GHOSTS of OVERA STREET!

 
A FREE WALKING TOUR of our historic pueblo!

Take this FREE tour of one of LA’s most haunted environments... if you dare!

The colorful shops and restaurants on Olvera Street are still homes to their first residents. Encounter the spirits and legends of the oldest "street" in Los Angeles. The tiny little pueblo still contains over 20 buildings and 100s of spirits. Find out where the lizard people hid their treasure and secrets. Discover the true story of Pio Pico’s hotel and its tragic history. Hear weeping widows. Learn the stories of haunted food, glowing crosses, and many more.

When: July 8th, 2018 (Sunday)

Time: (Tour #1) 5:00pm - 6:00pm (Tour #2) 6:30pm - 7:30pm

Meeting Place: The Pico House
424 N Main St, Los Angeles, CA 90012 (map)

Price: FREE (donation-based) tour

Note: Even though, walk-ups are welcome. Please RSVP (here).

Your Guide: CONNOR BRIGHT

Connor is a paranormal historian known as the “Paranormal Pixie”. She has traveled the globe, working alongside experts in the field as well as film and television crews. today she calls Los Angeles her home and the spirits of the city her friends. With her former partner she founded "What's Your Ghost Story?" an online community for people to share paranormal experiences and seek answers from experts. Connor has also worked with Los Angeles Hauntings Ghost Tours, guiding people through LA's haunted histories. Connor currently has been working alongside Richard Carradine of Ghost Hunters of Urban Los Angeles they have collaborated on the Haunted Houdini Tour of Los Angeles, she recently hosted GHOULA’s iconic Red Line Tour.

Night of the Living Head!

GHOULA and the 3D Space
present another evening of movie manifestations and macabre marionettes.

"THE MASK" (1962)
(also known as "The Eyes of Hell")
Each attendee will receive an "Eyes of Hell" viewer absolutely FREE!
Without it... you are just another mortal.
With it... you can enter the weird world of a diabolical ancient cursed artifact!

DATE: July 7th, 2018 (Saturday) ONE NIGHT ONLY!
TIME: 7:00pm
WHERE: The Bob Baker Marionette Theater 
1345 W 1st St Los Angeles, CA 90026 (Downtown) (map)
ADMISSION: $15.00 (to purchase tickets, click here...)

The original publicity for this cinematic assault announced "The forces of evil stalk their prey into the audience." So, is there a better place to screen this immersive nightmare than in a theater where puppets and performers also interact with the patrons?

That's right, not only will we be showing this cursed cult classic (a film that must be seen to be disbelieved), but there will also be a preshow featuring the enchanted Bob Baker marionettes and a dream-like solo performance by master puppeteer, Eli Presser.

But wait, there's more...

FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY! The Bob Baker Marionette Theater's party room will be transformed into a ghoulish gallery of cursed dolls. This one-of-a-kind paranormal exhibit will feature toys of terror from master puppeteer Eli Presser's personal collection of super-natural oddities. Yes, you will be in a room surrounded by actual haunted dolls! This will be the first time these "things" will be on public display. Don't miss this chance to be in their presence before they go back in the vault!

So, please join us for a night of celebrating prossessed objects with faces, and stare into the "eyes of hell"... If you dare...

WARNING: We are not responsible for nervous breakdowns. Attend at your own risk!

To purchase tickets, click on this link...
https://tickets.vendini.com/ticket-software.html?e=9803373aee57dbd965bc67f224ffc420&t=tix&vqitq=48583964-73ff-4df7-ab5f-9db500aafeeb&vqitp=78b94759-999a-420f-992c-62952e98a071&vqitts=1528999325&vqitc=vendini&vqite=itl&vqitrt=Safetynet&vqith=4e941fcb91af14e035a7ef5e5808d106

P.S. Did we mention this theater may be haunted? (for more about the theater's ghosts.)

SPIRITS with SPIRITS (June 13th, 2018)

GHOULA meets for cocktails in haunted places on the 13th of the month. “SPIRITS with SPIRITS” is a casual social 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) GHOULA. button. If you already have one, please wear it so others can find you, without asking the staff about our group. (i.e. LOOK FOR SOMEONE WITH A GHOULA BUTTON)

THE DATE: June 13th, 2018 (Wednesday)
THE PLACE: Los Toros
21743 Devonshire St, Chatsworth, CA 91311 (Map)
THE TIME: 8:00pm to 10:00pm (3:00pm - 8:00pm is Happy Hour)

THE GHOST(S):

Chatsworth rests in the North-Western edges of the San Fernando Valley, in the shadow of some of the most picturesque rock formations in Los Angeles County. These vistas have been the backdrop for many movies, TV shows, and commercials, doubling for Old West locales and distant hostile planets. Not only are these same hills the site of a formerly top-secret rocket/missile testing base, but they have also served as the home (or hide-out) for numerous outlaws and fringe cults (including the infamous "Manson Family" that went on a killing spree in 1969). In addition to cowboys, padres, Native Americas, actors, rocket-scientists, bandits, zealots, and murders, this rocky area also has had numerous ghostly visitors over the years. Not only do large numbers of spirits roam the surrounding topography, but they also populate one of the neighborhood's most beloved landmarks.

Los Toros opened its doors in 1967, and for more than half a century they have been serving up Mexican food to the hungry locals. In that time, they have earned a reputation for having the best bean dip in the valley, as well as at least four resident ghosts and possibly many more. There are the apparitions of an older man and an older lady, who may greet you at the entrance, since this is where most of their sightings occur. It should be noted that although they haunt the same spot, they have not been seen together, and apparently take turns appearing to customers. Then there is the "well-dressed man" who spends his time in the after-life hanging around the restaurant's bar (wouldn't you). Lastly, there is a phantom female seen in the far ends of the restaurant, at the end of the night, seemingly clearing tables that had either not been used or were already cleaned earlier. Additionally, there are disembodied voices heard, cold spots felt, and objects moving by no visible means. whether these are from the before-mentioned spirits, or additional ones haunting this establishment is unknown. Likewise, the identity and motivations of the four most-seen ghosts is also a mystery, although it is presumed that the woman clearing the table is most likely a former waitress eternally finishing up her duties.

In 1969, a couple of years after they originally opened, two youths attempted to buy beer at the bar, and were turned away by the bartender for being under-aged. The hooligans returned later, after operating hours, with a fire bomb, and blew-up part of the restaurant. Although there were employees in the building at the time, no one was hurt in the explosion, and the culprits were easily caught and charged with arson. Could this traumatic event in the restaurant's history cause the residue energy within its walls? Speaking explosions, it has long been rumored that their have been many accidental explosions over the years at the secret base due to experiments with rocket fuel. Could Los Toros' ghosts be former aero-space engineers visiting the local hangout they enjoyed in life? Then again, like the supposed vanishing waitress, maybe these ghost are ex-employees still returning to their happy workplace long after they died. Who knows?

So come out, join us, share ghost stories, and toast this ghost... If you dare!

(to read about the last haunted location... )
(to see a map of previous SPIRITS with SPIRITS locations... )

SPIRITS with SPIRITS is BACK!!!

GHOULA meets for cocktails in haunted places on the 13th of the month. “SPIRITS with SPIRITS” is a casual social 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) GHOULA. button. If you already have one, please wear it so others can find you, without asking the staff about our group. (i.e. LOOK FOR SOMEONE WITH A GHOULA BUTTON)

THE DATE: May 13th, 2018 (Sunday)
THE PLACE: The Tonga Hut
12808 Victory Blvd, North Hollywood, CA 91606 (Map)
THE TIME: 8:00pm to ? (4:00pm - 8:00pm is Happy Hour)

THE GHOST(S):

The Tonga Hut is considered the oldest "Tiki bar" in Los Angeles, opening in 1958. Much has been written about Tiki bars and their exotic rum-based fruity cocktails. There are many fans, books, and websites devoted to the artifacts and lifestyle associated with this post World War II era craze. So, the history and the facets of this topic can easily be found elsewhere. What is worth mentioning however is that some believe the resurgence of its popularity is because of this humble bar, which became a lightning rod for the preservation of this culture when fans discovered how far it had sunk in the 1980s with electronic dart boards and neon beer signs. Thankfully, as a result, The Tonga Hut has been restored and reimagined into this magical oasis in the desert of the San Fernando Valley.

This bar has also been on GHOULA's radar for more than a decade, so we are very glad we can finally visit it. A long time ago, when we started doing these meet-ups in haunted bars, we were given a tip that this North Hollywood gem may be haunted. So one night, two of us from GHOULA dropped in to do a little "research." After some time at the bar, we asked the bartender about ghosts. We were informed that "This bar is not haunted and there are no ghosts here." We pressed a little more, mentioning that most historic places have legends and rumors connected to them that add to their colorful history and so on. Again, we were told that "This bar is not haunted and there are no ghosts here."

We were about to drop the subject, when the patron sitting next to us (an elderly man) asked if we were looking for ghost stories. When we answered affirmatively, he told us that there was a long time regular of the bar that we should meet. With that, he called over an elderly woman with a drink in her hand. The man introduced us, and pleaded with her to tell us her ghost stories about the bar. As she was about to sit down and spill the beans, the bartender interrupted and said in a louder voice "This bar is not haunted and there are no ghosts here" and then added "and anyone who says otherwise... will be banned from the bar!" The older lady, scared from this threat, scurried away disappearing into the crowd. Our new friend turn his back on us and pretended we weren't there. The bartender then turned to us (GHOULA) and said these final words "I'm going to ask you to leave now." Not wanting trouble, we left without a ghost story.

Clearly we touched a nerve with this bartender, and clearly there was a ghost story. Henceforth, the Tonga Hut had always represented the one that got away. It was a great tavern that was apparently haunted, but we just couldn't get the story. We never did find out what those stories were, but thanks to the investigative work of James T. Bartlett, author of Gourmet Ghosts 2 (and friend of GHOULA), we finally have a ghost story to pin to this exotic landmark. As he published in his book, it seems that a long time regular of the establishment named Dottie passed away, and subsequently, after hours, a cleaner would have long conversations with Dottie's spirit while she did her nightly chores. Since the publication of that story, this tiki tavrrn has embraced their haunted side. Now, when someone asks about ghosts, they discuss their beloved resident spirit, Dottie. They even keep a seat reserved for "her" at the bar during their "Happy Hour."

One can not help but wonder if that patron we talked to so many years ago was this Dottie. Did the woman who was going to tell us a ghost story end up becoming the story herself? If so, sadly we may never find out the details of that original ghost story. So, whoever else might be haunting the Tonga Hut will have to remain a mystery. In the meantime, let's celebrate the ghost we do have, and have a drink at one of the most unique watering holes in LA.

So come out, join us, share ghost stories, and toast this ghost... If you dare!

(to read about the last haunted location... )
(to see a map of previous SPIRITS with SPIRITS locations... )