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)