Spirited Enterprise

* Where Magick Happens *

Famous Ghosts

Lucille Ball – Lucille Ball died during surgery on April 26, 1989, at the age of 77. At the time of her death, she was still living in her home at 100 North Roxbury Drive. Since her death, the home has numerous reports of strange happenings. New owners tell of unexplained broken windows, loud voices being heard from an empty attic, and furniture and other objects moving around inside the house.

Bonnie and Clyde – This pair of notorious outlaws of the 1930’s were finally tracked down and killed on May 23, 1934 outside of Arcadia, Louisiana. There bullet-ridden car was then towed into town with their bodies still in the vehicle. Today, a marker stands at the site where they died and is said to be haunted by the pair. Photographs taken of the marker often come out with ghostly forms.

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Aaron Burr – Burr was the third Vice President under Thomas Jefferson, but he is not known so much for that as he is for duel with Alexander Hamilton. After killing Hamilton in the duel, Burr was placed on trial for treason but was acquitted. Today, Burr is said to haunt the One If By Land, Two If By Sea Restaurant, in New York City. Located in what was once Burr’s carriage house at 17 Barrow Street. Both visitors and staff alike have observed dishes that fly of their own accord and have had chairs pulled out from under them by unseen hands. Also said to haunt the restaurant is Burr’s daughter, Theodosia Burr Alston, who vanished off the coast of North Carolina en route to visit her father in New York.

Al Capone – The notorious Chicago gangster who led the city's illegal activities during the Prohibition era has been rumored to haunt a couple of locations. Allegedly, when people are disrespectful while visiting his family plot at Mount Carmel Cemetery in Hillside, Illinois, he is said to appear. Also, at Alcatraz, where Capone was one of the first inmates, spectral banjo music has often been heard coming from inside his old cell.

Lon Chaney, Sr. – Remembered primarily as the pioneer actor of horror films during the silent film era, Chaney died in 1930. Today, his spirit is said to haunt Soundstage 28 at Universal Studios. This stage was used for the film Phantom of the Opera, and Chaney’s caped spirit has been seen running along the catwalks above the stage. Other phenomena reported to occur here include lights that turn on and off and doors that open and close by themselves.

Lon Chaney in Phantom of the Opera

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Montgomery Clift – A popular film star of the 1950’s and 60’s, Clift was a four-time Oscar nominated actor who is best known for his roles in A Place in the Sun, From Here to Eternity and Judgment at Nuremberg. His spirit has been seen at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, most often in Room 928. It was here that he spent a three months in 1953 where he was known to pace back and forth, memorizing his lines for From Here to Eternity. Today, unexplained loud noises are often heard coming from the otherwise empty suite, phone is continually found to be off the hook, and unexplainable cold spots are felt in the room. Others sense the actor’s presence and reportedly, one guest felt an invisible hand patting her shoulder.

Joan Crawford – From silent star to camp queen, Joan Crawford’s film career spanned some 45 years. Her former home, the Crawford House, is said to be haunted by her spirit as well as many others. Though the house has been exorcised many times, these ghosts still remain.

James Dean – While no actual reports have been made of Dean’s spirit, an extremely interesting legend persists of a curse on his beloved Porsche Spyder. 

There is no doubt about it. James Dean loved that car. His girlfriend, actress Ursula Andress, refused to get in it. Nick Adams said it made him uncomfortable. And Alec Guinness told him to get rid of it or he'd be dead in a week (and he was right.) But the silver-grey Porsche Spyder that he drove that fateful September day was James Dean's pride and joy, and he was anxious to race her. Unfortunately, that wasn't meant to be.

The world still mourns James Dean. Some of his fans were so grief-stricken, they refused to believe he had really died. He was struck down by fate in the prime of his life. Even though he'd only made a handful of movies, he had struck a chord with the public and his memory is alive to this day. But was that Porsche Spyder, nicknamed "The Little Bastard", cursed? Was it a real-life "Christine"? The rumors have lingered and the question is still asked even today. Even Snopes.com, well-known for pointing out the truth or fiction of urban legends, can't discredit this one.

The story goes that despite multiple warnings from friends about the car, James was determined to race it. So on September 30, 1955, he set out on the road for the races in Salinas, CA. His mechanic, Rolf Wuetherich, was with him in the car, and two friends were in another car behind - Bill Hickman, an actor, and Stan Roth, a photographer who was going to take photos of James in the race.

It is apparent that he was speeding a bit, as he was issued a speeding ticket at 3:30 PM that afternoon. It has been assumed that he was speeding at the time of the accident, but Failure Analysis Associates of Menlo Park have since proven otherwise.

A car driven by a young student, Donald Turnupseed, attempted to make a left-hand turn in front of James Dean's car and what resulted was a head-on collision. Rolf Wuetherich was thrown from the car and survived with a broken leg, fractured jaw, and some internal injuries. Donald Turnupseed walked away with minor cuts and bruises. But James, who was trapped in the Spyder, died from a broken neck and other injuries within minutes of the crash.

So the world cried and James was buried and George Barris, aka the "King of Kustomizing" bought the remains of the Porsche Spyder for $2500. And at what should have been the end of the story of the tragic death of a Hollywood legend, the story gets really weird and an urban legend was born.

You see, despite his earlier misgivings that the car gave off a "weird feeling of impending doom", George Barris decided to sell pieces of the car off. Even after it fell and broke a mechanic's leg while they were unloading it after George purchased it.

George sold the engine and drivetrain to two doctors, Dr. Troy McHenry and Dr. William Eschrid. They each used the parts in their own racing cars and planned to race in the upcoming car race at the Pomona Fair Grounds in CA. And in a race marked with doom, each of them crashed. Dr. Eschrid lost control of his car and almost lost his life when his car overturned. Dr. McHenry did lose his live when he lost control and had a bad crash. Was it just coincidence or were even the parts from the Spyder somehow tainted?

George then sold two tires from the car to an unnamed young man. It is said that the man returned to him in a week to inform him that both tires had blown out at the exact same moment, causing him to crash into a ditch.

George Barris, unwilling to sell any more of the car, allowed the California Highway Patrol to use the car in a safety exhibit. One night while the car was in storage in a garage, the garage went up in flames. All of the cars were destroyed, except for James Dean's Porsche Spyder, which only suffered some smoke damage. Shortly after, while on display at Sacramento High School in Sacramento, CA, the car fell off its pedestal and broke a student's hip.

Then it was involved in a few more car accidents, even though it was mangled almost beyond recognition and completely undrivable. On the way to Salinas, the flat-bed truck that was carrying it was involved in an accident. The driver was thrown free of the truck into a ditch, lucky to survive. Alas, his luck was short-lived when the Porsche fell off the truck and crushed him. A couple more accidents happened, when trucks that were hauling it crashed. And then in 1959, while on display, it suddenly collapsed into 11 pieces for no apparent reason.

Finally George Barris had enough and requested that the Porsche be boxed up and shipped back from the safety exhibit it was part of in Miami, FL. The boxes were loaded onto a truck bound for California, but they never showed up. Somewhere en route, the car vanished without a trace. And over 40 years later, it still has not been found.

James Dean and his Porsche Spyder

Redd Foxx – The popular star of the long running “Sanford & Son” television series has been known to haunt Stage 31 at Paramount Studios where he died of a heart attack. At the studio people have heard him laughing at the jokes and claim he just kind of hangs around. More often, the comedian is known to haunt his former home in Las Vegas. After a terrible battle with the IRS, he lost the home when the IRS forced the sale. The new owner reportedly saw Foxx’s apparition walking around in a bathrobe. Other strange occurrences included lights that turned on and off by themselves and a sliding glass door constantly opening of its own accord. Today the building houses offices for Nevada Aqua Air Systems. Continuing to have trouble with the sliding door, they finally replaced it with a wooden swinging door. However, this didn’t stop the door from opening with invisible hands.

Benjamin Franklin – Instrumental in laying the government’s foundation when the United States was first established, Franklin was also known for his work as a writer, inventor, philosopher, and scientist. Today, Franklin is said to haunt the Philosophical Society’s library in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Some people have even reported that the Philosophical Society's statue of Franklin has been seen dancing along the streets.

Clark Gable – One of the biggest box office stars during the 1930’s and ‘40’s, both Clark Gable and his wife, Carole Lombard are said to haunt the Oatman Hotel in Oatman, Arizona. After they married, in Kingman, they spent their honeymoon at this hotel.

Jean Harlow – The phrase “blonde bombshell” was coined for Jean Harlow during her short career in Hollywood. In 1932, she married MGM studio executive Paul Bern who was said to have beaten her viciously. Bern killed committed suicide the same year in their upstairs bedroom. After appearing in three dozen films between 1927 and 1937, her career was cut short when she died at the age of 26 of kidney failure. Though the kidney failure is partially attributed to a childhood illness, some say it was made worse by the frequent beatings she suffered at the hands of Bern. Both Harlow and Bern have been seen numerous times in the mansion they once called home.

Harry Houdini – Though Houdini didn’t believe in spiritualism, his ghost is said to haunt a couple of locations. At Jacki Gaughan’s Plaza Hotel in Las Vegas, a magic show held here is a tribute to Houdini’s talents as an escape artist and magician. Staff believes the showroom is haunted by a ghost who likes to play pranks and move items around. Many of these same people think the ghost is none other than Houdini himself, perhaps lingering to ensure they are “doing it right.” The most common place that Houdini has been sighted is the property where his mansion once stood in Laurel Canyon. Though destroyed by fire in 1959, many people have allegedly seen his apparition lurking about the old property.

Thomas Ince – considered one of the visionary pioneers of American movies, Ince was one of the most respected directors of the silent film era. He was a co-founder of Culver Studios which would later become MGM. In 1924 he died of heart failure but apparently remains at the lot that was once Culver Studios. Many ghostly sightings and experiences have been reported over the years.

Andrew Jackson – Jackson was the seventh President of the United States, serving from 1829 to 1837. After his death, he was heard stomping and swearing in the Rose Room of the White house by none other than Mary Todd Lincoln.

Jesse James - Jesse James was originally buried at the family farm in Kearney, Missouri, however, his body was later moved to the Mount Olivet Cemetery in town to be buried next to his wife. Though his remains are no longer at the farm, many believe he has never left. All kinds of strange events continually occur at the farm such as doors that slam closed by themselves, lights that move both inside and outside of the property buildings, and an overwhelming sense that an unearthly presence lingers. Others report hearing the sounds of pounding hooves, muffled shots and cries.

Thomas Jefferson – The third President of the United States, from 1801 to 1809 was known to retire to the Oval Office on numerous occasions to relax and play the violin. Over the years, there have been numerous reports of the sounds of those ghostly strings coming from the Oval Office.

Thomas "Black Jack" Ketchum - Black Jack was the only train robber ever hanged for this crime in the State of New Mexico. Known to be a charming man, he was also a renowned road agent, making off with loot from the steam engines of the day. Today, this Old West outlaw is said to haunt one of his favorite hideout caves near Folsom, New Mexico.

Black Jack Cave

Robert E. Lee – Confederate General in the Civil War, Lee led a number of successful battles before his surrender at the Appomattox Court House in April of 1865. Today, his spirit has regressed back to a four year old child where he has been spied playing in the yard of his childhood home in Alexandria, Virginia. Said to be an impish spirit, he is known to play pranks like ringing the doorbell and moving objects within the house. His giggles are often heard throughout the house. Sometimes he is seen with a ghostly black dog and the spirits of two young girls, who are thought to be his sisters.

John Lennon – This former Beatle is said to haunt The Dakota building at 1 west 72nd Street in New York City, where he was shot to death. In many photos of his wife, Yoko Ono, orbs and streaks have been captured on film. There is also a strange simulacrum of John Lennon's face on a stone gatepost in Newcastle Road - the road where John Lennon was born in 1940. The gatepost was being stripped of its 40-year-layer of paint when the image of the trademark NHS specs and the face were uncovered. John lennon's birthplace is less than 50 yards from the post.

Detail of Face

Liberace – Known for his incredible piano playing skills, along with his charisma and diamonds, Liberace died of AIDs in 1987. According to numerous reports, the entertainer’s spirit has taken up residence at a restaurant called Carluccio's Tivoli Gardens. Liberace once owned the restaurant located just a few block off the Las Vegas Strip. Next to the dining room, Liberace had his own private lounge where he entertained close friends. From here, he was known to sometimes slip into the main dining room to tinkle the keys of the piano to the delight of unsuspecting diners. Today, staff and guests alike believe that the flamboyant pianist has never left, as there are numerous reports of electrical surges, bottles that tip over for no reason, and ladies' restroom stalls that lock and unlock themselves. On one occasion the electricity went off and would not come back on until someone realized it was Liberace’s birthday. After they wished him a happy one, the lights inexplicably came back on. Some report seeing his spirit outside the windows.

Abraham Lincoln – The most often spied spirit of all of our American Presidents, Lincoln was know to be a believer in the supernatural. President Lincoln is known to haunt not only the White House, but also several sites in Springfield, Illinois where his political career began. Famous occupants of the White House, including President Theodore Roosevelt and First Lady Grace Coolidge, reported seeing a tall, gaunt figure in several rooms of the residence. Others who have been walking by the White House have reported seeing a shadow of Lincoln's dimensions in the window of the Oval Office where the president often stood gazing at the Potomac River during the days of the Civil War. In Springfield, Illinois, Lincoln's spirit is most often linked his tomb at Oakridge Cemetery. Over the years, a number of stories have been told by tourists and staff members of experiencing uncomfortable feelings and hearing phantom footsteps, whispers, muffled voices, and weeping. Lincoln has also been reported to have been seen walking the streets surrounding Springfield's original courthouse, as well as the hallways of his former home. Others have reported seeing the ghost of Mary Lincoln at their old home located at 413 South Eighth Street.

Carole Lombard - Carole Lombard was one of Hollywood's top comedy actresses in the 1930s. She married Clark Gable in 1939 and the pair were said to have one of Hollywood's ideal marriages. However, their love was cut short when Lombard was killed in a plane crash just three years later. Her spirit has been seen near the suite she shared with Clark Gable at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. Both her and beloved husband, Gable, allegedly also haunt the Oatman Hotel in Oatman, Arizona, where they spent their honeymoon.

Marilyn Monroe - This glamorous film star of the 1950’s slipped into a coma caused by an overdose of sleeping pills on August 4, 1962. She never woke up and was pronounced dead the next day. Today, her ghostly spirit is known to haunt the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. At the height of her popularity, she often stayed at the hotel where her image is seen in a full-length mirror that once hung in her poolside suite. It now hangs in the lobby where people see her image reflected in the glass. Her ghost has also been spotted hovering near her tomb at Westwood Memorial Cemetery in Los Angeles, California. Lastly, she is also said to haunt the house where she took the fatal dose of sleeping pills. According to psychics, Marilyn has relayed to them that her death was not a suicide, but an accident.

Ozzie Nelson – Band leader, Ozzie married Harriet in 1935. In 1944, they started The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet on radio which later switched to television in a run that would stretch to twenty-two years: eight on radio and fourteen on television. In 1941 the couple purchased a house where they lived for the next 40 years. When their popular sitcom was aired on television, beginning in 1852, the exterior of the television house was modeled on the real-life Nelson home. Subsequent owners believe that Ozzie’s ghost continues to remain in his beloved home, as unseen hands open and close doors, turn on faucets, and lights turn on and off by themselves in otherwise empty rooms. One owner even tells a story that “someone” got fresh with her during the night when her blankets were pulled back and she felt someone kissing her neck and breasts.

Elvis Presley – Just as flamboyant in death as he was in life, the legendary singer continues to haunt his beloved home in Memphis. A white-sequined Elvis has been seen by stagehands at the Las Vegas Hilton where he often performed in the early 1970s. He has also been “seen” in a rambling old building just off Nashville’s Music Row. At one time, the building housed the recording studios of RCA in the 1950’s and it was here that Elvis recorded his breakthrough 1956 hit single, Heartbreak Hotel. Though RCA is no longer there, the building continues to house a TV production studio that produces music-related programs. According to people that have worked there, every time Elvis’ names is mentioned something strange happens, such as ladders falling down, lights blowing out, and unexplained noises coming through the sound system. A white-sequined Elvis has reportedly been spotted by stagehands at this hotel where he performed in the early 1970s.

George Reeves – The star to the 1950’s television series, Superman, committed suicide in 1959 by shooting himself in the head. Though due to be married in just three days time, Reeves was despondent at his stalled career, when he had become so type-casted as Superman he couldn’t find other parts. Today, he allegedly still appears in his old bedroom, fully outfitted in his Superman costume before slowly fading away.

Betsy Ross – Credited with sewing the first American flag, Ross continues to lurk within her old home in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Ross, who is buried on the property, has often been seen crying, while sitting at the foot of the bed in her former home.

Bugsy Siegel – One of the most colorful of Las Vegas’ underworld figures, Bugsy is often attributed to envisioning the sparkling city that Las Vegas is today. While there were a number of small gambling spots in Las Vegas, there was nothing like the Flamingo Hilton that Siegel opened in 1946. But, the Flamingo cost the mob millions to build and took much longer than they had anticipated. Sure that Bugsy was skimming from the them, they had him killed in his girlfriend’s mansion in Beverly Hills. On June 20, 1947, he was sitting in the living room when two shots came through the front window, hitting him in the head. Today, Siegel is known to haunt the mansion. Witnesses have reported seeing the apparition of a man running and ducking across the living room of the house, only to disappear as suddenly as he came. He also lurks about the Flamingo hotel, appearing nattily dressed in a smoking jacket with a wide smile on his handsome face. Most often, he is seen in the presidential suite at the hotel which was his home for many years. He has also been spied in and around the rose garden or in the wedding chapel area.

Dylan Thomas – Dylan Thomas, a Welsh poet and writer, drank 18 shots of scotch in the White Horse Tavern in New York City in 1953. Afterwards, as you can imagine, he collapsed and died. Today, his spirit is said to return to the scene time after time, where he rotates his favorite corner table like he used to do when he was alive. The White Horse Tavern is located at 567 Hudson Street at West 11th Street in New York City.

Thelma Todd – A popular young star in the 1930’s, Todd was featured in a number of hit comedies with The Marx Brothers, Buster Keaton, and Laurel and Hardy. During the height of her stardom, she opened a restaurant called Thelma Todd’s Sidewalk Café and lived in a luxurious apartment above the restaurant. In 1935 her success came to an untimely end when she was found in her car at the garage of the Sidewalk Café. Killed by carbon monoxide poisoning, her death was ruled an accidental suicide. Today, the building that once housed the café near the ocean on Roosevelt Highway is owned by Paulist Productions. Employees have reported Todd’s ghostly image descending the stairs.

Mark Twain – Popular American humorist, novelist, writer and lecturer, Twain once lived in downtown New York at 14 West 10th Street (near Fifth Avenue) between the years of 1900 and 1901. Today, his spirit allegedly haunts the building’s stairwell.

Clifton Webb – A popular star in the 1940’s and ‘50’s, Webb is best known for his portrayal of Mr. Belvedere in a series of films. He died of heart disease at the age of 76. During his life he never married and shared his home with his mother until she died, who he said visited him nightly. He was known to tell his friends at this time, that he too would haunt the house after his death. True to his word, his ghost has been seen at parties, standing in the library uttering his favorite phrase "well, well, well..." A lifelong chain-smoker, non-smokers have awakened in the house covered with ashes. He also is said to not like women sitting in his old armchair, which begins to bounce and make noise when a female sits in it. Webb has also been spied at the Abbey of the Psalms Mausoleum in the Hollywood Forever Memorial Park, where his body is interred.