Print these out for Halloween!
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1. Marilyn Monroe
Stay the night at Hollywood's "Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel" for a truly famous ghost encounter. People Magazine's "Sexiest Woman of the Century (1999), Marilyn Monroe, used to admire herself frequently in the mirror that now hangs in the halls of this prestigious hotel.
Hundreds of tourists pass the full length mirror each day without knowing its strange history, while others claim they've seen the famous sex icon's image reflected in the glass. Marilyn's ghost has also been spotted hovering near her tomb at Westwood Memorial Cemetery in Westwood, California.
2. Orson Welles
While in Hollywood, why not stop by Melrose Avenue's Sweet Lady Jane's Restaurant for a quick bite with the infamous spirit Orson Welles?
Famous for its exquisite desserts, customers and employees of the restaurant have testified to seeing the famous artist sitting at his favorite table, often accompanied by the scent of his favorite dessert, brandy, and cigar.
The renowned actor, writer, producer, and director received the American Film Institute's Lifetime Achievement Award in 1975 for such masterpieces as "Citizen Kane" and "Touch of Evil." One thing's for sure, Welles' reputation as an amazing artist has only grown since his death. No wonder Welles decided to stick around for some dessert - he has much to celebrate!
3. The Brown Lady of Raynham Hall
The Brown Lady is famous mostly for being the most reliably photographed ghost in history. Though no one knows who the Brown Lady is or her connection with Raynham Hall, she has been described as wearing a long brown dress or cape with only dark empty sockets for eyes and often carrying a lantern.
The first sighting was reported in 1835 by a house guest, Colonel Loftus, followed by another sighting by Captain Frederick Marryat and another by two little boys. In 1936, photographers Captain Provand and Indre Shira took the famous photograph during a shoot for the magazine Country Life.
4. Lady Howard
This famous phantasm has been spotted in Devonshire, England for years. Traveling in a phantom coach made from the human bones of her four late husbands, Lady Howard journeys to Oakhampton Castle with a skeleton dog to pick one blade of grass each night.
Legend holds that she must do this until every blade of grass is picked, that is, until the end of time. Guess that's what you get for murdering all four of your husbands.
5. Anne Boleyn of the Tower of London
Anne Boleyn, former Queen of England and second wife of Henry VIII, is the most famous ghost of the Tower of London. When Anne failed to give birth to a boy, the King was furious. Accusing her of treason, Anne was executed at the Tower of London in 1536.
Her body was later buried in St. Peter's Chapel, within the Tower's grounds, where Anne is said to regularly roam the grounds carrying her head under her arm and scaring the guards at night.
6. Elvis Presley
Has Elvis really left the building? In 1954, he began his singing career with the legendary Sun Records label in Memphis and by 1956, he was an international sensation.
He starred in 33 successful films and sold over one billion records, more than any other artist. His American sales have earned him gold, platinum, and multi-platinum awards for 150 different albums and singles. Elvis received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award at age 36 and was named One of the 10 Outstanding Young Men of the Nation in 1970 by the United States Jaycees.
He died on August 16, 1977 in his Memphis home, Graceland, but his cause of death is still under speculation. Many since have claimed to experience "Elvis sightings," even his widow Priscilla. She claims to have seen the King return from beyond the grave several years ago when she heard noises coming from the stable. When Priscilla went out to check, she saw Elvis's favorite horse upset by a "shimmering form hovering" nearby. Long live the King!
7. The nun of Borley Rectory
Borley Rectory is often called "the most haunted house in England." The story goes that during the 13th century a nun fell in love with and tried to elope with a monk. According to legend, the nun and monk were caught in their get-away horse and carriage. The monk was hung and the nun was buried alive in the walls of the rectory.
Since then, people have reported seeing the horse and carriage in the middle of the night, as well as images of the nun. In the late 1920's, in fact, the owner of the house reported poltergeist-type activity. The woman claimed that the nun's spirit had locked her in her bedroom and even thrown her from her own bed at times.
The Borley Rectory burned down in 1939 and human remains, rumored to be those of the nun, were discovered on the grounds. The legend of Borley has not died. People still visit the site today in search of the ghostly nun.
8. Bloody Mary:
Known by several pseudonyms, (Mary Worth, Mary Margaret, and Bloody Mary), this famous phantasm makes her appearance mostly at young girls' sleepovers. According to the chilling legend, Mary was once a stunningly beautiful young girl until one day she suffered some sort of horrible "accident," most likely at the hands of a jealous peer. Her face was repulsively disfigured from the incident and she never again received the same glory she once did for her beauty.
Now, it's been said that if a beautiful young girl says Mary Worth's name three times in front of a mirror, the deformed phantom will appear to mutilate and kill the youth. Sounds like a great game for kids!
9. The Vanishing Hitchhiker
It's a dark and stormy night... (Just like in the movies, right?) a driver is waved down by a young woman hitchhiking after her prom date dumped her. Touched by the sad story, the driver takes the young girl home, only to find that she vanishes just as the car pulls to the front door of what she described as her home. When the driver goes to the front door of the house he learns that the girl had passed away several years ago and returns every year on the anniversary of her death for a ride home from a stranger.
There are variations of this account, but every driver that testifies to the sight of "the vanishing hitchhiker" describes her as a vulnerable young woman wearing a pale purple prom dress with long brown hair and dark eyes. Makes you think twice about picking up the next "damsel and distress" on the side of the road, doesn't it?
10. The Toys R' Us Ghost:
Expect more than a Barbie or MatchBox car from the haunted Toys R' Us in California. This modern ghostly delight was built in 1970 over what was once the ranch of Johnny Johnson. Better known as Crazy Johnny in his day, mentally impaired Johnson bled to death after fatally cutting his leg with an axe in 1884.
Now, the crazed spirit has been spotted roller skating through the aisles of Toys R' Us, tapping customers and propelling toys.
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Received on 2005-10-26 21:22:41
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