Last year, we learned that ghosts like pancakes.This year, we learned that "ghosts turn milk green."
(to see last year's strangest ghost promotion...)
Monday, October 31, 2011
Strangest Ghost Promotion 2011
Last year, we learned that ghosts like pancakes.This year, we learned that "ghosts turn milk green."
(to see last year's strangest ghost promotion...)
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Last Friday's Screening!
Thank you to all, who came out to our "Haunted House" screening at an actual haunted house, and special thanks to the Shadow Ranch staff for allowing us to tour the inside of the house before the screening. A big thank-you goes out to Erik Hietter for his expert keyboard accompaniment, and Richard Carradine for his Theremin punctuation. And always, thanks to the EPFC Filmmobile for making these site-specific events possible.
(to read about this haunted location... )
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Jerry Beck's Monster Mash 2011
DATE: October 27thTIME: 8:00pm
PLACE: Silent MovieTheater
611 North Fairfax Ave, Los Angeles(map)
ADMISSION: $10.00
Your chance to see cartoon shorts 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 Silent Movie Theater is said to be haunted by ghosts in the lobby and projection booth. (to read more about this theater's ghost...)
For the fourth year in a row, Cinefamily’s resident animation historian Jerry Beck (CartoonBrew.com) will be programming his “monster mash-up” of classic cartoon monsters, spooks and witches — from Casper the Friendly Ghost and Witch Hazel through TV’s Groovie Goolies and Milton the Monster, all on the big screen using rare 35mm and 16mm film prints that range from ghoulishly red Eastmancolor or gorgeously garish Technicolor! They will also be running a small selection of creepy, fantastic independent films, including Marv Newland’s Sing Beast Sing (1980) and Ian Emes’ The Beard (1978).
Be prepared, foolish mortals! This selection of hellish tricks and horrific treats will more than satisfy your animated sweet tooth (err, fangs!) Cinefamily’s own DJ Robinson will be here to spin tunes before and after the show!
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Friday's Screening's Secret Haunted Location
Location: Shadow Ranch
22633 Vanowen St., West Hills (map)
NOTE: Our group will have access to the interior of this haunted house til 9pm.
Come out for this year's last free outdoor screening tomorrow (Friday, 0ct 28, @8:00pm) and see "The Haunted House" with Buster Keaton at this real haunted house like the one in the movie. (For more info about the movie... ) Also, hear about this local landmark's history (and ghost stories).
All are welcome to this family-friendly event. Don't forget to bring chairs and flashlights. Also, the haunted house is now in the middle of a city park, so please follow all posted rules while in the park.
The Ghosts:
Like a scene straight out of the movie Poltergeist, in the middle of rows of 1960's era suburban neighborhoods, sits an 1860's haunted house. This spot, deep in the San Fernando Valley, was also the original site of on a Native American village (like in Poltergeist). And as if that weren't enough, the home is haunted by a little girl (also like Poltergeist).
The village mentioned above was home to the Chumash tribe that chose this land because of a fresh water spring nearby. The Chumash word for "water" is "canoga," hence the modern day name for this area, "Canoga Park." These waters also brought visitors, who traveled along the El Camino Real (Royal Road) to and from the San Fernando Mission.
Then in 1854, this region (and the west half of the valley) was sold by Andres Pico to Issac Lankershim, and it was converted into farms. In 1869, Alfred Workman, who managed the 13,ooo acres of wheat on the western edge of the property, was granted permission to build a house for himself and his bride on this spot. After falling into disrepair at the turn of the century, it was purchased by the screen-writing (husband and wife) team of Colin and Florence Clements. They restored the house, and held many parties on the property that were attended to by the movie stars of the day. The screenplay for The Wizard of Oz was even written within its walls. It was during these times that the home was nicknamed "Shadow Ranch." Despite the ominous title, the moniker was chosen because of the huge eucalyptus trees surrounding the house for shade (planted on Workman's wedding day). After the Clements, the Paulls family raised 13 children in this house. Then, in 1957, the city obtained the property to use as a community center, and in 1962, Shadow Ranch became one of the first ten places chosen by the City of Los Angeles as a Cultural Historical Monument (it's #9).
Now, for the ghosts... As mentioned above, there is a little girl seen walking around the house, and following staff members. It is said that she likes to play in the house after hours, and when employees stay late, she tugs on their arm to remind them its time to leave so she can have the house to herself. There is a little boy on the second floor, who is seen (from outside) looking out of the upstairs windows. According to local legend, he died in an accident and was decapitated. There is a woman in a white Victorian dress, who walks through visitors of the house, and of course the ghost of Alfred Workman is said to haunt the house.
Interestingly enough, spirit sighting in this structure go back many decades. A cook for one of the families that lived in the home stated that he believed a ghost occupied a small hall next to the garage.
Also, in the 1970's, the Valley's chapter of the Society for Psychophysiological Research (SPR) held their monthly meetings in this building where experts were invited to give lectures on various aspects of the occult to their membership. More recently, GHOULA was told by staff that not a Halloween goes by without paranormal investigation teams and Ouija clubs requesting access to the house for late night activities and experiments.
Lastly, like most historic properties in Southern California, there are claims that 25,000 dollars worth of gold was buried on the property (somewhere near the house) by a group of bandits, who robbed a Wells Fargo stage coach on the nearby Santa Susanna Pass. While the Clements lived here, they complained that people were always digging up their lawn at night looking for the treasure. Other versions of the story, connect the notorious Joaquin Murrieta to the lost gold, who (like the little boy who haunts the house) also was decapitated after death. Coincidence?
(To see last week's haunted screening location... )
The Ghosts:
Like a scene straight out of the movie Poltergeist, in the middle of rows of 1960's era suburban neighborhoods, sits an 1860's haunted house. This spot, deep in the San Fernando Valley, was also the original site of on a Native American village (like in Poltergeist). And as if that weren't enough, the home is haunted by a little girl (also like Poltergeist).
The village mentioned above was home to the Chumash tribe that chose this land because of a fresh water spring nearby. The Chumash word for "water" is "canoga," hence the modern day name for this area, "Canoga Park." These waters also brought visitors, who traveled along the El Camino Real (Royal Road) to and from the San Fernando Mission.
Then in 1854, this region (and the west half of the valley) was sold by Andres Pico to Issac Lankershim, and it was converted into farms. In 1869, Alfred Workman, who managed the 13,ooo acres of wheat on the western edge of the property, was granted permission to build a house for himself and his bride on this spot. After falling into disrepair at the turn of the century, it was purchased by the screen-writing (husband and wife) team of Colin and Florence Clements. They restored the house, and held many parties on the property that were attended to by the movie stars of the day. The screenplay for The Wizard of Oz was even written within its walls. It was during these times that the home was nicknamed "Shadow Ranch." Despite the ominous title, the moniker was chosen because of the huge eucalyptus trees surrounding the house for shade (planted on Workman's wedding day). After the Clements, the Paulls family raised 13 children in this house. Then, in 1957, the city obtained the property to use as a community center, and in 1962, Shadow Ranch became one of the first ten places chosen by the City of Los Angeles as a Cultural Historical Monument (it's #9).
Now, for the ghosts... As mentioned above, there is a little girl seen walking around the house, and following staff members. It is said that she likes to play in the house after hours, and when employees stay late, she tugs on their arm to remind them its time to leave so she can have the house to herself. There is a little boy on the second floor, who is seen (from outside) looking out of the upstairs windows. According to local legend, he died in an accident and was decapitated. There is a woman in a white Victorian dress, who walks through visitors of the house, and of course the ghost of Alfred Workman is said to haunt the house.
Interestingly enough, spirit sighting in this structure go back many decades. A cook for one of the families that lived in the home stated that he believed a ghost occupied a small hall next to the garage.
Also, in the 1970's, the Valley's chapter of the Society for Psychophysiological Research (SPR) held their monthly meetings in this building where experts were invited to give lectures on various aspects of the occult to their membership. More recently, GHOULA was told by staff that not a Halloween goes by without paranormal investigation teams and Ouija clubs requesting access to the house for late night activities and experiments.
Lastly, like most historic properties in Southern California, there are claims that 25,000 dollars worth of gold was buried on the property (somewhere near the house) by a group of bandits, who robbed a Wells Fargo stage coach on the nearby Santa Susanna Pass. While the Clements lived here, they complained that people were always digging up their lawn at night looking for the treasure. Other versions of the story, connect the notorious Joaquin Murrieta to the lost gold, who (like the little boy who haunts the house) also was decapitated after death. Coincidence?
(To see last week's haunted screening location... )
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