October'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, without asking the staff.

THE DATE: October 13th, 2011 (Thusday)
THE PLACE: The Comedy Store
8433 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood (Map)
THE TIME: 8:00pm to the witching hour

NOTE: There will be no cover charge for those coming to the famous Comedy Store for SPIRITS with SPIRITS. Also, our group will have access to the notorious haunted basement, as well as other surprises. Because there is limited space in the club, it's best to RSVP. (to RSVP find us on Facebook, or email us at ghoulahq@live.com)

THE GHOSTS:
The "Sunset Strip" is generally defined as the part of Sunset Blvd that connects Hollywood to Beverly Hills. Anyone who has driven down the Strip on a Saturday night (or watches TMZ) knows that this area represents the wild side of Tinseltown, where Angelenos go to party. This street's raucous reputation seems to date back to the 1920's, and possibly even further to the era when outlaws and bandits like Tiburcio Vasquez rode through here.

It is thought that Sunset Blvd was created back in 1780 and up until 1984, this infamous section of it was still unincorporated land, as in it was officially not part of the city of Los Angeles.. Thus, the Strip was outside the jurisdiction of the Los Angeles Police Department. As a result, from the 1920's and up, it was a safe haven for casinos, brothels (both gay and straight), burlesque theaters, and speak-easys, which explains the high concentration of historic night-clubs that still stand along this winding section of Sunset.

The building that the Comedy Store occupies is no exception. Before this legendary comedy club, and the larger than life people associated with it, occupied this location, other equally grand clubs and characters occupied this spot. In the 1920's, the Club Seville operated out of this address with its themed "Arabian Nights Room" and its "Marine Room," which featured a dance floor made of crystal with fountains, fish, and colorful lights underneath it (fifty years before "Saturday Night Fever"). Other less memorable night clubs followed from Marcel's to the futuristic-sounding Spectrum 2000.

However, the most famous club previously at this site was Ciro's restaurant, where the Hollywood elite would come to drink and socialize, possibly before visiting Hollywood's most notorious brothel next door. It is widely suspected that gangster, Mickey "The King of the Sunset Strip" Cohen, used this glamorous hot-spot as his base of operations. There are even claims that the building still has the peep-holes and hidden gun stations left over from the bloody turf tensions of the "Sunset Wars" of 1947.

Additionally, a popular legend states that the basement was used by Cohen and his cohorts to beat and/or murder their enemies, and possibly dispose of the bodies under the floor. Likewise, there has been claims that illegal abortions were conducted down there for Ciro's dance girls, and possibly the neighboring prostitutes, who found themselves in a "family way." Stories like these are often given by charlatan psychics and ghost hunters, since there is generally no way to verify them, but given the area's lawless history, such tales seem quite plausible for this location.

It is commonly believed that the ghosts and spiritual unrest of today's Comedy Store stem from this dark era of the building's history. Witness' claim that a mysterious man in a brown leather World War II bomber jacket has been seen in the office upstairs as well as the kitchen and other locations in the club. He often appears to be hiding or crouching before vanishing into thin air. Could this be one of Mickey Cohen's victims?

Additionally, there are claims of disembodied moans, voices, cries and even snarls coming from the infamous basement, as well as phantom men in suits in the back of the main room, and a presence believed to be a former hit-man that employees refer to as "Gus." Chairs are said to slide across the floor by themselves. One witness even saw an ashtray float above a table.

However, the most famous story about the ghosts of the Comedy Store involves comedian Sam Kinison, a former preacher, whose loud, frenzied style of delivery always seemed to stir up paranormal activity. Strange audio and electrical problems would only occur during his sets, including mysterious hisses over the speakers that sounded suspiciously like someone repeatedly chanting "It's him!" One night after such problems, Kinison challenged the ghost from on stage to stop playing around and to make its presence known to everyone. At that moment, the lights in the club went out instantly, leaving everyone in pitch blackness. After a beat, the lights came back on by themselves. Everyone in the room gasped.

Lastly, there are two curious stories concerning the pavement just outside the Comedy Store's entrance. First, in 1960, a gas line under Sunset ruptured and large blue flames shot out of every crack in the sidewalk along the facade of the building. Though the curtain of blue flames didn't actually touch the building (or cause any damage), everyone inside was trapped until the firemen could figure out how to stop the eerie-looking fire.

Then, in 1979, a relatively unknown comedian named Steve Lubetkin unsuccessfully tried to organize comedians to go on strike for higher wages. Depressed, and banned from this venue, he went to the top of the Continental Hyatt House (now known as the Andaz West Hollywood) and jumped 13 stories to his death, landing next to the Comedy Store's entrance. His suicide note said "My name is Steve Lubetkin. I used to work at the Comedy Store." Some have theorized that his sad spirit still haunts the premises, wanting to perform one last time.

Most believe that the Comedy Store is one of the most haunted buildings in Hollywood. Is it? Come out, have a drink, and find out for yourself.

http://thecomedystore.com/
(to read more about the ghosts of this haunted location... )
(to read about last month's haunted location...)

Best EMERGO ever!

HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL (1959)
Date: October 22 (Saturday)
Time: 7:30pm
Theater: The Aero
1328 Montana Ave, Santa Monica
Admission: $11.00

"House on Haunted Hill" (1959) is the first of William Castle's Horror "gimmick films." When it was originally screened, a plastic skeleton (sometimes an inflatable skeleton) was hoisted over the audience in effort to scare the patrons. Most of the time, people just threw popcorn at it (but had great fun all the same). This trick would later be employed at Disneyland's Haunted Mansion (it's debatable whether its any scarier there).

This classic horror film has a special place in GHOULA's black heart. The very first GHOULA event was a screening of this movie (with Emergo) as a fundraiser for the preservation of the Ennis House (the movie's "House"). Also, this film was in the line-up of GHOULA's first year of its "Haunted Films @ Haunted Places" free outdoor fim series.

Now, GHOULA is pleased to announce its involvement with a special screening of the film at the Aero in Santa Monica. GHOULA has been asked by Terry Castle (William's daughter) to provide the EMERGO for this screening, where she will be introducing her father's masterpiece, and signing copies of "House on Haunted Hill: The Annotated Screenplay."

It is our understanding that this will be the most elaborate, and realistic, EMERGO ever attempted in a movie theater, and is definitely a sight that should not be missed by any true movie buff.

(to read more about our version of Emergo... )

Highlights from Sept's SWS

For a restaurant that is supposed to have a dark cloud over it, everyone had a great time, enjoying the wonderful food of the Plum Tree Inn. We hope this restaurant breaks the supposed curse and sticks around for along time.

Plus, not only did we all get our fortune cookie at the end of the meal (a Los Angeles invention no matter what they say in San Francisco), we were also treated to a ghost story from our waiter...

Although he made it clear that he, himself, did not believe in ghosts, he told us that someone supposedly died upstairs, on the second floor of the restaurant. He said many members of the kitchen staff have heard (late at night) the sounds of footsteps, or a commotion, coming from up there, however when they go to check it out,... there is no one there. He said that the second floor is vacant, and is always locked, and yet they keep hearing this "person" walking around the empty rooms.

Could this be the "worker" said to have been killed during a renovation? Is he still wandering around looking for something to fix?

The manager of the restaurant confirmed this story, and added that he has actually heard the footsteps himself, so he knows this tale is true. He said he is a firm believer in ghosts, but he is not scared of the restaurant's ghost, or ghosts in general, because as he put it, he is an honest man.

(To read more about the Plum Tree Inn's ghosts...)

(photo of one of our tables taken from David Markland's phone)

September'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, without asking the staff.

THE DATE: September 13th, 2011 (Tuesday)
THE PLACE: Plum Tree Inn
913 N. Broadway, Chinatown (Map)
THE TIME: 7:00pm to 9:30pm (closing time)

THE GHOSTS:
Is there a better place to dine on 9/13 than at 913 N. Broadway? (Incidentally, in decades past the street address of this same building was advertised as 911, which also seems appropriate since we just had the tenth anniversary of 9/11).

Since the very beginning of "SPIRITS with SPIRITS," we at GHOULA have always wanted to go to a haunted bar/restaurant in Chinatown. Given, this area's dark history, and its many non-ghost legends (opium dens, brothels, lizard people, etc.), it always seemed like a perfect (super)natural fit for us. But, we were never able to get a ghost story out of any of the employees or patrons of these local restaurants. It seemed to be one part of town, we just couldn't crack... until a few days ago... (which was lucky for us since our other venue dropped out).

The Chinese culture has a rich history of spirit lore. It is said that their distinctive style of architecture uses curved, swooping roofs to keep the evil spirits on the outside. Such is also said to be the purpose of the stone "foo dog" statues flanking an entrance. Even in Los Angeles' Chinatown, the citizens used to organize a now forgotten large-scale "ghost festival" to appease and entertain the spirits.

However, in the the heart of Chinatown, the Plum Tree Inn does not have a curved, swooping roof. It does not have "foo dogs" protecting its entrance, and there has not been a "ghost festival" in this area for decades. There is however a three-piece tile mural (said to be the largest of its kind outside of China) featuring the "Palace in Heaven," a depiction of the after-life.

Do these ingredients form a recipe for evil spirits. Although, the management will deny (or ignore) such accusations, a source who wishes to remain anonymous says that the locals believe it is so.

How else can you explain the allegation that every change of ownership at this address is the result of one restaurant failing, vacating, and another starting from scratch in its wake. There have been so many unsuccessful owners and ideas here, from Club Brazil to New Grand East to Golden Palace to Ming's Pavilion to Gourmet Carousel to Plum Tree Inn, just to name a few. Some of these places were even very successful in another location, before or after they came here.

This concept of a "cursed" eatery, even extends to stories of a gang war that erupted here, and/or a workman who accidentally died in one of the past renovations as possible contenders for who haunts this place. Could those events create a darkness on the premises? Or, does the darkness create the events?

Although, GHOULA could not find any proof of either of those incidents (which doesn't mean they are not true), and the gang war story might have its roots in the fact that a former owner also owned the Golden Dragon, which became infamous because of the "Golden Dragon Massacre." Such a tale is possible since gang wars seem to be historically a popular pastime in Chinatown. We did however find other curious incidents in this address' history...

Back when it was Club Brazil in the 1940's ("The place everyone is talking about in Old Los Angeles"), a burglar who stole $8,000 from another club, on his way home broke into this establishment and mysteriously ransacked the interior, destroyed everything, and then left without stealing anything, as if he was just moved to do so.

When, the club became the New Grand East, one night in 1963 (at midnight) while the bar was full, the restaurant burst into flames, and burned to the ground. Luckily, no one was injured, but the puzzle of the origin of that sudden fire was never solved.

The most bizarre story connected to this location involves the former co-owner of the New Grand East, who in 1974, at 81 and nearly blind, was murdered on Halloween night in his home by three men wearing monster masks, who were 4 feet tall (yes, 4 feet tall). The "Trick-or-Treat Terrorists" as they where called by the newspapers, killed another man that night after forcing him to dig his own grave. The pint-sized psychos were caught the following year, when they attempted this sick ritual again, but their victim managed to escape.

Are there certain places that just seem to attract strange activity? Certain places that just seem to have a weird energy where business' can't take root. Come to the Plum Tree Inn, have a drink, sample their famous roast duck, soak up the atmosphere, join our betting pool as to how long this current incarnation will last at 913 N. Broadway, and decide for yourself.

By the way, 9+1+3=13

http://www.plumtreeinn.com/

(to read more about Plum Tree Inn's ghosts...)
(to read about the ghosts of last month's location...)