The Tale of the "Haunted VCR"

The following was written by Richard Carradine
(founder of GHOULA and proud owner of a haunted VCR)

"A couple of months back, I was goofing around on Craigslist, when I typed in the word "haunted" just to see what would come up...

Among the entries, there was one for a "Ouija VCR." According to the write-up, the owner lived in a haunted apartment building in Hollywood, and he noticed anytime he watched an old movie in his VCR, strange things would happen in his apartment. So, he painted a Ouija board-like design on the top of the VCR, and when the ghosts got active during a movie, he would communicate with them. He was asking 40 dollars for this spirit-talking/video-playing device.

I immediately sent him a message, inquiring if he still had the VCR, and if it still worked. The response was that it was still available, and the picture quality was not very good, but (as an explanation) it is haunted (so what did I really expect). I offered $5, and the response was "Sold." My assumption was that the owner was moving away from Los Angeles, and thus motivated to sell. A time was set for the exchange...

I showed up at the "haunted" apartment building (which is indeed an old building), and waited about a half hour. The owner (a tall, lanky 20-something, unshaven and disheveled) finally appeared, holding the VCR. He stepped up to me, slammed the VCR down in front of me, and screamed (in a panicked tone), "JUST TAKE IT!!" With that, he ran back into the building (as if running away from the machine), and slammed the door behind him.

He never took my five dollar bill. Seemingly, he just wanted to be rid of the machine. For a couple of moments, I stared at the old VCR, and wondered if there was some kind of curse attached to it, before picking it up and taking it home. Any further info about the history of the machine, and/or the paranormal activity possibly connected to it, is unknown. A planchette did not come with the machine, and judging from the photo on Craigslist, this guy used a triangular shard of glass with one tip inked over with a red sharpie. Also, a closer inspection of the VCR revealed a price tag from Goodwill ($7.99). 

It now sits in my apartment (in my "haunted" apartment building) as a conversation piece, until I decide to fire it up, and see what happens..."

(to read about the first "Haunted VCR Movie Night"...)

Haunted VCR Movie Night!

In a partnership with our friends (or is it fiends) at BETALEVEL in a secret location underneath Chinatown, we are pleased to present this paranormal movie night using GHOULA's "Haunted VCR." So, come out and hear the amazing true story behind this bewitched video cassette recorder. As well as a public demonstration (or should we say a demon-stration) of its super-natural abilities. Yes, not only will this mechanical relic play a spooky film for your amusement, but it will also enlighten you with messages from the spirit realm, or perhaps even provide its own ghostly commentary of the movie we are screening that night.

(ADDED 11/25/12 - CLICK HERE TO SEE THE RESULTS OF THIS EVENT...)

Date: November 24 (Saturday)
Time: 8:00pm
Movie: The Time of Their Lives (1946)
(This title was generously supplied by the Frederick Rappaport VHS Archive)
Admission: FREE! (all welcomed, so tell your friends)

Place: BETALEVEL
Directions:
1.Find yourself in front of “FULL HOUSE RESTAURANT” located at 963 N. Hill Street in Chinatown. [Map to Full House]
2.Locate the alley on the left hand side of Full House.
3.Walk about 20 feet down the alley (away from the street).
4.Stop.
5.Notice dumpster on your right hand side.
6.Take a right and continue down the alley.
7.Exercise caution so as not trip on the wobbly cement blocks underfoot.
8.The entrance to Betalevel is located 10 yards down on left side, behind a red door, down a black staircase.

(ADDED 11/25/12 - CLICK HERE TO SEE THE RESULTS OF THIS EVENT...)

BOOs Alert!

THIS JUST IN: Local ghost mentioned on the Tonight Show.
(for the full story, click the link below.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R39i2ohhwXM

Highlights from Nov SWS

Thank you to everyone that made it out to Bar 107, considering the short notice of the venue change. However, the good news about the last minute craziness is that we were able to maintain our uninterrupted streak of never repeating a ghostly location, making Bar 107 the 52th haunted bar/restaurant we have visited.

While socializing, and telling stories, another ghost story concerning this tavern was discovered...

Once, while a maintenance man was working in the main bar room (when the bar was closed), he looked up at the mirror behind the bar and saw a man (in the mirror's reflection) standing in the room with him. Startled because he thought he was alone, he turn to face the visited and discovered that the room was indeed empty just as he thought. According to the tale, this maintenance man never again did any work inside this room.

(for more ghost stories about this haunted location...)

Also, for those unfamiliar with Elfego Baca (former patron) and the "Elfego Baca" TV show discussed that night...