Highlights from June's SWS

Thank you all who came out (20-30 people) for our SPIRITS with SPIRITS gathering at the historic (haunted) Figueroa Hotel. Once there, almost everyone made the observation that the infamous pool, and the target of past suicide jumpers, is mysteriously shaped like a coffin. Coincidence?

It was also observed by a couple of GHOULA members that the hotel's lobby was very similar to the "lobby" of the ghost-themed attraction, "Tower of Terror," at Disney's California, which also plays with the idea of a "death plunge." Coincidence?

(for this location's ghost stories...)

Tower of Terror "lobby."

Hotel Figueroa's lobby

June'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: June 13th, 2011 (Monday)
THE PLACE: Veranda Bar (Hotel Figueroa)
939 Figueroa Street (Map)
(a couple of blocks from a METRO station)
THE TIME: 8:00pm to 11:00pm

THE GHOSTS:

The Hotel Figueroa is one of the few places downtown that can make one feel that the pessimistic future depicted in the 1980's sci-fi classic BLADE RUNNER might actually come true. With it's elegant, ethnic, and eerie vibe, this historic hotel sits in the shadows of the recently erected glass towers that are covered with tacky neon and billboard-sized TV screens repeating commercials on a loop. One almost expects that film's detective, Rick Deckard, (played by Harrison Ford) to pass through the vintage-looking lobby at any moment, as he searches for renegade androids.

That eternal battle between Man and Machine also seems to play out throughout the hotel and its 13 floors. Legend has it that at times, the electrical appliances and equipment appear to have a mind of their own, lights and TVs turn off and on by themselves, and the elevators travel to floors without be called to do so.

Additionally there seems to be an ominous presence that travels through the halls, some witnesses have even heard footsteps when no one was there. Who (or what) causes this phenomena, no one seems to know.

There have been two tragic deaths that have occurred at this address, as reported by the Los Angeles Times (and perhaps more that went unreported). Both deaths were the result of a guest going to the top of the building, leaping from the fire escape on the back (west) side, and going splat on to the patio that currently is the hotel's Veranda Bar. Interestingly, both cases were declared to be suicides by the police, because both individuals seem to go willingly to meet their maker, although neither left a "suicide note," and both showed no signs of being suicidal. One even jumped half-way through his dinner, as if the idea had suddenly hit him.

Is the weird electro-magnetic energy, causing the machines to malfunction throughout this building, the result of those individuals who took their own lives here? Or, are these strange vibes the actual reason these men did what they did? Modern folklore (and movies) are filled with stories of people going crazy as a result of a "possessed" building. Likewise, experiments have been done that suggest these electro-magnetic anomalies can cause the human brain to act out in unexpected ways, from hallucinations to intense feelings of dread. What causes these anomalies (common in haunted places) to appear outside of a controlled laboratory is still unknown.

Then again, maybe these are just coincidences. Either way, come to the Hotel Figueroa's Veranda Bar and check it out for yourself... if you dare.

http://www.figueroahotel.com/

(to see last month's haunted location...)

May's SWS Highlights

Thank you all for coming out to the far end of the valley for this unique venue. Despite what GHOULA previously reported, the dead remnants of the supposed "Hanging Tree" is no longer on display in the parking lot. The other reputed "Hanging Tree" across the street though, we are happy to report is alive and well (pictured below).

While we enjoying the atmosphere, one of the Catina's security guards shared his own personal ghost experience from the establishment. He said that late one night, after closing, he went into the restroom (pictured above) to relieve himself before leaving to go home. As he stood in front of the urinal (with an unobstructed view of the light switch on the wall), he saw the switch flip to "Off" by itself, leaving him in total darkness. Then, afterward, while he was standing outside the door to the "men's room," an irate female employee came out of the "ladies' room." The same thing happened to her, while she was in her stall. Since he was standing there outside the bathrooms, she assumed he must have done it. Later, he asked other employees about the incident, and discovered the strange "lights off" phenomenon has happen to others there.

Also, as the evening was winding down, and people were wandering over to the "hanging tree," and the haunted adobe next door, GHOULA member Caitlyn took these three photographs (pictured below after the two tree photos). She used her iphone, and was standing in the same place for each picture, and they were shot one right after the other (no flash for the middle one). Notice that a white dot appears in the second photo (the one without the flash) in the second arch from the right, and is not there in the top photo. In the last photo, the dot has moved to the third arch from the right on the balcony. three photos, same spot, with and without flash, and yet it is as if the "light" were floating (from right to left) across the second floor balcony, where the ghost of Mr. Leonis and "the woman in black" are seen.

(to read about this location's ghost stories...)

May's SPIRITS with SPIRITS

HAPPY FRIDAY THE 13th!
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.

THE DATE: May 13th, 2011 (Friday)
THE PLACE: Sagebrush Cantina
23527 Calabasas Road, Calabasas (map)
THE TIME: 8:00pm to 11:00pm

THE GHOSTS:

The quaint community of Calabasas is probably best known today as the idyllic (bland), suburban neighborhood that serves as the backdrop to the nefarious activities on the TV series WEEDS. However, long before these (ticky-tacky) houses with their cul-de-sacs appeared, this area was known as one of the wildest stage coach stops in Los Angeles.

The Sagebrush Cantina sits on the site of the old jail, and the historic oak "hanging tree" can still be seen in the parking lot. Incidentally, that was not the original location of the hanging tree, it was moved 100 yards from 23517 Calabasas Road to its current position to make room for a Saturn V lunar launch vehicle (used on NASA's Apollo missions to the moon) that had to be shuttled to the secret base in the Santa Susanna pass. There are those that claim that this oak, although known locally as "the hanging tree" for generations (and the site of playful lynching demonstrations/recreations for children during past festivals) was never actually used to hang anyone. Likewise, there are those that claim that the real Calabasas hanging tree is the one at 23504 Calabasas Road (which has a historic marker). The truth has been lost to history. Perhaps, both trees (and others) were used to hang outlaws.

What hasn't been lost to history though (thankfully), is a cowboy, a female shop-keeper, and a former restaurant employee (all from an earlier time) that have been seen within the walls of this establishment momentarily before they vanish. Ghost sighting at this restaurant go back to at least 1974 with the bar area and back portion of the restaurant being the focal points for paranormal activity (the ghostly woman has even been seen in the back bathroom). Also, like other haunted bars in Los Angeles, the mugs and glasses have been known to move by themselves.

As if this place wasn't creepy enough, they also stage puppet shows here on a regular basis for the kiddies.

It is also worth pointing out that the land that the restaurant sits on was once part of the Leonis estate, until this section was subdivided and converted into shops in the 1920s. The historic Leonis Adobe (now a museum), which is adjacent to the restaurant and just a few feet away, is widely thought to be the most haunted house in Los Angeles. Miguel Leonis was one of the most hated robber barrons in Southern California history, and his bloody, bandaged ghost (along with other ghosts) is said to haunt his home. (note: GHOULA co-founder, Richard Carradine's family was the last family to own this house, and live in it as a private residence.)

Is it a coincidence that the neighboring building also has a haunted history? Come out and have a drink here, and decide for yourself. If you dare.

(to read about last month's location...)
(to read about more ghosts at this location...)

http://www.sagebrushcantina.com/