Pasadena City Hall, Pasdena, Ca

Located at 100 North Garfield Avenue, City Hall was designed by John Bakewell & Arthur Brown who were influenced by the early Renaissance style of 16th century Italian architect Andrea Palladio. Construction was completed on December 27, 1927.

City Hall is a rectangular edifice outlining a spacious court. On the outside it measures 351 feet north and south, and 242 feet east and west. The east side is a one-story arcade. The other three sides are three stories high, with small towers at each corner and the main dome over the west entrance. The 235 rooms and passageways cover 170,000 square feet.

The massive circular structure rises perpendicularly for six stories. The fifth story is 41 feet high and pierced with four huge round arches and four smaller ones. The next story, set back a little, is 30 feet high and is also pierced with arches. Above it rises the dome 26 feet high and 54 feet across. On top of the dome is the lantern, a column-supported cupola 41 feet high, surmounted by an urn and ball. The highest point is 206 feet above the ground.-City of Pasadena

Although, I have never experienced anything here, there are a couple urban legends involving City Hall in Pasadena. It's a beautiful location, and there are many weddings, wedding photographs, and sight-seeing tours offered in this area. Local artists like myself are always studying the ornate architecture, and design of this historically preserved landmark.

The Ghost(s): There have been reports of Phantom Figures walking around the grounds here late at night. Security have seen a group of full bodied apparitions praying together by the center courtyard fountain.

American Legion Post #13, Pasadena, Ca

                                             Images Courtesy of American Legion Post #13

                                          Image Courtesy of American Legion Post #13       

The History of the American Legion:

The American Legion was chartered by Congress in 1919 as a patriotic veterans organization. Focusing on service to veterans, services, members and communities, the Legion evolved from a group of war-weary veterans of World War I into one of the most influential nonprofit groups in the United States. Membership swiftly grew to over 1 million, and local posts sprang up across the country. Today, membership stands at over 2.4 million in 14,000 posts worldwide. The posts are organized into 55 departments: one each for the 50 states, along with the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, France, Mexico and the Philippines.-Legion.org

My grandmother was a member of the American Legion for many years; along side many of my friends and family who fought in World War 2.

Beautifully restored to it's previous stature stands the American Legion Post #13 in Pasadena, Ca. This specific post and location is known to a few resident spirits. A few members that have volunteered here have reported hearing strange noises after hours in this location. Nested across the street from Pasadena, City Hall which is also a haunted location. Some paranormal researchers say Olde Town Pasadena is probably one of the largest noted haunted sites in all of Los Angeles. The architecture is beautiful and the courageously designed exterior makes it worth the trip to see this inspiring building. In addition to this American Legion, there is also another haunted location located in Hollywood, Ca. I will be also visiting this building, and posting about its history and demographics.

Enjoy -J

The Colorado Street Bridge, Pasadena, Ca, Part 2

Colorado Bridge, Part 2, Troll Edition: Just recently, I made my return to the infamous Suicide Bridge close to sundown this week. As usual, this magnificent bridge never disappoints. This experience was quite different than my other visits. I was able to find an opening in the fence underneath the bridge, that led to the arroyo below the bridge. This perspective was striking and ominous at the same time. I loved the swooping arches and it's magnificent splendor of dazzling architecture from this vantage point. Just as I made my way below there was a very disturbing looking man eyeballing me from the minute I started shooting pictures. He was trying to intimidate me to turn around, and shoot images elsewhere. I just held my ground and continued to shoot away looking past his gaze, and showing no fear. Glad I stuck around, because this time I was able to get some nice images for the blog. For more history of the paranormal occurrences here at the Pasadena, Colorado Bridge please check out my first post! There are many more pictures. In that post, you will notice that the fence is cut open under the bridge. A resident that lives in the apartments below, said a man jumped to his death the weekend before then. The medical personal cut through the chain-linked fence to retrieve his body. Post comments below if you know any more current stories of the bridge and it's darker history! Thanks for reading. -Jason

The Rialto Theater, South Pasadena, Ca

Located five blocks south of the 110 freeway, on Fair Oaks Avenue in South Pasadena, the Rialto Theatre is now closed and endangered. The Rialto Theatre opened for vaudeville and movies on October 17, 1925, with Ray Metcalfe playing the 2 manual, 10 rank Wurlitzer pipe organ and with the Rialto Orchestra accompanying the world premiere of Universal’s “What Happened to Jones” starring Reginald Denny. A Franchon and Marco stage show included Trapeze artists and vaudeville acts. Admission was 30 cents. The Rialto Theatre was one of the last theatres to be designed by noted theatre architect Lewis A. Smith, who died the following year. It is decorated in a mix of several styles, mainly Moorish, but there are elements of Egyptian, Spanish Baroque and Classical features too, all contributing to the Jazz Age charm of this theatre.-Howard B. Haas

During its long history, rumors of the theater being haunted have been consistently circulated. Tales abound of people having died there, particularly a girl who allegedly slit her wrists in the bathroom before making her way up to the balcony and bleeding to death. Another story tells of a man who went insane in the projector booth.

In any event, staff and visitors allege that the stalls in the girl’s bathroom have been known to start shaking of their own accord. In the theater itself, the apparition of an older man has often been sitting in various seats, as well as walking up and down the balcony stairs. Could this be the man who went insane in the projector booth?  

Others say that the theater is also haunted by a cat. In its early days, the theater’s mascot was a cat who roamed the old movie house, brushing up against customers’ legs and often walking in front of the screen. According to some tales, the cat continues to move stealthily through the theater and produced an eerie red light when the phantom walked in front of the movie screen.

Another visitor reported the image of a dark figure gliding down off the stage, making his way toward the theater seats, before disappearing into the lobby.

Other "normal” paranormal events have also been reported such as abnormalities in photographs, uneasy feelings people experience in various areas of the theater, especially in the women’s restroom, and whispers that are sometimes heard.

Paranormal groups who have investigated the theater agree that it is most likely haunted. -legends of america

Having visited the Rialto Theater, I really enjoyed walking around looking at every nook and cranny of the exterior through the lens of my Nikon. The feeling of wonder and old Hollywood is evoked by its majestic facades and charm. The faded days long past are seen and evident in the emotional response to the building. I hope someday someone will take the time to bring this Historical Landmark back to life. I felt the theater had a presence from the minute I walked up to the front doors. The main bottom floor is fine, but the stairs leading upstairs to the balcony section, had an ominous shadow figure moving around. I will be posting the enhanced photograph soon. Stand from the front by the doors, and you might capture some evidence as well. That's if, you really want to see it. happy hunting!

The Whaley House, San Diego, Ca

"There are some human beings who are dimly aware of their own deaths, yet have chosen to stay on in what used to be their homes, to be close to surroundings they once held dear." --Hans Holzer

"Few houses in San Diego are as historically important as the Whaley House. In addition to being the Whaley Family home, it housed a granary, the County Court House, San Diego's first commercial theater, various businesses including Thomas Whaley's own general store, a ballroom, a billiard hall, school, and polling place. Significant events, such as the seizure of the court documents and records in 1871, and the suicide of Violet Whaley in 1885 profoundly affected Thomas and Anna Whaley. These events, as well as the hangings which occurred on the property before the house was constructed, have suffused the Whaley House with an air of mystery and added to its reputation as something more than just California State Historic Landmark #65.

According to the Travel Channel's America's Most Haunted, the house is the number one most haunted house in the United States. The alleged haunting of the Whaley House have been reported on numerous other television programs and been written up in countless publications and books since the house first opened as a museum in 1960. Although we cannot state positively that the Whaley House is really haunted, the voluminous documentation of paranormal occurrences at the site makes a compelling case. But, if there are ghosts at the Whaley House, who are they and why are they here?

The earliest documented ghost at the Whaley House is "Yankee Jim." James (aka Santiago) Robinson was convicted of attempted grand larceny in San Diego in 1852, and hanged on a gallows off the back of a wagon on the site where the house now stands. The local newspaper reported that he "kept his feet in the wagon as long as possible, but was finally pulled off. He swung back and forth like a pendulum until he strangled to death." Although Thomas Whaley had been a spectator at the execution, he did not let it dissuade him from buying the property a few years later and building a home for his family there. According to the San Diego Union, "soon after the couple and their children moved in, heavy footsteps were heard moving about the house. Whaley described them as sounding as though they were made by the boots of a large man. Finally he came to the conclusion that these unexplained footfalls were made by Yankee Jim Robinson." Another source states that Lillian Whaley, the Whaleys' youngest daughter who lived in the house until 1953, "had been convinced the ghost of "Yankee Jim" haunted the Old House." A visitor to the museum in 1962 mentioned that "the ghost had driven her family from their visit there more than 60 years [earlier], her mother was unnerved by the phantom walking noise and the strange way the windows unlatched and flew up."

Many visitors to the house have reported encountering Thomas Whaley himself. The late June Reading, former curator of the museum, said, "We had a little girl perhaps 5 or 6 years old who waved to a man she said was standing in the parlor. We couldn't see him. But often children's sensitivity is greater than an adult's." However, many adults have reported seeing the apparition of Mr. Whaley, usually on the upper landing. One said he was "clad in frock coat and pantaloons, the face turned away from her, so she could not make it out. Suddenly it faded away."

The specter of Anna Whaley has also been reported, usually in the downstairs rooms or in the garden. In 1964, Mrs. Whaley's floating, drifting spirit appeared to [television personality Regis Philbin. "All of a sudden I noticed something on the wall," Philbin reported. "There was something filmy white, it looked like an apparition of some kind, I got so excited I couldn't restrain myself! I flipped on the [flash]light and nothing was there but a portrait of Anna Whaley, the long-dead mistress of the house."

Other visitors have described seeing or sensing the presence of a woman in the courtroom. "I see a small figure of a woman," one visitor said, "who has a swarthy complexion. She is wearing a long full skirt, reaching to the floor. The skirt appears to be a calico or gingham, small print. She has a kind of cap on her head, dark hair and eyes and she is wearing gold hoops in her pierced ears. She seems to stay in this room, lives here, I gather." None of the Whaleys fit this description, but the house was rented out to numerous tenants over the years. Perhaps the mysterious woman in the courtroom was one of these.

Another presence reported by visitors and docents is that of a young girl, who is usually found in the dining room. Psychic Sybil Leek encountered this spirit during a visit in the 1960s. "It was a long-haired girl," Sybil said. "She was very quick, you know, in a longish dress. She went to the table in this room and I went to the chair." Urban legend has it that this is the ghost of a playmate of the Whaley children who accidentally broke her neck on a low-hanging clothesline in the backyard, and whose name was either Annabel or Carrie Washburn. There are no historic records of any child dying this way at the Whaley House; nor is there record of any family named Washburn residing in San Diego at the time. It is believed that the legend was started by a one-time employee of the Whaley House, in an effort to add to the house's mystique.

Even animals aren't left out of the singular occurrences. A parapsychologist reported he saw a spotted dog, like a fox terrier, that ran down the hall with his ears flapping and into the dining room. The dog, he said, was an apparition. When they lived in the house, the Whaley's owned a terrier named Dolly Varden.

The Whaley House stands silently watching over San Diego Avenue as it has done for a century and a half. Every day visitors come from around the world to tour the historic museum. It contains so much history within its walls, that even the non-believer will enjoy the tour. For believers and skeptics alike, the house draws them back time and again, in search of those elusive ghosts. As Regis Philbin once said, "You know a lot of people pooh-pooh it because they can't see it. But there was something going on in that house." - Haunted Whaley House / whaleyhouse.org