Newest articles on The Sacramento Press tagged as "ghostbusters"

Ghost Tour

2010-10-26T01:09:57Z

Do you like history? How about ghosts? And puns? What about historically significant (and knowledgeable) pun-loving phantasms?

I, for one, am a glutton for punishment. In this case, incorporeal punishment.

I received all that I wanted and more on Friday night at the Old Sacramento Ghost Tour.

Put on by The Historic Old Sacramento Foundation, the Ghost Tour is an hour-long guided stroll around Old Sac that begins and ends at the Eagle Theater.

I arrived at the theater about 10 minutes before the tour was to begin and joined the crowd that was already milling about. Holding court on the theater steps with the rapt attention of a young family was a gentleman who looked eerily similar to the ghost of Charles Crocker, whom I had met on the Old City Cemetery Tour a few months earlier. He assured me that any resemblance was merely coincidental.

At 6:30 we adjourned into the theater itself, past a trio of exceedingly pleasant poltergeists seated in the lobby. One of them was kind enough to point out that the beautiful wooden bar, which he'd caught me admiring, was an original Gold Rush-era piece.

Once we were all seated in the venue, the Charles Crocker doppelganger came rushing up the aisle toward the stage, hollering for what I soon ascertained was his assistant.

It turned out that our friend sold cemetery plots in the New Helvetia Cemetery, and as he frantically informed his mortician/assistant, the New Helvetia Cemetery had just flooded. His assistant looked at him, nonplussed.

"Well, it's not like anyone's going to drown," he offered.

True enough, but it seems that, in order to save a buck, these two hucksters had been burying folks in shallow graves.

In watertight wooden boxes, in very shallow graves.

"It seems our clients have deserted us," the plot seller lamented to the mortician. The formerly (if superficially) interred had taken leave of their plots and been set adrift all over the city. It didn't take long, of course, for our unscrupulous saleswraiths to realize that this cloud had a silver lining. Uninhabited plots are far easier to sell, you see.

The flood took place in January of 1850, and many of the bodies were never recovered.

And thus, the stage was set for the tour. We took a cue from Snagglepuss and exited stage left. On our way out, an exceedingly patient young blond girl provided some further comic relief when she exclaimed to her mother, "That wasn't too long!" To her credit, she took the knowledge that the tour hadn't started yet quite well for a wee one who thinks that she’s done with something.

Outside the theater we met our young tour guide, Ashley. The ghost tour tour guide has to be equal parts historian and straight (wo)man, and belying her youth, she performed admirably on both counts. It's not easy being Bud Abbott to an ethereal Lou Costello, or Larry Appleton to a banshee Balki Bartokomous, but Ashley pulled it off.

Along the way we learned a lot about the colorful, if tragic, history of Old Sac and met myriad specters, many of whom had found their way there from the inconsiderable depths of their not-so-final resting places at New Helvetia Cemetery.

In general, the apparitions are an affable lot, although they have a lot of issues among themselves. (This is the true story...of eight ghosts…picked to haunt Old Sac…to find out what happens...when ghosts stop being polite...and start getting real…)

All in all, the tour was a real treat – fun, funny and informative. And it's a rare event that is legitimately suitable for the whole family: all ages – 3 to 103. And, of course, any family members who may have passed on are especially welcome.

You have a few more chances to catch the Historic Old Sac Ghost Tours. They are offered on Friday and Saturday, and the hour-long tours begin at 6:30 p.m. and run every half hour until 9:00 p.m. Advanced ticket reservation is required.

All images are the "work" of yours truly. If you wish to lavish praise, feel free to send me an email- lindol@gmail.com

Costumed characters promote California Museum's 'Out of this World' exhibit

2009-10-01T03:49:15Z

Halloween came to Sacramento early Wednesday morning as a group of six local science fiction lovers marched downtown dressed in Klingon, Death Star Trooper and Sith Lord costumes. Dozens of children and sci-fi fans flocked to take photographs and speak with the costumed characters.

Others gawked, laughed and one child even cried as they meandered from the California Museum down K Street and past the Capitol to Cesar Chavez Plaza.

The march was organized to promote The California Museum's new sci-fi exhibit "Out of this World: Extraordinary Costumes from Film and Television," which will run from Oct. 3 to Jan. 10. It will feature more than 50 props and costumes from some of Hollywood's most memorable sci-fi films.

Among some of the exhibit's main attractions are the Darth Vader robe and cape from Star Wars, the leather jacket worn by Harrison Ford in Indiana Jones and the hat worn by the Wicked Witch of the West in The Wizard of Oz.

Besides viewing these items, visitors will also learn how clothing designers and artists came up with ideas for the costumes and props, according to Ashley Robinson, the California Museum's communications manager.

Mark Lin, normally a business analyst in Elk Grove, was dressed as a death star trooper from Star Wars. He and another costumed storm trooper represent part of a group called the 501st Legion, a group of friends who dress up as villains from the Star Wars movies, Lin said.

Besides comic book and sci-fi conventions, the 501st Legion attends the Rose Parade and even visits children at Shriner's Hospital and the Salvation Army. Lin mentioned that he is looking forward to some of the older sci-fi costumes at the upcoming exhibit, especially the jumpsuit, proton pack and utility belt from Ghostbusters.

Three other costumed sci-fi fans were part of a Sacramento Klingon Assault Group (KAG) called "Ikvnomhegh," which means "swift death," said Chris Mumma, a KAG officer. Mumma wore a Klingon warrior costume from Star Trek complete with a plastic "bat'leth" or "sword of honor."

KAG "Ikvnomhegh" member Julio Alcala was also dressed as a Klingon, but in a plainer costume from the original Star Trek series. He mentioned that sometimes locals must travel as far as Los Angeles, San Diego and Las Vegas to attend sci-fi or comic conventions.

After displaying an uncanny vocal impression of a Wookie from Star Wars, Alcala added that he was looking forward viewing the black leather jacket that Arnold Schwarzenneger wore in The Terminator at the exhibit.

Another KAG members, Von Bean, dressed as a female Sith Lord from Star Wars. Unlike others, she sewed the costume herself, she said.

David Mello, not affiliated with any costume group, dressed up as Fourth Who, which he explained was the fourth incarnation of Dr. Who from the BBC series "Dr. Who." Recently back from San Diego's Comic-Con, Mello blogs about movies under the pen name Impaler General.

Mello said he is excited about the variety at the Out of this World exhibit. "Even if one person is a drawn to a [specific] genre, they will look at others," he said.

"[By] putting sci-fi costumes in the same gallery space as the Lincoln exhibit, the museum will be able to reach people with different interests," Robinson added. Besides being for sci-fi fans, it's also for people who love movies or costume design in general, she said.

California Museum members will get a sneak preview of the exhibit this Thursday at 6 p.m. during a members-only preview reception. In addition to being able to party in the Star Wars cantina and eat from a table based on the monkey brains scene from Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, the gatherers will also participate in a costume competition.

Prizes include a round-trip ticket from United Airlines, a resort package from Le Rivage and Scott's Seafood Grill and Bar and four tickets to see "Star Wars: In Concert" which takes place Oct. 9 and 10 at Arco Arena. Non-members can attend the preview by signing up at the door, calling (916)-653-1752 or visiting Californiamuseum.org/membership.

The California Museum is located at 1020 O St.

Ghosthunters Get Busy During Halloween

2008-10-25T10:29:17Z

Ghosthunters Get Busy During Halloween
By Paul Dale Roberts, HPI General Manager/Ghost Hunter/Ghostwriter

It’s getting close to Halloween. People want to get scared. The date is October 21, 2008, Tuesday. The Stockton Record wants me to do an initial investigation at a legendary haunted home in Stockton. The home is located at N. Pershing Street. Waiting for me in this home are the lovely Christine Taylor, her brother and videographer. The owner Rick Freeman, his enchanting daughter Bobbie Lawson and her grandmother are also waiting.

The owner gives me a briefing about this home that reminds me of a cross between a countryside cottage and a European castle. Legend has it, that it was built in 1925 by the man that built the Stockton Hotel. One of the stories that are constantly told in Stockton is that a man committed suicide by hanging himself in this home after his fiancée called off their wedding. People say that a little boy apparition has been seen looking outside from the attic window. People have heard a little boy and little girl crying and when they investigate to see where the children are, there are no children crying, nor are there any children for that matter. Many people think that the little boy was confined to the basement and died of starvation. As I looked into the basement, Bobbie showed me crayon marks that read: ‘Hi there, bye there.’

Rick Freeman, the owner bought the home as an investment. He tells me that the longest any occupant lived in this house was for 6 years, all others stayed in this house no longer than 6 months. Many former occupants feel that the home is cursed. Family tragedies have occurred to previous homeowners after they moved out of the home. I used divining rods and asked if there was an entity in the house. The rods crossed indicating yes. I asked the rods to take me to the location where the entity was. It took me to the garage. Note: Divining rods are not a sound science, but should only be used for experimentation. Checking my digital audio recorder, I have a menacing sound that sounds like a man growling, I need to place this on audacity to verify the sound. My photographs display a huge amount of orb activity. I plan to prepare a December scouting mission to this location and see what we can fully discover at the most haunted house in Stockton.

After leaving Stockton, I prepared to head over to Old Sacramento. Awaiting Shannon McCabe and I, were Robert James Neep (videographer) and Jonathan Mumm (news reporter) of Channel 10 News. They wanted Shannon and I, to take them to the spooky haunts of Old Sacramento. The first place we took the Channel 10 crew was Evangelines. Shannon (employee) of Evangelines gave us a grand tour of the haunted basement. Story has it that a 49er (miner) apparition was seen down here. A piece of cloth and a knick knack hovered in the air in front of two employees and then came crashing down, scaring the daylights out of the Evangeline’s employees. Footsteps have been heard and once an employee was pushed from behind. In the 70s, a nightclub called D.O. Mills was located on the third floor. Late at night, employees have heard music, laughter and dancing from those old disco days. What is interesting is that in the 70s, I would actually dance at D.O. Mills and several other nightclubs, I was the 3rd and 5th disco king in the 70s. Perhaps my residual haunting energy is still trapped in time at D.O. Mills.
After we left Evangelines, we headed over to Fanny Anns. Legend has it that a saloon girl named Angie was flirting with a cowboy patron. Her lover Billy Michaels walked in on her. Being a jealous man, he shot her dead. Angie’s ghost is supposed to haunt the second level.

Then our last stop was Vegas. Shannon explains that Richard Trenton Chase aka the Vampire of Sacramento frequented this establishment. Richard was sort of a wall flower and when asking girls to dance, he was rejected every time. He finally left the establishment in frustration. When Two Four Productions came to Vegas, their psychic was able to pick up the negative energy of Richard Trenton Chase during a séance. Another killer that frequented this establishment was suspected CHP cop killer Lou Rodrigues. Lou is still serving time in Pelican Bay, he’s not a ghost, but I thought this was some notorious information that Channel 10 should know. A lady patron in the early 80s saw a female apparition in the women’s bathroom and came out screaming, because the lady vanished in front of her eyes. Rick the owner of Vegas took us into his office, where the atmosphere seemingly changed and all of us felt a loss of vertigo.

So, you can see, Tuesday was a full night. At 5am on Wednesday morning, I was back up and headed over to Vegas again in Old Sacramento. This time Shannon McCabe and I, waited for Andrew Faulk (videographer) and Natalie Bomke (news reporter) of Fox 40. We were going live this morning. We gave very cheerful Natalie the grand tour of Vegas explaining how to use a variety of ghost equipment and the legends of Vegas that was once known as the Steamboat Navigation in the 70s.

To see pictures of the N. Pershing home and the investigation in Old Sacramento, click onto this link here:
http://www.meetup.com/HPI-International/photos/?photoId=5988543&photoAlbumId=464703

Note: Bobbie recently sent me some updated information via email, here is what she had to say: “Hi, I am not sure if we mentioned this during the investigation today or not, but my dad, grandma, and me heard a child’s voice saying "Momma....Momma" when we were outside by the garage. It seemed to be coming from inside the house, but we thought it could have been in the park across the street or at a neighbors. Of course that is one of the problems with that house, outside it is really noisy. Just something to look for when you look at your recordings. Also, I spoke to my husband and my friends and we are all really interested in doing a night investigation. Like I said I am available on any Saturday so just let me know the date you would like to do this and I will let them know. It does not necesarily have to be in December, so if you would like to do it sooner or later that is fine as well. I see you are pretty busy so just keep me updated.”

Paul Dale Roberts, HPI General Manager, Paranormal Investigator & Ghostwriter
Haunted and Paranormal Investigations International
www.HPI.paranormal.net
www.ghostgirls.net
www.nancybradley.org
WPRT Paranormal Radio - Content Editor
Email: JazmaPika@cs.com
Paranormal Cellular Hotline: 916 203 7503 (for comments on this story).

If you have a possible investigation call: 1-888-709-4HPI

Copyright © 2008 Paul Dale Roberts, HPI Ghostwriter Copyright © 2008
all rights reserved.