Highlights from the September 13th “Spirits with Spirits” at the Haunted Culver Hotel

Earlier in the evening, before arriving at the Culver Hotel, two of the guests informed GHOULA that they conducted a tarot reading to forecast the evening’s events. The “Temperance” card, featuring a bartender, strangely enough was the prominent card of their session. For the record, neither member drank very much, heeding the advice of the great beyond.

As always the Culver Hotel delivered great service, good food, and a warm atmosphere, providing the perfect, casual place to soak up the glamour of old Hollywood.

Unfortunately, no ghosts were spotted that night, but two psychics in attendance picked up other-worldly energy from another era. One psychic felt the sad presence of a suicide victim near the John Wayne Suite, while the other psychic (Psychic Lee Barron from “Ghosts Wanted”) felt the presence of a man eternally walking down the stairs behind the bar. Could that have been the ghost of Harry Culver coming from his office?

The management of the Culver Hotel was kind enough to point out to us the second floor offices of Harry Culver, where most of the spiritual activity takes place.

The ghost enthusiasts present were also treated to an impromptu tour of the basement level, which was used as an “air raid shelter” for Culver City during WWII. The Management claimed the stories of a secret tunnel connecting to the Culver Studios are not true, or at least they haven’t found any evidence of it.

Another member of the hotel staff shared an experience with us she had in the lobby’s restroom. One night, as she was stepping out the ladies’ room, she turned around to witness the faucets turning on with the handles moving by themselves.

Also, two employees were overheard talking about a corner of the lobby where the lights from the lamps and sconces would occasionally, and mysteriously, flicker. The isolated flickering continued long into the night, just like the ghostly conversation at our table.

Thank you all who came out to our spectral soiree.

(to read about the SPIRITS of this location...)

Spirits with Spirits: Sept 13th at the Culver Hotel

GHOULA meets for cocktails in haunted places on the 13th of each month. Spirits with Spirits is a casual gathering of regional ghost hunters. Open to all, from the curious skeptic to the passionate phantom pursuer. Make friends, find ghosts! Come see the “hot spots” with “cold spots.”

All those who attend will receive a free G.H.O.U.L.A. button. If you have already received your button, please wear it so others can find you. Also, G.H.O.U.L.A t-shirts will be available for sale. ($10.00 each).

THE DATE: September 13th, 2008 (Saturday)
THE PLACE: Culver Hotel Lobby bar at 9400 Culver Boulevard, Culver City, CA 90232 map
THE TIME: 9pm to the Witching Hour
THE GHOSTS:

The Culver Hotel opened its doors as the “Hotel Hunt” this month 84 years ago (September 4^th, 1924). At the time, people came from miles around to gaze upon the area’s only skyscraper. Past owners include iconic film stars Charlie Chaplin, Red Skelton and John Wayne (who according to legend won the hotel in a game of poker).

As Culver City grew to become the true motion picture capital of the world, so did the hotels connections with the film world. Not only did it provide lodging for some of the most famous people to ever grace the silver screen, it too graced the silver screen being used as a frequent location for many movies shot in the area. The hotel also has a very literal connection with the film world. There is a secret underground tunnel that connects the hotel to the nearby Culver Studios, which is said to been used over the years to smuggle all sorts of things including famous actors, mistresses, booze during prohibition, and most famously “Munchkins.”

Locally, the “Munchkin” connection is the hotel’s biggest claim to fame. During the making of the classic film “The Wizard of Oz,” over one hundred of the little people who played the “Munchkins” stayed in this hotel. The stories of the nightly exploits have become legendary. Over the years, this famous group of tiny actors has been accused of participating in everything from drunken debauchery to all-out orgies. They also have been blamed for much of the mischievous ghostly activity that happens in the hotel, including the disembodied conspiratorial whispers that get hushed as you approach.

The most prominant ghost of the hotel however, and very fittingly, is the spirit of Harry Culver himself, the namesake of the building (and the city). Harry culver maintained offices on the second floor for over a decade as his “base of operations” for city affairs. Members of the hotel staff occasionally see his ghostly form wandering the hotel. Many believe that even in death, he still keeps watch over the hotel and city that bear his name.

(to read about more SPIRITS at this location...)

Highlights from the August 13th “Spirits with Spirits”

The energy at the H.M.S Bounty was particularly strange the night we descended upon it.

When GHOULA asked the bartender if there were any ghost stories associated with the bar, itself, the bartender just kept mumbling about the “other” ghost in The Gaylord and kept making cryptic remarks about a “figure” in the restaurant’s back room. When asked to explain further, the bartender stopped talking all together and ignored us completely.

Then later, while we were looking at the display of Gaylord memorabilia in the lobby, we were told by the night watchman that no one was allowed to look at that, and we had to leave the lobby immediately,… which we did.

Some members of GHOULA took a side trip to look at the original Brown Derby “hat” building, which still exists down the street from The Gaylord. It is now a very active Korean Dance Club.

As they walked back to their cars, past the front of the Gaylord Hotel, the same night watchman shooed them away from the sidewalk in front of the lobby, and then called the police, who arrived as the last members of our party were getting into their cars.

Although no ghosts were seen that night, there are definitely unfriendly spirits there.

(to read about the SPIRITS of this location...)

August 13th: Spirits with Spirits at the HMS Bounty

GHOULA meets for cocktails in haunted places on the 13th of each month. Spirits with Spirits is a casual gathering of regional ghost hunters. Open to all, from the curious skeptic to the passionate phantom pursuer. Make friends, find ghosts! Come see the “hot spots” with “cold spots.”

All those who attend will receive a complimentary limited edition square shaped G.H.O.U.L.A. button. If you have already received your button, please wear it so others can find you. G.H.O.U.L.A t-shirts will be available for sale ($10.00 each). Online for $13.00.

Since we have not had much luck with the “Haunted Mirrors” at our last two outings, let’s give it one more shot with a lesser known haunted mirror in the Wilshire Corridor.

THE DATE: August 13th, 2008 (Wednesday)
THE PLACE: H.M.S. Bounty (located on the ground floor of the Gaylord Bldg.) map
THE TIME: 9pm to the Witching Hour

THE GHOSTS: The H.M.S. Bounty is one of the last of a dying breed – the nautical themed bar. Decorated with boating regalia, this old watering-hole resembles the interior of a ship’s galley complete with low ceilings and portholes. This famous location is just one part of a bigger haunted site.

The H.M.S. Bounty (originally called “the Gay Room”) is on the ground floor of the Gaylord Apartments which was built in 1921 by the eccentric millionaire Gaylord Wilshire. Upton Sinclair, noted author, once said that Mr. Wilshire was “for all the world, the incarnation of Mephistopheles.” And true to form, later in life, Gaylord Wilshire claimed to have “mystical powers.”Mr. Wilshire purchased the original city dump (and surrounding swampy area) at a cheap price and converted it into the “Miracle Mile” we know today. It is said that before Mr. Wilshire gentrified this then remote section of the city, it was a popular spot to hide murder victims.
Tenants of this historic apartment building have complained of strange knocks on their windows and phantom footsteps in the empty halls. Most notably, there is a ghost that haunts the ladies’ room in the lobby. Women claim to feel an invisible hand pinch their posterior, as well as see the reflection of a leering man in the mirror, only to turn around and discover they’re alone. The identity this paranormal pervert is currently unknown.

The HMS Bounty is located at 3357 Wilshire BlvdLos Angeles, CA 90010. For restaurant and bar info, call (213) 385-7275.

(to see more stories of this location...)
(to see last month's SPIRITS with SPIRITS location...)