE PLACE: Where: Pickwick Bowl

1001 Riverside Drive, Burbank (map)
THE TIME: 8:00pm to 11:00pm

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

THE GHOST(S):

The recreation center known today as The Pickwick Bowl, in the 1940's, was just a trailer park with a community swimming pool. Despite the innocuous slogan "For 'fun in the sun' meet me at the Pickwick Pool," this small body of water had more than its share of scandal and urban legends. Not only did a "squeaky clean" teen-age celebrity reputedly get caught exposing himself to the other swimmers (leading to his firing at Disney Studios, and essentially the end of his career), but for some strange reason the pool area seemed to attract fatal injuries as children died from drownings and diving board accidents. Safety concerns were most likely the reason the pool was eventually filled in with dirt (creating the Pickwick Gardens). In 1958, construction began on the bowling alleys and adjacent ice rink. However, they may have built over the old "death magnet" at that site, but apparently they didn't get rid out it. Employees have told GHOULA confidentially that the management doesn't want it known (and denies) that many people have died (accidentally) on the ice rink. Strangely, all the death that seems to swarm around the premises has nothing to do with Pickwick's ghost story. The employees claim (and the management denies) that the ghost of a former manager haunts the upstairs office. Papers and other objects have been seen sliding forcefully across the desk for no apparent reason, as well as the door to that office seems to close by itself.
That said, this recreation center has another claim to fame in the local ghost culture. Pickwick Bowl was the inspiration for one of the audio-animatronic "happy haunts" from Disneyland's Haunted Mansion. There used to be a sign in front of this leisure complex that featured a caricature of "Pickwick," the Dickens character (and this establishment's mascot). It seems that Imagineers that would commute to work at WED enterprises (now Walt Disney Imagineering) just a few blocks away decided to pay tribute to the cheerful fellow on the sign they past everyday. Thus, in the ballroom scene of Disneyland's Haunted Mansion, a ghost hanging from a chandelier (also known by the name "Pickwick") was created to match the one at Pickwick Bowl.

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

Real Ghosts with Reel Ghosts!

THE DATE: Sunday and Monday (Nov 28,29)

THE TIME: 9:20
THE PLACE: The New Beverly Cinema
(7165 W. Beverly Blvd.) map
THE MOVIE: The Haunted Palace (1963)
plus second feature Tales of Terror (1962)
THE ADMISSION PRICE: $7.00

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.)

The New Beverly Cinema is said to be the home of a phantom projectionist, and an audience member apparition... (read more)

Highlights from Nov's SWS!

An intimate crowd of 20 descended upon the oceanic-themed watering hole, Duke's in Malibu. Was the smaller turn-out due to the remote location of this event? Was it because of the holiday weekend? Was it just post Halloween fatigue? Or, could it have been all of the above. Regardless, as the moon floated above the crashing waves, ghost stories were told, drinks were consumed, and "Hula Pies" were served. Thank you all who attended. Additionally, a manager told our group that one of the theories surrounding the female phantom is that she was a woman who was killed years ago trying to cross the dangerous highway in front of the establishment (before the installation of the traffic light at that location).

(to read more about the ghosts of Duke's in Malibu...)
(to read about the event in the MALIBU TIMES...)