Author: Alex Matsuo

The Disturbing True Story of “The Exorcist”

Alex Matsuo

When “The Exorcist” came out in 1973, it rattled the world. There were so many things happening in the movie that people hadn’t seen on screen before. A young girl cursing, spewing pea soup, urinating on the floor, and other horrific things were too much for people to handle. Commercials and trailers for the movie were filled with people running out of the movie theatre. They were vomiting, having seizures, and even dying. Yes, there are nine deaths tied to the movie…according to legend.

But did you know that “The Exorcist” was inspired by actual events? It’s true. Well, maybe. Sort of.

Inspired by Real Events

Before it was a movie, “The Exorcist” was a book that came out in 1971 written by William Peter Blatty. The inspiration came about over two decades prior. Blatty was a student at Georgetown University in 1949 when The Washington Post had published an article about an exorcism on a 14-year old boy. That newspaper clipping would inspire him to write his infamous book.

The boy was from the nearby town of Mount Ranier, Maryland. According to Blatty, the case simply gave him the idea and nothing more. After its publication, “The Exorcist” was on the New York Times Bestseller list for fifty-seven weeks. Seventeen of those weeks were at the number one spot. With success like that, it was a guarantee to become a movie.

The Life of Roland Doe

That 14-year old boy is known as Roland Doe. He was from a family with the last name of Hunkeler. He is also known as Robbie Manheim, as well as R. It is also noted that he was living in Cottage City, Maryland with his family. His former classmate, Dr. Alvin Kagey, described him as not athletic, quiet, unpopular, and very studious. Rumor has it that Roland’s mother and grandmother were overbearing, and his father was distant, if not completely absent. Roland’s family was unremarkable and typical with nothing to hide.

Roland’s aunt, Tilly, was a spiritualist and had an interest in the afterlife and what happens after we die. She had a particular interest in the Ouija board and taught Roland how to use one in 1948. From there, the trouble started.

Mysterious Occurrences

After Roland learned how to use a Ouija board from Aunt Tilly (also called Aunt Harriet), his family started noticing strange things happening in their home. They heard muffled voices talking, objects moved without anyone touching them. There were sounds of footsteps that sounded like groups of people were walking through the house.

Dr. Kagey, Roland’s classmate, said that one day at the house, the chair Roland was sitting in started to shake and then threw Roland across the room. Roland also started hearing scratching sounds coming from the floors and the walls of his room. Water also dripped from the pipes and walls.

The family was certain that the Ouija board used by Roland and Aunt Tilly unlocked something evil. After the family confronted Aunt Tilly, she mysteriously passed away.

Going Through Grief

It’s evident that Roland was close with his Aunt Tilly and took her death hard. After she passed, Roland became withdrawn and started acting erratically. He would randomly scream and shout without provocation. Not long after, welts, scratches, and bruises started showing up on his body.

Desperate for answers, Roland’s family took him to several doctors and psychiatrists in an effort to find out what was wrong. But no answers could be found. His family eventually consulted the Catholic Church, even though they were Protestants.

The First Exorcism Attempt

(L to R): Father William Bowdern, Father Edward Hughes, and Father Walter Halloran

Roland was examined by two priests; Father Bober and Father Hughes. During their examination, they noted that Roland would not take his eyes off their Bibles. According to the two priests, this was a sign of possession. When asked for his name, Roland responded, “Ego legionibus”, which means “I am legions” in Latin.

On Father Hughes’ recommendation, Roland was moved to a Jesuit hospital near Washington, DC. Roland’s outbursts only continued to get worse. They got worse to the point where Roland had to be restrained in his bed. Father Hughes’ then attempted an exorcism on Roland, which lasted for three nights. Roland managed to break through his restraints. He cut Father Hughes’ arm open from his wrist to the inside of his elbow with a mattress spring.

After his injury, Father Hughes was done. I can’t say I blame him. The priest was convinced that Roland now belonged to evil at this point.

Trying to Find Peace

Roland’s family took him back home, hoping that maybe they could find another way to treat him. However, nothing improved. Later, Roland’s mother was shocked to find the word, “Louis”, branded on his skin. They soon relocated to St. Louis, Missouri, hoping for a new start. But, it didn’t work. The family ran out of medical options once more. They also feared being social outcasts. Once, again, they turned to the Church.

There, Roland was examined by Father Bowdern and Father Bishop. They came to the conclusion that Roland was in a state of possession. They proceeded to try an exorcism. Father Bowdern wasn’t feeling confident with his abilities to drive out the demon. So, he enlisted the help of several priests like Father Halloran and Father Bishop. They mainly assisted with subduing Roland while Bowdern went through the rite of exorcism. According to one of the priests, Roland had the strength of a full-grown man. During the exorcism, Roland cursed, threatened the priest with violence, propositioned them for sexual favors, and spat at them.

This exorcism lasted for three weeks. Father Bowdern kept detailed journals about the incidents with Roland. These journal entries are in the 1991 book, “Possessed: The True Story of an Exorcism” by Thomas B. Allen. Father Bishop also had a diary. But it was burned by Father Halloran, one of the other priests working on the case.

Channeling an Archangel

On Father Bowdern’s recommendation, Roland went back to the hospital. This time, the hospital was the Alexian Brother Hospital in South St. Louis. Sadly, his family didn’t know that Roland was mainly kept in solitary confinement. Who knows how much this affected Roland’s psyche.

Father Bowdern finally decided to try to baptize Roland, in hopes of strengthening his connection to the church. After much resisting, Roland was baptized. He even accepted a communion wafer. Then, Roland started acting as if he was the Archangel Michael. Roland was saying, “Satan, I am Michael and I command you to leave this boy now.” After that, Roland’s soul was freed. He lived the rest of his life in anonymity. According to the priests, he never remembered what happened to him.

Disappearing from History

As mentioned, Roland forgot about his experiences and lived the rest of his life out of the spotlight. According to a few sources, many of the priests involved with the case passed away from mysterious circumstances. Author Thomas B. Allen interviewed Father Halloran for the book, Possessed. He seems to be one of the more outspoken priests to tell his story of the events. He has also commented on the accuracy of the book and movie, “The Exorcist.”

Father Halloran confirmed that there were multiple weird events that happened during Roland’s exorcism. These events include objects moving by themselves and his bed trembling. He also confirmed that words formed on the boy’s skin, but he couldn’t make out any words specifically.

We will never truly know what happened to Roland, as there are so many different versions of the story. Of course, skeptics say that this was actually a case of mental illness, not demonic possession.

According to legend, Roland’s original hospital room at Alexian Brother Hospital was sealed up. The Hunkeler home is now a popular tourist spot in St. Louis, Missouri.

Inconsistencies to Note

I do want to take a moment to note that there were inconsistencies in the story as I was researching. Some newspaper articles had Roland’s age as 12, or even 13 years old. Other sources said he lived in Cottage City, Maryland. But, then there are sources that claim Mount Rainier, Maryland. The final exorcism took supposedly place in Maryland. Yet, it’s more evident that it likely happened in Missouri. Some rumors say that Roland didn’t use the Ouija board until his Aunt died, and he was trying to contact her. There are multiple variations to this story, and it’s up to you to determine whether or not you believe it.

Finally, cases of possession are exceptionally rare. In my experience, folks who are seeking an exorcism need mental help. Meaning, they need a doctor, not a priest. Thankfully, the Catholic Church has a rigorous process to get an exorcism that includes a full medical workup to rule out any and all explanations.

Sources

The True Story Behind The Exorcist
The Entire Case History of Robbie Mannheim: The Real-Life Story That Inspired “The Exorcist” Movie.

http://storytimewithamirul.blogspot.com/2014/04/who-are-those-people.html

The True Story Of Roland Doe That Inspired ‘The Exorcist’

https://maps.roadtrippers.com/us/bel-nor-mo/points-of-interest/house-that-inspired-the-exorcist

https://www.washingtonian.com/2015/10/19/think-the-exorcist-was-just-a-horror-movie-author-william-peter-blatty-says-youre-wrong/

https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/movies/features/dcmovies/blattytalk.htm#:~:text=The%20inspiration%20for%20the%20novel,old%20girl%20in%20his%20novel.

11 Weird Things I Wish I Knew About Ghost Hunting When I First Started

Alex Matsuo

It’s hard to believe that I came into this field full-on in 2011. Sure, I did some “recreational ghost hunting” starting in high school, but I honestly didn’t know what I was doing. It was a lot of sneaking out at night, going to the nearby cemetery in Old Town San Diego, visiting the Whaley House, trying to talk to ghosts in the park, it was a fun time in my life. I didn’t know much about what it meant to be a ghost hunter, and this was something I had always had an interest in. Who knew that I’d be making this a significant part of my life?

But, there were growing pains. There were a LOT of growing pains. As I entered the paranormal community, there was a lot I had to learn about working with people while maintaining a “good” reputation in the field.

Paranormal Investigations Can Be Boring

This is probably the biggest lesson in becoming a paranormal investigator (or ghost hunter). I would dare say that what you see on TV is completely different from real life. Usually, what we see on TV is the best 30-45 minutes of footage. What most people don’t know is that the talent has been at that location for at least a day, if not more. What is seen on TV is an abridged version of their experience. Also, activity isn’t happening every hour, or even every few hours. You may find yourself sitting in the dark and chatting with your fellow investigators throughout the night. Of course, it’s all worth it when you capture that anamolus data that can’t be explained. And that’s why we all keep coming back.

Make Friends with Skeptics

Seriously. I know it may be scary, but please make friends with a skeptic. Subscribe to Skeptical Inquirer. Read up on James Randi and the work he did. One of my favorite skeptics that I think EVERYONE needs to follow is Kenny Biddle. What is great about him is that he makes himself available on different platforms where you can ask him questions and he will answer in a way that will make you feel empowered and educated. It’s important to be friends and network with skeptics because they will keep you honest and will keep you focused as you navigate the world of paranormal investigating and ghost hunting.

Ghosts and Spirits Are People Too

Ghosts and spirits are people, they just exist in different forms. Therefore, we should still treat them as human beings instead of this “spooky entity.” I’ve noticed a lot of paranormal investigators will have their “ghost hunter voice” when trying to communicate, which is completely different from their normal speaking voice. Time and time again, investigators have noticed that there seems to be an uptick in EVP responses during normal conversation. I truly think that speaking to the entities like normal people can make a difference instead of treating them like this spooky being in the shadows.

Evidence Review Takes Time

This is probably the hardest thing for me to do, especially if I have multiple devices to review. Let’s say you brought 4 recording devices with you, and you’re at a location for about 5 hours. After doing the math, you have about 20 hours of footage to review. Of course, once you get through that first device, you can make notes of significant time stamps and see if they correlate with your other tech. But still, it’s a long time to review data. How to manage this? Depending on the urgency of the case you’re working on, set aside an hour or two each day to review your evidence. A little each day goes a long way!

You Don’t Need Fancy Tech

I’ll say this until the day I join the ghosts; you don’t need fancy tech. Yes, I did write a list of cool tech items you need on your ghost hunts, but they will not make or break your experience. If you’re someone who wants to collect data and review evidence, then you’ll probably need an audio recorder and maybe a camera. But, I’ve worked with folks who don’t bring any tech with them and all they have is a pencil and a notepad. You’ll connect with ghost hunters and paranormal investigators who just want to have the experience. Meaning, they just want to make that connection to the other side, take in their surroundings. So, don’t question your legitimacy as a paranormal investigator if you haven’t dropped hundreds of dollars on tech.

Your “Normal” Life May Be Affected

I managed to keep my paranormal life separate from my “normal” life throughout high school and most of college. But I found that the deeper I dove into the paranormal, the more it started to bleed into my normal life…or as I sometimes call it, my “muggle” life. Once I started writing books, making television appearances, and then a YouTube channel, the secret eventually came out. Now, people at work know I’m a paranormal investigator, and I’m so lucky that they are cool with it. Occasionally, I’ll get asked about my latest experiences, which makes for a good break time story. But, it’s good to keep in mind how public you want to be about this incredible life and how it can affect your relationships and job prospects.

Some People Just Need Validation

This was an incredible lesson to learn as someone who does residential cases. Sometimes, people don’t want us to come and solve their hauntings. Instead, they just want validation that something weird is going on. Now, the client doesn’t always realize this. When this happens, we usually talk with our clients to make sure that the resolution they requested is the one they actually wanted. Our clients sometimes just want to confirm that they aren’t crazy and that there really is something spooky in the house, and that’s okay.

Not Everyone is Open to Being Debunked

This is a hard one sometimes, especially when people post photos on social media and say, “Look at this!” It’s easy to go ahead and debunk the evidence as dust, moisture, etc., but then we may be met with accusations of being unbelievers, close-minded, or one of those “evil” skeptics. I’ve always said that I think anyone serious about being a paranormal investigator should consider learning about the ins and outs of photography, audio, and videography. Yet, not everyone will do that, and sometimes they just don’t want to be debunked.

Be Careful About Who You Work With

When I first came into the paranormal community, I had a lot of people wanting to work together and network. I immediately dove in before I really got to know the person, and it ended up biting me in the butt in the end. I definitely recommend getting to know someone before working with them on any paranormal project. Observe how they talk to other people, especially the folks who are not as popular as them. I’ve seen a lot of my fellow investigators get looped into drama and legal trouble because they were looped in with the wrong people. Just be careful.

Psychics Aren’t Right All the Time

I’ve worked with hundreds of different psychics, and I can tell you that all of their gifts are different in some way. Just like how we all have different preferences, tastes, styles, etc., those with abilities have very diverse gifts. But, that doesn’t mean that they are right 100% of the time. The good psychics to work with are those who are open to being wrong and use those moments as learning opportunities. It’s okay if a psychic is wrong, they may just not be attuned to that location, or they are still learning, or they are trying to force something that isn’t there. For more information on this, check out my tips for psychics.

Paranormal Community is for Everyone

This wasn’t necessarily something I needed to learn, but there are folks in the paranormal community who like to gatekeep. Meaning, if someone has a past that may seem questionable, or they come from a profession that’s a bit taboo, there’s hesitation to welcome them in the community. I will say, that everyone comes from a diverse background, and we all have skeletons in our closets. If someone wants to be a part of the community, and they’re a good person (ie not stealing, lying, etc), they should be welcomed with open arms. There is room at the paranormal table. If you’re feeling shy or intimidated, come sit with me!

Do You Know the Creepy True Story Behind “Child’s Play”?

Alex Matsuo

Could there be anything more terrifying than a possessed doll on a murderous rampage? Well, the thought that the movies are based on a true story is enough to keep you up at night! This might be why the movie, Child’s Play (1988), became such a box office success that inspired a major franchise.

The premise was that serial killer, Charles Lee Ray, was on the run from the cops. Knowing he was about to be killed, he used a voodoo spell to transfer his soul into a doll. Yes, the subsequent sequels got a bit more ridiculous as time went on. But still, we can’t help but still get the chills at the thought that one of our dolls could be alive…and plotting our demise.

It may be even more unsettling to know that Child’s Play is based on a true story. Robert the Doll is one of the most famous haunted objects in the world, and the Child’s Play franchise is partially based on his story. What’s more, you can visit him in person if you dare!

Real-Life Andy

Andy was the poor victim that was gifted Chucky in the movie. The poor kid just wanted a doll to play with, not a homicidal maniac! Andy’s real-life counterpart, Robert Eugene Otto (called Gene), probably dealt with similar annoyances. Gene lived in Key West, Florida, and was a member of a very prominent family in the area. The Ottos very much appreciated fine art, but Gene didn’t have many friends.

Robert the Doll was a gift from Gene’s great-aunt during a trip in Germany. Apparently, the doll had been a window display. Gene named the doll after himself and loved him as his own. According to legend, it is believed that the servants face terrible abuse from Gene’s parents and placed a voodoo curse on Robert the Doll as revenge. However, there isn’t much that supports this rumor.

Gene was eight years old when he got Robert, and he was unhealthily attached to the doll. He wasn’t making friends and would spend a significant amount of time alone with Robert, much to his parents’ concern.

Robert Causes Chaos

It didn’t take long for the family to realize that something wasn’t right with Gene or with Robert. His mother, Minnie Otto, was exceptionally protective of Gene. This occurred even when Gene’s father, Thomas, insisted that he was too old to have a doll. It didn’t take long for his parents to notice weird things like footsteps running above them, and Robert being in places he shouldn’t be. But probably the most terrifying of all is that Gene was seen having a one-sided conversation with Robert. But when his parents left the room, they would hear another voice responding to Gene.

Soon, mutilated toys started showing up. Gene was blamed for the destruction, but he insisted that Robert did it. In the middle of the night, his parents would hear Gene screaming and then go into his room, where the furniture was overturned. But it wasn’t his fault…Robert did it.

Gene’s parents also heard Robert giggling. Initially, then thought it was Gene changing his voice, but it turned out that wasn’t the case.

Eliminating Competition

There was a lot of tension in the house, and Gene seemed to constantly lose himself in Robert. There would be a lot of sitting in silence, just staring at Robert, like they were psychically connecting with each other. Gene started isolating himself from the other children and eventually, from his parents, which caused them to worry. Robert was also a regular guest at the dinner table.

According to legend, when Gene’s great aunt advised his parents to get rid of the doll, his parents put Robert in a box and nailed it shut. The next morning, the great aunt was found dead. The coroner ruled that she had a stroke. Was this coincidence, or was it Robert exacting his revenge on the old woman for advising that the family get rid of him?

Fearful for Gene’s life, his parents sent him away to a boarding school for disturbed children. Robert did not go with him, and he was put away in a box for many years. Gene would eventually grow up to be a famous artist.

But Minnie claimed that she would see Robert around the house, in the shadows, and she knew that eventually, he would get her.

Into Adulthood

Gene Otto as an adult. Credit: Monroe County Library Collection

Gene grew up to be a famous artist and a well-adjusted young man. While it seemed that Gene outgrew Robert and eventually forgot about him, all of that changed when his mother died. Gene and his young wife, Ann, found themselves living in his childhood home. According to legend, before his mother died, she told Gene’s wife to never move into the house and never tell him about Robert. Well, the couple now lived in the house, and Gene eventually found Robert again.

Some sources say that Gene reverted back to his isolated behaviors and was oddly attached to Robert as a grown man. This eventually caused issues in his marriage and his wife was fearful of the doll as well. Gene placed Robert by the window so he could look outside. However, neighbors claimed that they would see Robert passing the windows and peering through the curtains outside of his normal spot. Gene eventually locked Robert away once again.

Gene passed away in 1974, and Robert was found in the attic. The family that moved into the house had a 10-year old daughter who found Robert and took an immediate liking to him. However, it didn’t take long for Robert to start causing the same chaos once again. While the new family didn’t throw him away, he was locked away once more until he was moved to a museum, with his reputation well known.

Ask Permission

Robert has been blamed for much misfortune and bad luck. If you visit Robert at the East Martello Museum, and you don’t ask for permission to take his photo, he will cause absolute chaos in your life. Littered around the walls in Robert’s area are letters begging for forgiveness for taking his photo without consent. According to legend and first-hand witnesses, Robert has caused car crashes, diseases, divorces, and even catastrophic cybersecurity compromises. That’s a lot for a little doll to accomplish!

What is Robert?

I’ve often been asked what I think Robert is. Could he be possessed by a ghost? Or is Robert something of demonic energy? Or, have all the stories and legends we’ve heard about this terrifying doll have accumulated and we’ve created that energy ourselves? It’s hard to say.

You can visit the house today where Gene Otto grew up and Robert was seen through the windows. You can even stay overnight!

What do you think? Do you think Robert the Doll is real? Or was it all the shenanigans of a michevious little boy? The world will never know.

Sources:

http://www.the13thfloor.tv/2016/03/18/did-you-know-the-movie-childs-play-is-based-on-a-real-event/

https://filmdaily.co/news/robert-the-doll/

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/the-story-behind-the-worlds-most-haunted-doll

10 Ghost Hunting Books You Need to Read

Alex Matsuo2 Comments

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

Reading books as a ghost hunter or paranormal investigator is so important if you want to grow. There are so many resources out there! It’s important to know what other people are talking about and what their experiences are.

The listed books are a mix of “how-to”, personal ghost stories, legends, history, and more. This is just the start of a massive list! If you have a book that you would like to recommend, let me know!

The Brave Mortal’s Guide to Ghost Hunting – Alex Matsuo

Yes, I’m going to plug in my own book. The Brave Mortal’s Guide to Ghost Hunting is all about how to be a paranormal investigator. In this book, I cover a multitude of topics. I cover historical research, evidence review, best practices on the field, as well as paranormal history from a cultural standpoint. If you are new to the world of paranormal investigating, this book is for you!

The Ghost Studies: New Perspectives on the Origins of Paranormal Experiences – Brandon Massullo

This is one of the best books to read as a paranormal investigator. For example, it dives deep into the psyche of paranormal experiences as well as the latest research in hauntings. It was written by Brandon Massullo, who is a clinical therapist and a parapsychologist. He has been cited in numerous journals and is a go-to resource on the topic. It’s safe to say he knows what he is talking about!

Guide to Psychic Protection – Rosemary Ellen Guiley

Rosemary Ellen Guiley was such a wealth of knowledge and expertise on the paranormal. While she has since passed, she has left us a treasure trove of books and resources. One of my favorites is Guide to Psychic Protection. One of the questions I’m asked most often is, “How do you protect yourself during an investigation?” Rosemary has answered that question. It will not only help you on a ghost hunt but also in your daily life.

Haunted Land: Ghosts, Witches, and Divination in the 18th Century – Michelle Hamilton

It is important to learn where the world of ghost hunting and paranormal research came from. Michelle Hamilton has written several books on the historical context of our belief in ghosts. She knocks Haunted Land out of the park. You get to read actual historical documentation of ghosts, witches, and divination in the 18th century. You might also notice that some of these beliefs are still prevalent today. Civil War Ghosts is another favorite of mine from here.

The Victorian Ghost Hunter’s Casebook – Tim Prasil

If you’re ghost hunting without the fancy tech, are you even ghost hunting? The answer is a resounding YES! Back in the Victorian era, people were absolutely fascinated by ghosts and the supernatural. It’s important to know why Victorians were ghost hunting. This is because it gives us so much context as to why we do what we do today. Tim Prasil also includes a few notes from female ghost hunters from the Victorian era. Did I mention that Charles Dickens and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle are included in this book? They were truly captivated by the supernatural! I’m thrilled this book includes their notes.

Spook: Science Tackles the Afterlife – Mary Roach

This book is truly a classic for any ghost hunter’s library. Mary Roach writes about the subject in a funny and entertaining way to keep you engaged. She includes a lot of articles from CSICOP’s Skeptical Inquirer Magazine. Also, she discusses how folks have been trying to debunk elements of the paranormal using science. Her perspective is objective, and a “must-read” for any paranormal investigator or ghost hunter.

The Good Death and the Civil War: The Haunting of an American Battlefield – John G. Sabol

John G. Sabol is the creator of the Ghost Excavation method, which takes an anthropological and archaeological approach to paranormal investigating. Instead of dressing in jeans, sneakers, and sweatshirts, and asking questions in the dark, Sabol and his team are in period clothing and engaging in scenarios to interact with the spirits. He’s also written dozens of books with his research, and his historical knowledge is invaluable. In the book, Sabol discusses why American Civil War battlefields are haunted, and how the Civil War violated “The Good Death”. I think if you truly want to understand Civil War hauntings, you have to understand what The Good Death was.

Ghost Hunter’s Handbook: Supernatural Explorations for Kids – Liza Gardner Walsh

We can’t forget the kids! There’s some controversy as to whether kids should be in the world of ghost hunting. But they still have paranormal experiences. Often, they don’t have the context or knowledge to understand what they experienced. Liza Gardner Walsh covers the history of ghosts, how to ghost hunt, how to tell a good ghost story, and more. It’s all in a kid-friendly manner that’s engaging and educational.

Where the Footprints End: High Strangeness and the Bigfoot Phenomenon, Volume I: Folklore – Joshua Cutchin and Timothy Renner

I had the pleasure of sitting alongside Joshua Cutchin for ConCarolinas 2019. He is a wealth of knowledge on theories and folklore, and his resources are astounding. If you’re interested in Bigfoot, aliens/UFOs, and the history behind the beliefs we have about them today, this book is for you. Truly, it is really interesting to read about some of the data and theories being ignored by modern-day Bigfoot hunters. It also discusses how the significance of Bigfoot has impacted our society from a cultural standpoint. This is a great resource for any cryptid lover or researcher.

Ghost Hunters: William James and the Search for Scientific Proof of Life After Death – Deborah Blum

The American Society for Psychical Research, and the Society for Psychical Research are big names in the paranormal field. Deborah Blum dives deep into the research of William James. She also includes the experiments he performed on the mediums of the Spiritualism movement. What is truly wonderful about this book is while James did find there were many frauds in the movement, there were also those that defied logic and left him scratching his head.

Disneyland Ghost Stories and Creepy Hauntings!

Alex Matsuo

Could it be that the happiest place on Earth is also the most haunted place on Earth? Be still our hearts! With so much energy going through the park on a regular basis, plus the heightened emotions and spiritual awakening many of us feel when we pass through those gates, it’s not surprising that there could be spiritual activity going on.

Disneyland was once a way of life for me. Growing up and living in San Diego, Disneyland was just a 90-minute drive away. Even before I dove into becoming a paranormal investigator, I always felt a strange energy in Disneyland that I wanted to experience over and over again.

Walt LOVED Spooky Stories

Walt Disney loved the creepy and spooky. In fact, one of his favorite legends is the Headless Horseman. And we can’t forget The Haunted Manion. Here’s some fun Disneyland trivia: The Headless Horseman was part of the earlier plans for the Haunted Mansion. Apparently he was going to be part of the finale in the graveyard area. The plan was ultimately scrapped. But today, well, when Disneyland was having parades, the Headless Horseman opened up the “Boo to You” Parade.

The Ghost Stories

The Woman in White

Did you know that Disneyland has its own Woman in White? Many believe that this woman died around the area even before Walt built Disneyland. This is an entity in a white dress that hangs out around Main Street after dark. According to legend, she scopes the area out looking for lost children and escorting them to the Baby Care Center where they can be reunited with their parents.

Ghost Train

This might just be my favorite story. A former cast member by the name of Darrold Wagner claims that the Disneyland Railroad is haunted. If you’ve ever been on the ride at Disneyland, it circles the park and it’s a nice way to relax and get off your feet for a bit. As always, there’s usually more than one train on the track, but you would never know. According to Wagner, the train command center has a board that shows where the trains are on the track. Usually late at night, a train would show on the board in the far corner. The whistle would even blow even though there wasn’t a train. The older employee’s used to say, “That’s Walt’s train.”

The Constant Vigil & a Smoke

Walt’s apartment is above the fire station to your left when you walk into the park. If you’ve ever been to Disneyland, you’ve probably noticed the lamp that’s always on. That’s a constant vigil in Walt’s memory, reminding us all that he is still watching over his beloved park. But could there be more there than just a lamp? According to Anna Bees, who can see and sense spirits, has seen Walt in the window of his apartment by the lamp. There is also the famous story of a cast member who tried turning off a light in Walt’s apartment, only to come downstairs to see it lit up again. This incident happened multiple times until the cast member gave up and kept the light on. She also heard a voice say, “I’m still here.” Apparently, the constant vigil to Walt was born from this experience.

Anna has also seen Walt smoking while leaning on a lamppost in front of “Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln.” Considering Walt’s apartment and Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln are close to each other, this doesn’t surprise me.

A Wave Hello

Multiple guests have claimed to see Walt around the park. One guest, who was let into the park after hours by a cast member (supposedly), said that they saw a man standing outside of the castle. He was on the drawbridge, noticed the guest, and smiled and waved. According to the guest, they immediately recognized the man as Walt Disney. He stood there waving for about 20 seconds before he disappeared.

The Crying Boy

I’ve heard of this for years growing up, and I honestly thought it was an urban legend until about middle school. The Haunted Mansion is apparently a favorite spot for people to scatter human ashes. I’ve also heard that Pirates of the Caribbean is another popular spot. From my research, this trend seemed to have started in the 90s. Or, at least that was when Disney started to notice it. By the way, if this is something you’re wanting to do, just don’t. They will close the ride and your loved one’s ashes will likely get vacuumed or swept up. I don’t even know if you’d see those remains again. That is such a bizarre situation.

There is reports of a crying boy seen in The Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean. The reason why he is there is because, according to legend, his mother scattered his ashes on Haunted Mansion.

The Man with the Cane

Is it a shock that Haunted Mansion might be home to actual ghosts? In the 1940s, there was a terrible plane crash in Anaheim, not too far from where the Disneyland property sits today. Apparently, this plane crash took the life of a pilot who walked with a cane. Cast members and guests have claimed to see a man hobbling around the attraction, especially in the loading dock, while walking with a cane.

The Stockroom

A former cast member reported that she often heard the door open and close in one of the stockrooms of one of the gift shops. At one point, she even heard a crash, and one of the items in the stockroom was broken. According to the cast member, there was no way that the item could have fallen by itself since the park was empty and there was no other cast member in the stockroom.

Mr. One Way

Mr. One Way is one of the most well-known ghosts at Disneyland. He has been seen riding next to single riders on Space Mountain. He has been described as a large man with red hair and a red face. Many believe that they have caught glimpses of him on camera. Apparently, he will disappear before riders reach the final tunnel of the ride.

Deaths at the Park & Their Hauntings

There are multiple hauntings that are associated with deaths that have occurred at the park.

Matterhorn

Since Disneyland opened in 1955, there have been multiple deaths on the property. Several of those deaths are associated with hauntings. In 1964, 15-year old Mark Maples was killed after he and his friend stood up in their bobsled on the Matterhorn. Maples ended up falling out of his bobsled. He was the first documented death at Disneyland.

In 1984, a 48-year old woman named Regena “Dolly” Young was killed after she was thrown from her bobsled while riding the Matterhorn. She was struck and killed by an oncoming bobsled. To this day, cast members say that her spirit still lingers where she died, known as Dolly’s Dip. Cast members also report hearing strange sounds in that area.

Monorail

In 1966, a 19-year old teen named Thomas Guy Cleveland was killed after he was struck by the Monorail that connects the park to the Disneyland Hotel. He had been trying to sneak into the park using the Monorail track. A security guard found him, Cleveland was spooked, and he ran down the tracks before being killed. According to legend, the teen can still be seen running for his life on the tracks.

Rivers of America

In 1973, an 18-year old teen drowned in Rivers of America after he tried to swim from Tom Sawyer’s Island after the park closed. This was all while carrying his 10-year old brother on his back. In 1983, another 18-year old teen drowned after trying to pilot a rubber emergency boat from the cast member’s area of Tom Sawyer’s Island. According to rumors, the men can still be seen in the water and by the train to this day.

People Mover

Let’s start with the People Mover, which ran from 1967 until 1995. When the ride first opened, a 15-year old teen named Ricky Lee Yama decided to get out of his People Mover car as it was entering a tunnel. He tried to jump from car to car when he slipped and landed on the tracks. He was struck and killed by oncoming cars.

A similar accident happened in 1980 to 17-year old Gerardo Gonzales. During Grad Night, he was jumping from car to car when he too lost his footing and fell onto the tracks. He body ended up being dragged for a few hundred feet. I also read a witness testimony on MiceChat that he actually fell off the track and broke his neck. Either way, it was tragic and horrific.

When the ride was still functioning, visitors (specifically blonde females) reported getting their hair pulled as they entered the tunnel.

America Sings

In 1974, a woman named Deborah Stone was crushed to death when she was caught between the walls of America Sings. Cast members reported feeling a strange presence in the area when the attraction was open, especially if they got too close to the rotating walls.

This is just a sliver of the deaths that have taken place at Disneyland. For more info, check out this list from Snopes.

Why Disneyland? It’s a Prime Energy Source

Ultimately, we need to ask ourselves, why is Disneyland haunted? I touched on this in the beginning, but I truly believe that Disneyland is a prime energy course for paranormal activity. Not only do you have the energy from people, but there is so much electricity and EMF running around the park from the lights, fireworks, powering the rides, the list goes on. But also, if we truly get to choose where we get to haunt after we die, I’m sure millions of people would choose Disneyland. I know I would.

Have you every had a weird experience at Disneyland? Tell me about it!

12 Cool Tech Items for Your Ghost Hunting Kit

Alex Matsuo1 Comment

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

One of the most common questions I get is, “What kind of equipment should I buy? What do I need to start ghost hunting?” Truly, you could just use a notebook and pen to take notes. But if you want to take your ghost hunting to the next level, there are tech items you should consider buying. I do want to say that you don’t have to have every item on this list to be a “real” ghost hunter or paranormal investigator.

Also, I want to preface this by saying that none of these items are proven to detect ghosts or capture evidence of paranormal activity. Look at these pieces of equipment for monitoring changes in the environment. If there is weird stuff happening when the equipment is going off, then that’s something to further research and explore. Also, note that a lot of the “official” ghost hunting tech is made for entertainment purposes only. I also list the price so you can get an idea of how much you might be spending.

Also, just beware of any basic items that are rebranded to be a “ghost hunting” device. Sometimes, these products’ prices are inflated because the term “ghost hunt” is associated with it. You can probably find the exact same device for cheaper without the branding. I have had great experiences working with Ghost Stop when looking for my gear.

Laser Grid – $20

A laser grid not only looks cool, but it can also help detect mass. If there’s a hot spot where shadows have been seen, setting up a laser grid can help you determine whether said shadow has mass or not. Visual disturbances can happen in investigations. If the anomaly has mass, the green dots will be disturbed. Usually, these things do come with little tripods and a clamp so you don’t have to keep pressing the button. Also, set up a camera with it so you can capture that data. Laser grids tend to deplete battery life a bit faster, so have extras on hand to replace as needed. Not only does Ghost Stop carry them, but you can also find them on eBay.

Motion Sensor Lights – $22

Anything with a motion sensor is good to buy, especially lights. If there is any kind of movement happening, the lights will go off. These are effective to set up in a hallway or any other area with reported activity. A pack of six on Amazon is about $22, which isn’t bad. I highly recommend having a camera set up to watch the area, or be there physically to watch so you can try to debunk and/or engage should anything happen.

Infrared Thermometer – $35

This nifty tool is a great thing to use to monitor temperature changes, which people often associate with a paranormal presence. You can use this to take baseline readings, find cold spots, hot spots, and see if your team member really is feeling a chill. If you want to amp up your thermometer experience or combine forces with EMF detection, Ghost Stop has something called the EDI (“Eddy”), which runs about $200. This is definitely on my wish list since it also does data logging as well as sense pressure and humidity.

Audio Recorder – $52

Technically, you could use the microphone feature on your phone as an audio recorder. But, I do recommend turning off your phone whenever possible so you don’t accidentally cause a false positive with your K2 meter. You can also buy cheaper audio recorders. Personally, I don’t go too cheap on my audio recorder because quality matters in this case, especially when you’re reviewing audio evidence. I use this Olympus recorder, and it suits my needs. But if you don’t want to spend $50+, a basic audio recorder will do you just fine when you’re first starting out. I know several in the paranormal community who upgrade their recorders to one of the Zoom devices, and they come with amazing microphones that are crystal clear. As you can see, it’s quite a bit more expensive.

K2 Meter – $60

By the way, don’t buy the orange ones like in the photo…they don’t work. Like, they don’t even function correctly in detecting EMF levels. After Ghost Hunters premiered in 2004, the demand for the K2 meter exploded. This item is used to detect electromagnetic fields, better known as EMF. This is a real thing. Your smartphone, your computer, your TV, your kitchen appliances…all emit EMF waves. There is also such a thing as EMF poisoning that can cause one to have hallucinations similar to paranormal experiences. These devices were originally manufactured for detecting harmful EMF radiation from power lines and household appliances. Over the years, the paranormal community has come to believe that there is a link between ghosts and EMF since the activity is usually correlated with high EMF levels.

Camcorder – $69

Video data of your ghost hunting adventures can be very useful for you in many ways. The first is to relive your ghost hunt and review for audio and visual data, and the other is for multimedia purposes. If you want to create a video of your investigations, then you’ll want to have a few camcorders on hand. The first-person perspective will help the camera see what you’re seeing, like when you have a camcorder in your hand. You might also want to have a few stationary cameras in reported hot spots. Since you’ll probably be in the dark sometimes, you may want to consider a camcorder that comes with night vision or infrared. You can certainly use your phone, but it will be limited on storage space. If you want crystal clear clarity in 4K, then you’ll probably have to spend more in the $150 range.

PSB-7 or PSB-11 Spirit Box – $70-$130

Not an actual spirit box…I just liked the photo.

Ah, the controversial spirit box, also known as the ghost box. This is a tool that ghost hunters will use to try to listen for spirit voices while the device sweeps through radio stations. While this isn’t proven to speak to ghosts, it’s used by both believers and skeptics alike (for experimental purposes). I have a few team members with both of these devices, while I’m old school and use a “Shack Hack” radio. You could say it was one of the first spirit boxes made from an old radio from Radio Shack. Ghost Stop has a bunch of different rigs for spirit boxes that include teddy bears and hybrids of spirit boxes, EMF readers, and recorders.

Mel Meter – $100

Image from Gary Galka’s Twitter

The Mel Meter was invented by Gary Galka after the tragic passing of his daughter, Melissa. He named the Mel Meter after Melissa, and it’s one of the most popular pieces of ghost hunting equipment out there. A Mel Meter measures temperature and EMF “bursts” that is said to happen when there is paranormal activity. This piece of equipment has evolved over the years and now there are Mel Meters out there that come with REM-Pod-like features and more advanced temperature detection.

Surveillance Camera System – $170

This is a great tool to use if you’re able to set up shop for several hours. We use these for our residential cases as well as spaces we’ve reserved for all night. It does take some time to set up (you’ll need the help of multiple people, FYI), but it will give you the ability to have eyes on multiple places on the property without using your camcorders. I do suggest having someone watching the monitor, which you can arrange in shifts.

REM Pod – $190

Image: Ghost Stop

Basically, a REM-Pod goes off when someone is close to the antennae. I’ll be the first to admit that I haven’t seen a REM-Pod go off very often, but when it does, there are various things happening as well like EMF spikes and my mediums will sense something is near. According to the description, the antennae radiates its own magnetic field and can be easily influenced by people or objects that conduct electricity. If you want to see the REM-Pod in action, check out this video from my team’s YouTube channel.

DSLR Camera – $300+

This is one piece of equipment that you’ll have to spend more money on if you want quality. DSLR is short for, “digital single-lens reflex camera.” I highly HIGHLY recommend using a DSLR if you’re going to be taking pictures during your ghost hunt. Do you know those grainy photos showing “orbs” when they’re all close-up? There’s tons of pixelation in these photos, which results in a phenomenon called pareidolia, which means that our brains are trying to make patterns from these pixels and that’s why you think you see a face. A DSLR won’t completely solve this issue, but the pixels and quality of your photos will be so much better and you’ll be able to zoom into weird anomalies without the pixelation.

Thermal Imaging Camera – $200-$1200

While this may be the most expensive, I personally think this is the neatest tool for ghost hunting. While this is used by builders, contractors, hunters, etc. in the average world, this has become a favorite in the ghost hunting community because people are catching fascinating anomalies with these thermal imaging cameras. FLIR is the most popular brand, and we have personal experience using their cameras and they are truly fantastic. An average FLIR camera will cost you around the $300 range and higher. FLIR does make attachable cameras for Android and IOS too. As you can see, you can get FLIR cameras on Amazon. Ghost Stop also has a selection as they are an authorized FLIR distributor.

Honorable Mentions

Ovilus – $399+

I will forever be skeptical of the Ovilus. I also am not a fan of the price tag given the usability of the device. It’s a popular device with ghost hunters. The word bank is a bit problematic for me since it is pre-programmed. I will admit that I’ve had interesting results using the Ovilus III in reverse phonetic mode, which I think is important to note. We didn’t have a word bank coming at us, and instead, had sounds come out. Does this leave room for pareidolia and the power of suggestion? You bet. Just proceed with caution.

Motion Sensor Alarm – $30+

I put this in the honorable mentions because this can end up being a problematic device because it’s noisy. I do like the indoor versions since they have a chime instead of a loud alarm. The one that Ghost Stop offers also has different sound choices too. They are worth purchasing, especially if there is reported movement in certain areas and it can let you know of different disturbances in the area.

Final Thoughts

All of these items will be useless to you if you don’t know how they work. When you receive your equipment, read the instruction manual, go to online communities and ask questions, learn as much as you can. Learn how the device works, and learn what makes it go off. This will better equip you in your evidence review and you’ll be able to separate what isn’t paranormal, and what is a true anomaly. When it comes to cameras and camcorders, this is especially true.

What do you have in your ghost hunting bag?

10 Scary Places To Visit In North Carolina

Alex Matsuo

North Carolina is rich with history, and it is one of the birthplaces of the United States. This means that there are plenty of ghost stories to go along with this history. There are hauntings all over North Carolina from each chapter of the state’s history, and they are all available and accessible to the public!

If you’re a roadtripping kind of person, you can easily make a fun roadtrip out of these locations and make a complete circle! This is meant to be a quick list. Each one of these places warrant their own full blog post!

Trivette Clinic – Hamptonville, NC

The Trivette Clinic is located in Hamptonville, North Carolina. Dr. William Amos Trivette built the clinic in 1932 after relocating to take care of his aging parents. The clinic was a full-service hospital until 1939. After Dr. Trivette passed away at the age of 50 in 1938 from pneumonia, his wife, Lorah Gwendolyn Trivette, decided to close the clinic and sell it. The clinic became a supper club, as well as an alcohol detox clinic; a rather ironic combination. The Trivette Clinic then became a nursing home in the 1950s and later became a private residence in the early 1960s.

It is believed that the Trivette Clinic is believed to be haunted by over 70 ghosts. Some of the most commonly reported activity includes a little girl named Emily who haunts a wardrobe on the second floor. She has been known to open and close the wardrobe door. A young girl, named Majesty, haunts the basement. She even has a ball to play with! There is reportedly another child spirit by the name of Jimmy. Two nurses named Helen and Polly are also believed to be haunting the clinic, never clocking out from work.

There are also reports that flashlights will turn on by themselves as well as a male entity haunting the operating room named Philip. His presence was confirmed by a former employee of the nursing home. Apparitions have also been seen in the windows.

Henry River Mill Village – Hickory, NC

Henry River Mill Village opened in 1905 as a cotton yarn manufacturer. The area had 35 company houses for employees and their families and even had a company store, a two-story boarding house, and a bridge. You may recognize Henry River Mill Village as the filming location for District 12 in “The Hunger Games” movie franchise. While prosperous and bustling in the beginning, Henry River Mill Village would suffer the same fate as other boomtowns. The mill shut down in 1973. Even though people moved away, there were many that remained until the early 2000s. Today, Henry River Mill Village is a historic site, as well as a haunted hot spot. It seems that the folks who lived in this community don’t want to leave.

Brookstown Inn – Winston-Salem, NC

The Brookstown Inn is located in the Old Salem district of Winston-Salem, North Carolina. It began as an old cotton mill in 1837. So, many of the employees were women who actually lived in the mill. According to legend, two women got into a fight, and it took a turn for the worst. Tragically, one of them was killed after she was pushed down the elevator shaft. That woman, named Sally, is reported to haunt the Inn, specifically the fourth floor at night, and as a full-bodied apparition. At night, reports of the screams of a woman are heard. While you may not be able to have an investigation at the Brookstown Inn, you can still book a room for the night.

Person’s Ordinary – Littleton, NC

Person’s Ordinary was built in 1739 was built on one of the main stagecoach routes running from Hillsborough to Halifax. It is called by Person’s Ordinary as it was owned by Thomas Person, a prominent political leader of the time. An Ordinary was a place for “ordinary” men to sleep, as the wealthy and connected traveled with letters of introduction and stayed at manor houses during their travels. On the second floor, there is a bloodstain in one of the bedrooms. This was one of the only places I have witnessed a REM-Pod go off by itself in a room where the nearest person was at least six feet away. People have reported seeing faces in windows as well as candle-like flickering when no one is in the building.

Lydia’s Bridge – Greensboro, NC

I’ve heard a few different stories in relation to Lydia’s Bridge over the years since I’ve moved here. This is your classic hitchhiking ghost story. But in this case, I actually know people who have encountered this phenomenon. Lydia’s Bridge is actually not a bridge. It’s located just south of Jamestown, NC, but instead it’s a culvert for railroad tracks. The story goes like this; on a rainy night at an old underpass, drivers will see a woman in a white evening dress. She will flag the driver down, hoping for a ride. Then, she will get into the backseat, tell the driver her address, and then she will disappear upon arrival. There have been variations of this story over the years, including a name change to Mary. You can dive deeper into this legend with the book, “Looking for Lydia.”

Battleship North Carolina – Wilmington, NC

This location is something special. Also known as the USS North Carolina, the Battleship North Carolina is a favorite among ghost hunters. When I went with my team, we dressed up in period clothing and had quite an active investigation. The Battleship North Carolina has quite a history with World War II, and there seem to be sailors still on the ship…unable to leave. Or, maybe they don’t want to leave? We heard strange noises throughout the ship like tables were being dragged in the mess hall area. What was also interesting was that overnight, the activity was pretty dull. But then, it started to pick up around 4am-7am, around the time the sailors would have been waking up.

Cabelands Cemetery & Eno River – Durham, NC

This location is near where I live, and it’s probably one of the most active places I’ve been to. This little cemetery is easy to miss if you’re not paying attention while you’re on the hiking trail. While there are only 12 markers, it’s believed there are actually 51 people buried here. The nearby Cabe homestead is also a hotbed of activity. My team and I did an extensive investigation in the area right before COVID-19 hit, and funny enough, we kept getting responses from a spirit that was obsessed with geese. They just kept saying, “Goose. Geese. Goose” repeatedly. Others who have visited this spot have also reported seeing shadow figures and feeling the presence of multiple people. We also heard phantom voices, and strange feelings around the Eno River.

Heritage Square – Fayetteville, NC

We spent about a month at the Sandford House in Heritage Square in October 2019. We spent about a month at this location and encountered quite a bit of activity. The whole property has something going on, but the Sandford House is truly a marvel. It was the headquarters for Sherman’s men when he was coming through Fayetteville for his infamous march. There is a chip on the mantle from a bullet that was shot from the inside! During the 1930s-1950s, the house was home to numerous families, especially women who were displaced by World War II and looking for work. The second floor is one of the most active spots with the spirit of a young boy named David.

Asheville, NC

I have to tell you, there are a ton of haunted hot spots in Asheville, NC. I’m pretty sure this town has more haunted hot spots per capita than most cities around the country. Asheville was incorporated in 1797, there is a ton of history in the area, which makes its haunted status unsurprising. The Biltmore House might be one of the most notable haunted places in the area, as well as The Grove Park Inn. From Riverside Cemetery to Helen’s Bridge, plus an array of ghost tours around the area, you won’t have a problem quenching your thirst for spookiness in Asheville!

Cape Hatteras Lighthouse – Buxton, NC

The Outer Banks is a rich source of paranormal hauntings, especially those that are pirate-centric. Did you know the ghost of Blackbeard has been seen and heard around the Outer Banks? It’s crazy that such a famous part of history is just a drive away from me. I was especially drawn to the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse because there have been sightings of a ghost kitty around the area! The shoals that extend offshore of Cape Hatteras has been known as the “graveyard of the Atlantic” because there have been so many shipwrecks.⁠
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Stormy Daniels is Filming a New Ghost Hunting Show

Alex Matsuo1 Comment

This is a post I never thought I’d be writing. When you hear the name Stormy Daniels, what do you think about? Most of us associate her with Donald Trump. But, she’s so much more than that. She is a person with hobbies and interests…and one of them is paranormal investigating.

Daniels was recently spotted ghost hunting in Atchison, Kansas at the Sallie House and the McInteer Villa. She was on a ghost hunting adventure. According to KCTV News, Daniels is working on a new show about ghost hunting.

Daniels is currently traveling around the country to different haunted locations for her show called, Spooky Babes. Her team already has merch and Daniels is headlining a few speaking engagements.

According to Daniels, she’s always had an interest in the paranormal, and she believes that the shows give people a safe space to talk about it. She is pitching her show to a few different networks at the moment, and I’ll be curious to see if it gets picked up.

About the Team

Spooky Babes was founded by Stormy Daniels in 2020 after she had intense paranormal activity in her home in New Orleans. She started the team with her friend, Justin Loupe. Apparently, the haunting of her New Orleans home started in 2019 and there are over 20 witnesses to the phenomenon. The activity was described as poltergeist-like with shadowy figures and physical attacks. Stormy started the team out of a desire to better understand her experiences.

Personal Thoughts

This is interesting. I know a lot of celebs have been jumping on the paranormal show train for decades, but I didn’t expect Stormy Daniels to be one of them. It honestly just goes to show you that anyone can have an interest in the paranormal. But as Daniels said, a lot of people don’t feel like they have a safe space to talk about it. The Osbournes are currently the big celebs riding this train right now.

I have to admit, it’s entertaining to watch celebrities ghost hunt. When you see a celebrity share that they too had experiences, it does make you feel less alone. It makes them a bit more relatable. I wish Stormy all the best in her ghost hunting and paranormal investigating, and I’ll be interested to see if her show gets picked up.

Would you watch Stormy Daniels’ ghost hunting show?

@thespookystuff

#greenscreen Stormy Daniels is doing WHAT? #ghosthunting #paranormaltiktok #hauntedtiktok #stormydaniels #ghosthunters

♬ Creepy Dollhouse – Peder B. Helland

The Fascinating History of the Ouija Board

Alex Matsuo

Since the dawn of time, mankind has been trying to make contact with the supernatural. Whether through natural gifts or making tools, the search for the unknown is never-ending. Ouija boards are probably one of the most objects in the world. It’s just a harmless game, right? For over a century, the Ouija board has been a victim of fear-mongering, skepticism, and misunderstanding.

In order to fully understand the Ouija board, one must understand its history and where it came from. In case you’re wondering, no, it didn’t manifest itself from hell, nor did it drop in from the spirit world.

The Spiritualism Movement

It seems to always come back to Spiritualism, doesn’t it?

The Spiritualist movement was at its peak in the United States in the 1840s. To put it simply, Spiritualism is the belief that we can communicate with our dearly departed loved ones through mediums. One could argue that many ghost hunters today are actually Spiritualists.

The movement especially grew in popularity during the Civil War. This was because people were desperate for closure with their loved ones’ unresolved deaths. They wanted to talk to mediums to find out what happened to their soldiers. This was peak time when seances and public demonstrations became popular. But people wanted more tools to communicate with the other side. Tools like planchettes, spirit writing, trances, seances, and table tipping became the norm in the typical family home.

The earliest recording of a talking board was in 1886 in the New York Daily News, citing Ohio as being the state of origin. This “craze” was replacing card games at parties. It was18 by 20 inches in size, and users had to keep the board on their lap. A little table was used to move around the alphabet, numbers, and the words “yes”, “no”, “good morning”, and “good evening” were written on the board.

Official Invention of the Board

Via American Printing History Association

After seeing the article in the New York Daily News, three men named Elijah Bond, Charles Kennard, and William H.A. Maupin were inspired to create their own board and sell it to the masses. The official patent for “Ouija, the Wonderful Talking Board,” was granted in 1891. If you’re a lover of languages, you may notice something weird with the board’s title.

While some people think “Ouija” is some mystical word, it’s actually the French and German word for “yes” put together as one word. But Ouija expert Robert Murch thinks it’s more spiritual than that. According to legend, Kennard and his friends asked the board what it wanted to be called, and it spelled out O-U-I-J-A. When asked what it meant, it said, “Good luck.” Kennard also claimed that “Ouija” was the Egyptian word for “Good luck.”

From Kennard to Hasbro

The Kennard Novelty Company began producing Ouija boards and selling them for just $1.50. When Kennard left the company, it was renamed the Ouija Novelty Company. William A. Fuld took over production in 1901. The invention of the Ouija board has sparked ideas for other boards. When William Fuld took over the copyright ownership, he made sure that there were no duplicates. Fuld’s estate holds more Ouija patents and copyrights than anyone else in history—a grand total of 21 registrations in three countries—including the design for the modern planchette.

Fuld sued any and all copycats until his death in 1927. In 1966, Fuld’s family sold the Ouija estate to Parker Brothers. In 1991, Parker Brothers was bought out by Hasbro, and they now own all the patents and trademarks.

Ruined Reputation

The Ouija board has been the inspiration for quite a bit of fiction. The book and movie, “The Exorcist,” written by William Peter Blatty, is one of those fictional inspirations. The book is based on a true story of a 13-year old boy who was possessed by a demon and went through an exorcism in 1949.

Blatty was inspired to write the book after he saw the story in a newspaper clipping. Some may remember that the Ouija board was the catalyst for the possession of fictional 12-year old Regan. In the book and movie, Regan had been communicating with a spirit named Captain Howdy, but it was actually the demon Pazuzu. Blatty himself experimented with the Ouija board and thought he was talking to the spirit of his father. After he was done using the board, strange things happened in his home.

Even though the Ouija board wasn’t connected with demons before the movie, it was enough to associate it with demons and spread widespread panic. Everyone seemed to be afraid of it. It went from a fun party game to a demon-possessed board nearly overnight.

The Zozo Confusion

While Captain Howdy and Pazuzu were fictional in “The Exorcist,” people using the board today claim to communicate with a demon known as Zozo. This entity seems to haunt just the Ouija board and board users. Stories of Zozo first emerged in 2009 on message boards. It didn’t take long for people to realize that they were all talking to the same demon. Reported encounters with Zozo are nothing short of terrifying.

According to legend, Zozo causes chaos in people’s lives. They claim they can actually hear him cursing in different languages, like Latin and Hebrew. Darren Evans was one of the first people to report his experiences to the world and give Zozo a name. Zozo can apparently possess people and even take the lives of children.

Possession & Crimes

If we go with the idea that people can potentially be possessed by demons like Zozo or some other supernatural beings, what are the consequences of that? There are a lot of crimes associated with Ouija board use. One story goes back to 2008 when Blaine Milam and his girlfriend Jessica Carson started using the Ouija board. Carson, then pregnant at the time, started showing signs of psychosis and it was believed that she was possessed. However, the psychosis ended after she had her baby. Then it was thought that the baby, Amora, was possessed instead. The couple tried to perform a rather graphic exorcism that took the baby’s life. Milam was sentenced to death while Carson was sentenced to life in prison.

The Carroll family also faced consequences after using the board. The parents, Paul and Margaret, became paranoid after using the board. This next part is upsetting; Paul drowned the family dog, Molly, because he thought she was possessed. Then, Margaret and their daughter Katrina used the board again and it said their lives would end. The house then burst into flames after the women conducted a black magic session. They almost lost their lives.

How the Ouija Board Was Used in Court

Those who decide to take the risk and use the board themselves have discovered different ways to experiment with the board. A lot of people will discard the planchette and use something else. Some people will use a person’s personal possession as a pendulum and use that to point to the different letters. There are numerous types of divination or seeking advice and information from supernatural means. You would think that this would only stay with people who specialize in this area. When you’re desperate for some sort of information, perhaps the Ouija board isn’t the safest method if you don’t know what you’re doing.

In 1994, Stephen Young was charged with the murder of Harry and Nicola Fuller. But the jury couldn’t come to a decision. They were so stumped that they all deliberated together over drinks at their hotel. When they still couldn’t come to a conclusion, they decided to consult the Ouija board to try to talk to the Fullers themselves.

A small group of jurors made a board with a piece of paper and a wine glass. The spirit claimed to be Henry Fuller and the board spelled out things like “Stephen Young done it”, “Shot”, and “Vote guilty tomorrow.” When this information came to light, Young got a retrial, but he was still found guilty.

The Board Writes a Book

For over a century, people have claimed to have made contact with long lost celebrities using the Ouija board. Did you know that a Ouija board was used to write a book? It was the most fascinating lawsuit case of the century. In 1917, writer Emily Grant Hutchings and medium Lola Hayes claimed they wrote a book, dictated by Mark Twain. Keep in mind that Twain died in 1910. According to Hutchings, the ghost of Mark Twain dictated the book to her using the Ouija board. The book was titled, Jap Herron, and it got quite a lot of attention in its time.

When Twain’s family and publishers caught wind of this, they tried to take Hutchings to court. But the case never ended up going to trial. Copies of Jap Herron are rare since the manuscript has been destroyed. If you’re really curious, you can read it online for free.

Debunking the Board

It’s important to know that there are many instances where the Ouija board has been debunked. One of the most popular theories that explain the Ouija board is the ideomotor effect. This basically means that we unintentionally move our hands to the desired answer. This theory has also been used to explain divining rods and pendulums. If you really want to avoid having your experience debunked with this theory, I advise that you ask the questions, but don’t touch the board.

Have you ever tried using the Ouija board? How was your experience?

Sources:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-strange-and-mysterious-history-of-the-ouija-board-5860627/

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-05-08/ouija-board-juror-misbehaviour-murder-trials/9734868

https://publicdomainreview.org/collection/jap-herron-a-novel-written-from-the-ouija-board-1917