Los Angeles' Most Haunted Places
Los Angeles may be a younger city when compared to others around the country, but that does not mean it lacks its fair share of ghost stories. Turns out, some of Hollywood's most famous were not ready to leave town even after their unfortunate deaths, so they apparently still hang around, sometimes to be seen by the living. If you like to feel hot and cold breezes that come seemingly from nowhere, and if you enjoy feeling the hairs on your neck stand at attention, check out these haunted places.
Queen Mary
1126 Queens Highway
Long Beach, CA 90802
(562) 435-3511
www.queenmary.com
The Queen Mary served as a World War II transport ship for 60 years, during which time it also became the site of at least 49 reported deaths, including the deaths of a crewman in the engine room, people swimming in the pool and "John," who is said to have died behind door 13. Today, the Queen Mary doesn't move at sea but sees much activity aboard from folks who want to enjoy either a self-guided tour of the parts where ghosts have been sighted, or to take one of the guided evening tours with a host who takes the group to the ship's most haunted parts, many of which are normally off-limits to the visitors.
The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel
7000 Hollywood Blvd.
Hollywood, CA 90028
(323) 466-7000
www.theroosevelthotel.com/
The historic Spanish-style hotel named after Theodore Roosevelt is famous for ghost sightings of the beautiful Marilyn Monroe, who once stayed in Cabana Suite 229. A maid discovered the image of a blonde woman reflected on a mirror that once hung in her Cabana. The mirror was later "read" by psychics and the apparition has since believed to be Monroe. The movie star has also been seen in the ballroom, either dancing or posing. Room 928, where actor and trumpet player Montgomery Clift lived once for about three months while filming "From Here to Eternity," is also believed to be haunted. Guests have reported items moving around the room without being touched and sightings of a man wearing a top hat and suit. Cabana Suite 213 is also famous for the strange things that happen in it, such as the TV going off and on by itself, the coffee maker making noises, and the sink opening and shutting on its own.
The Comedy Store
8433 Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90069
(323) 650-6268
www.thecomedystore.com
The Comedy Store's building was originally mob-owned and operated Ciro's nightclub. It is part of the history of a violent era in Los Angeles, now it features tales of ghosts that hang around the club. There are two men, one is Gus, who laughs hysterically and likes to touch women, and the other one is a very shy one. There are also two women, one of them 50-year-old Ellen, who used to perform abortions for the Mafia and is always a little bit angry, and the other one a woman believed to be a victim of one of Ellen's unsuccessful abortions.
The Hollywood Wax Museum
6767 Hollywood Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90028
(323) 462-5991
www.hollywoodwaxmuseum.com
It is said there are spirits moving between the wax figures at the Hollywood Wax Museum. Reportedly, when people take pictures inside the museum at night, strange images and colors show up in the photos. A story tells that once a man from the National Enquirer locked himself overnight in the museum to try to figure out whether it was hunted or not, and by the time morning came he was waiting at the door completely pale and horrified.
The Silent Theater
611 N. Fairfax Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90036
(323) 655-2510
www.cinefamily.org
Laurence Austin, a previous owner of this venue, reportedly walks around the lobby after business hours surprising the night-time employees. It is also said a red blood stain appears and disappears from the approximate place where Austin was gunned down by a hired hit man. The killer was hired by a projectionist, whose ghost is believed to now haunt the projection booth. The original owner of the theater, John Hampton, has been seen walking around the second floor, where he used to live. The CineFamily, a nonprofit organization who likes to present, between others, interesting and unusual programs of exceptional, distinctive and weird films, now owns the business.
Related: Most Haunted Places in Orange County
