Dolls - Possessed - Part II




Ralph: I can remember every toy I had as a kid.
Gabriel: And they remember you, Ralph.


I've always hated dolls. My first doll was a monstrosity called Baby Beans, which I continuously rejected by "losing" it on outings, tossing it under my bed to whatever ghoulies lurked there after goodnight kisses were exchanged, and repeatedly placing it in the kitchen garbage can. Much to my dismay, I'd discover it, sitting on my bed the following day. It was unnerving to say the least. Of the very few photographs in existence of myself as a child, there is one, wonderful black and white shot of me chocking that doll. To this day, I consider it to be the best photograph of me ever taken.

Like most little girls, (although, I was certainly not at all like "most little girls" ), I, too had a Raggedy Anne doll, like the one pictured in Lorainne Warren's arms. Annabelle was a gift to one of two nurses who resided together. According to the women the doll began to move on its own. First, arms and legs would change position, soon after, it could be found in different places all together. It even began leaving them notes, written in pencil, in handwriting that looked like a young child's. This was even more odd, as the women claimed there were no pencils in the house or the type of parchment paper the notes were composed on.

”It sounds like someone had a key to your apartment and was playing a sick joke on you,” Ed Warren concluded. “That’s exactly what we thought,” said Donna. “So we did little things like put marks on the windows and doors or arrange the rugs so that anyone who came in here would leave a trace that we could see. But never once did it turn out that there was a real outside intruder.”

Then one night they returned home to find the doll sitting on a bed with what appeared to be blood on the back of it's hand and on it's chest.

A psychic was called in, who told the women that the spirit of a little girl named Annabelle, who used to live where their apartment now stood, was the one moving the doll. Annabelle liked the women and wanted to know if she could stay with them and "move into the doll."

The nurses said yes. From then on they called the doll, Annabelle.

One night, Lou, a friend of the ladies, was with Angie, (one of the two nurses), at the apartment." It was about ten or eleven o’clock at night, and we were reading over maps because I was going off on a trip the next day. Everything was quiet at the time. Suddenly, we both heard sounds in Donna’s room that made us think that someone had broken into the apartment. I quietly got up and tip-toed to the bedroom door, which was closed. I waited until the noises stopped, then I carefully opened the door and reached in and switched on the light. Nobody was in there! Except, the Annabelle doll was tossed on the floor in a corner. I went in alone and walked over to the thing to see if anything unusual had happened. But as I got close to the doll, I got the distinct impression that somebody was behind me. I swung around instantly and, well….”

“He won’t talk about that part,” Angie said. “When Lou turned around there wasn’t anybody there, but he suddenly yelled and grabbed for his chest. He was doubled over, cut and bleeding when I got to him. Blood was all over his shirt. Lou was shaking and scared and we went back out into the living room. We then opened his shirt and there on his chest was what looked to be sort a of claw mark!”

Annabelle's story continues to get stranger. You can read more about this case on the Warren's site:
http://edandlorrainewarren.com/?p=6


EVP specialists, Mark and Debby Constantino have caught some interesting EVPs from haunted dolls. You can hear the EVPs, and some of the history behind the dolls right here on Altered States Para Radio -
http://www.tomyd.com/as_ep203_web.mp3

Sweet dreams, gentle readers.

Possessed - Part I



Each year around this time I begin work on what is probably my favorite feature of the transformation our house makes every Halloween, The Museum Of Haunted Objects. New haunted objects are added every year, necklaces that choke the wearer, paintings that emit whispers and cries, stolen idols that bring bad fortune.

Our pop culture is littered with such references. "Living Doll" and "The Dummy" are two of the most recalled Twilight Zone episodes. On film, there's Chucky and Christine and of course, one of my greatest guilty pleasures, The Puppet Master series.

With the advent of Ebay, one can even buy and sell supposedly haunted objects, the sale of which often make headlines.

Although fascinating, this subject is not relegated to books and movies - it may be all too real.

John Zaffis has been involved in the paranormal community for 35 years. During this time he has amassed a collection of hundreds of haunted objects and placed them in a Museum - Museum Of The Paranormal http://www.johnzaffisparanormalmuseum.com/
In addition, he's made a film about the museum and the stories behind the objects themselves.

Listen to Altered States Para Radio's episode with John Zaffis as he tells the stories behind some of the objects in the collection and the very inherent dangers involved.
http://www.tomyd.com/as_ep204_web.mp3

********

With the release of the film, The Last Exorcism, capturing our attention, Blackwood will be focusing on stories of possession this week.

Oh, The Places You'll Go!



Hell A, Boyle Heights in particular, is serving up some deliciously twisted fare for your enjoyment.

1) Fright Night In The Heights - hosted by the Boyle Heights Paranormal Project

Join BHPP to watch everyone's favorite ghost film, The Haunting (1963), in very abandoned, certainly haunted Linda Vista Hospital, in Boyle Heights. Following the screening, guests will have an opportunity to tour both the main hospital as well as the mental ward, which is not open to the public.

The event is co-hosted by:
Ghost Hunters Of Urban Los Angeles
3AM Paranormal
Antelope Valley Haunts



Saturday, August 21st at 8:00 - doors open at 7:45
Suggested donation for the movie - $5 - $20 per person for the tour

610 S. St Louis St.
Boyle Heights, CA, 90023

Although the event is SOLD OUT - I am offering two Blackwood readers a space on the guest list. Comment before Midnight on Friday, August 20th, leaving your name and an email addy I can send you instructions to.


2)25th Anniversary Of The Night Stalker Capture Tour

To commemorate the 1985 capture of the infamous Los Angeles serial killer Richard Ramirez, Eastside Desmadre Tours will conduct a guided walking/public bus tour to explore the downtown L.A. haunts and dwellings of the “The Night Stalker.” Included in the tour is a visit to the East L.A. street where he was captured, as well as interviews with local witnesses involved in his apprehension. Hosted by Crimebo The Clown.

$25
August 29th, 12:00 - 4:00 P.M.
Hubbard Avenue
Los Angeles, CA, 90023

http://nightstalkertour.blogspot.com/
http://crimebo.com/

3) All About The Hollywood Pantages Theatre

The Pantages is a beautiful, historic theatre, more importantly, it is reportedly haunted. This tour covers it all, behind the scenes, art deco magnificence, history.

August 28th, 10:00 A.M. - 1:30 P.M.
6233 Hollywood Blvd
Hollywood, CA, 90028

http://www.lahtf.org/

4) Maja's Magic School : Electricity, Ectoplasm & Spirit Rapping

September is here yet again and that means its time to go back to school - Magic School!

September 12th, 6:00 - 8:00 P.M.
Annie Besant Lodge
2560 N. Beachwood Drive
Los Angeles, CA, 90068

http://www.godismyboyfriend.com/

5)The Hotel Horrors And Main Street Vice - Esotouric

I cannot say enough regarding my adoration of Esotouric. If you haven't yet adventured with them - better put it on your list.
The Hotel Horrors portion is a true crime and oddities tour featuring some of the wildest, weirdest, goriest and most memorable happenings in historic hotels.The Main Street Vice portion is a social history tour celebrating the ribald, racy, raunchy old promenade where the better people simply did not travel, but kicks were had by all who did.

$58
September 11th 12:00 - 4:00 P.M.
Cafe Metropole
923 E 3rd St
Los Angeles, CA, 90013

http://esotouric.com/mainhotel