The Cemetery Gates

Cemetery photo of the week

2011-05-02T03:00:00.000-07:00

In keeping with our "animal" theme this weekend, this week's photos were taken at Calvary Catholic Cemetery, Petaluma, California in the Pet Cemetery wing on May 1st, 2011.

Judging by the "162 years" on Jeebz stone I'd say he lived his 9 lives to the fullest...

Synchronicity

2011-04-30T20:49:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone,

We apologize for the delay since our last update. Both Ben and I have been going through significant life changes, as well as each of us moving to new locations in the country.

Today I want to bring up a personal tale of synchronicity, as it does relate to Cemetery Gates overall mission of anything and everything paranormal.

I don't believe in coincidence, the universe is smarter than that. We are given messages and signs frequently and it is up to us to use our intuition and notice them.

My Uncle, Gary Bogue is a columnist for the Contra Costa Times newspaper in California. He has been employed there for decades and writes quirky, fun feel good stories about animals and wildlife. Nothing whatsoever to do with the paranormal.

As you are aware, The Cemetery Gates has an RSS feed in our right sidebar for Paranormal News, provided by Bonnie Vent, the Spirit Advocate. Upon logging in to our site this AM there in the RSS feed to my astonishment was the following:

The bottom most feed is an article my uncle Gary Bogue wrote in 1982 about cats and the strange things they see, but we humans can not. The odd thing about this popping up on our site besides the fact that as mentioned my uncle does not write about the paranormal is that I was just speaking of my uncle, whom I have not spoken with in some years, this very day. Also, much to my surprise at the very moment I was reading the article my cat Georgie was intently bouncing around the room chasing some hidden bogie, spirit or something else I didn't see.

Maybe I am reading too much into the whole incident, maybe coincidence does exist and there is no higher beings injecting little signs into our lives, but that isn't what I believe. I bet if you take the time you will start to notice things like this happening in your life. Magic is out there, you just have to open your mind up to accepting it.

Part 2 of Predictions for 2011

2011-01-02T21:45:00.000-08:00

Predictions for 2011, Part Two:

Ian Punnett hosted the second part of the Annual Predictions Show. He asks callers to predict an event that could happen in 2011. The following is a list of the highlights predicted for the coming year.

•Janet in Slipknot, Iowa predicted that the United States will normalize relations with Cuba, allowing for President Obama to have a photo op on Cuban soil.
•2011 would be the "year of the floods," warned Joe in Pittsburgh, who foresees the central US being ravaged by such disasters.
•A prominent MMA fighter will reveal that the UFC is fixed, said Rich.
•George in Kansas City envisions that, due to the eruption of an undersea volcano near Italy, the Vatican will uproot and move back to Avignon, France.
•Butch predicted that Tiger Woods will connect with a Hollywood starlet, which will result in an improvement to his floundering golfing career.
•Harold foresees an impact on the moon, possibly from a meteorite, throwing dust in the air and creating "a pretty nice light show in the sky."
•The latest fashion trend to emerge from the hip hop world will be skirts for men, predicted Jenny.
•Osama Bin Laden will finally be captured by the United States, thanks to the help of an informant, said Tony in Bethlehem, PA.
•Nathan in Davenport, Iowa said that Wikileaks will reveal that President Obama is really a reptilian.
•Attempting to go 2-for-2 (see below), Cornelius predicted a Super Bowl victory for the New Orleans Saints.
•Tornadoes will hit Los Angeles, warned Zacharia.
•James in Topanga Canyon, California predicted that a scandal will cause Vladamir Putin's ouster from the Russian government, resulting in new Russian leadership which will align the nation with China.
•The end of reality TV will happen in 2011, said Bill in Santa Cruz.
•Citing health concerns, Joe Biden will remove himself from the next presidential ticket, paving the way for Hilary Clinton to take his place as Obama's running mate, predicted Tom in Minneapolis.
•Michael in Oregon foresees Coast to Coast becoming the #1 talk show in the world in 2011.
Ian also reviewed callers' predictions made for 2010. Here is a sample of the hits and misses.

Misses:

•Major celebrity will admit to being abducted by aliens.
•Nuclear reactor will mysteriously detonate on its own in North America.
•Newly discovered comet will be visible to the naked eye.
•A tsunami in California will reveal an underwater reptile species.
•Undeniable proof of Bigfoot is found and it is revealed that the government is breeding the creatures at 'Area 52.'

Hits:

•New Orleans Saints win the Super Bowl (as predicted by the same Cornelius who called in this year).
•Google will be rocked by scandal.

The source of this article is from the CoastZone newsletter. To sign up for the newsletter click here.

Strange Phenomenons of 2010

2010-12-31T22:00:00.000-08:00

These are just a few of the strange events that happened over the year. If you know more, feel free to comment and we will add them. There are at least ten UFO sightings in China this year alone. I wonder how many are just a hoax, enhanced by Photoshop, accidental camera effects or CG fakes. I guess we'll never know.

February 23, 2010
Guatemala Sinkhole

Three people are missing after a sinkhole appears on the streets in the San Antonio neighborhood. Possibly due to a sewer pipe breaking. Over 130 feet in diameter.

March 21, 2010
First sighting of UFO in China this year in ChongQing City

July 7, 2010
Sightings of a UFO in China

August 15, 2010
Another sighting over the Airport in China

October 13, 2010
UFOS over Manhattan and New York City

October 15, 2010
Strange Lights over El Paso

I thought this was an interesting story. A fireball falling from the sky then splitting into small crafts. The use of X Files music is priceless.

November 9, 2010
Missile launched off the coast of California

Was it a missile test launched from a submarine? No one has a clear answer, not even the spokesperson from Point Mugu Naval base. It's believed to be a contrail from a plane. You can be the judge.

Crazy stuff this year. Looking forward to what next year brings.

Happy 2011 everyone!

Coast to Coast AM Releases 2011 Predictions

2010-12-31T13:35:00.000-08:00

Predictions for 2011, Part 1:

On Thursday night, Ian Punnett and his always popular Annual Predictions Show released the first part of their list for next year's predictions. He opened up the phone lines to have callers share their predictions for 2011. The following list is just part of what callers predicted for the coming year.

•Cal predicted a military coup in North Korea, which will lead to an improvement of that country's relationship with the West.
•Tom in Salem, Oregon foresees a major discovery at CERN that will relate to the heaven dimension, where souls go when people die.
•Cornelius said George Noory will marry in 2011; Jim in Dallas specifically said George will marry on November 11, 2011.
•Nancy predicted an 8.1 earthquake will hit along the San Andreas fault in mid-March.
•A subterranean tunnel will be found under the North American or Asian continent which could lead to Bigfoot's discovery, stated Charles of North Hollywood.
•AJ in Fort Meyers envisions the two big wrestling divisions, WWE and TNA, having serious money problems.
•An Illuminati sex slave scandal will be revealed, said Simon from Baltimore.
•Robert in Bloomington, Ill. foresees nanotechnology being used to heal people.
•Charles in Riverside, CA predicted a collapse of the music industry, with several large labels filing for bankruptcy.
•'Synchronized walking' becomes very popular, said Greg in Iowa.
•Barb in Ohio predicted the largest sale of flowers ever, from mid February through early May.
•Stone in Kansas City, MO said that Yellowstone will "stretch its jaws," with increased earthquakes, but no major eruption in 2011.
•A major cruise ship will disappear in the Bermuda Triangle, predicted Seth.
•Shane shared a vision of a small military conflict that will take place on January 14th that will lead to a larger conflagration.
•John in California said the Zodiac Killer will finally be identified in 2011.
•A private research company will begin cloning people for organ donations, said Alex.

Ian also reviewed caller predictions from 2010. Here are just a few of the hit or misses from this year.

Misses:

•The Dollar will crash. We are going to go to another financial currency.
•President Obama goes on live TV to announce that aliens do exist, and has a green alien speak on camera.
•Ground opens up, sky is bright orange, massive earthquakes.
•Edgar Cayce's Hall of Records will be found in the Grand Canyon.
•The disappearance of sea lions in San Francisco after Thanksgiving is a prelude to an explosion in Yellowstone.
•In the wake of recent terrorist attacks, it will force the government to tip its hand and reveal what has up until now been a secret form of teleportation.
Hits:

•Deadly attack on a freighter off coast of Somalia; international military force will launch attack on bases of Somali pirates.
•35% of pest control operators in the United States will use non-toxic chemicals in their businesses.

Part 2 of Ian Punnett's Predictions for 2011 continues tongight, so have you predictions ready to call in!

The source of this article is from the CoastZone newsletter. To sign up for the newsletter click here.

Happy Halloween from the Cemetery Gates!

2010-10-31T00:00:00.000-07:00

May your day be filled with ghoulish delight!

Don't forget to listen to Coast to Coast AM as Art Bell hosts his annual Ghost to Ghost evening where he opens the lines to listeners to share their tales of ghostly encounters! You may even here Cemetery Gates call in with a spooky tale of our own!

Halloween Facts: Ancient Origins of Halloween

2010-10-30T18:06:00.000-07:00

Halloween's origins date back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced sow-in).

The Celts, who lived 2,000 years ago in the area that is now Ireland, the United Kingdom, and northern France, celebrated their new year on November 1. This day marked the end of summer and the harvest and the beginning of the dark, cold winter, a time of year that was often associated with human death. Celts believed that on the night before the new year, the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred. On the night of October 31, they celebrated Samhain, when it was believed that the ghosts of the dead returned to earth. In addition to causing trouble and damaging crops, Celts thought that the presence of the otherworldly spirits made it easier for the Druids, or Celtic priests, to make predictions about the future. For a people entirely dependent on the volatile natural world, these prophecies were an important source of comfort and direction during the long, dark winter.

To commemorate the event, Druids built huge sacred bonfires, where the people gathered to burn crops and animals as sacrifices to the Celtic deities.

During the celebration, the Celts wore costumes, typically consisting of animal heads and skins, and attempted to tell each others fortunes. When the celebration was over, they re-lit their hearth fires, which they had extinguished earlier that evening, from the sacred bonfire to help protect them during the coming winter.

By A.D. 43, Romans had conquered the majority of Celtic territory. In the course of the four hundred years that they ruled the Celtic lands, two festivals of Roman origin were combined with the traditional Celtic celebration of Samhain.

The first was Feralia, a day in late October when the Romans traditionally commemorated the passing of the dead. The second was a day to honor Pomona, the Roman goddess of fruit and trees. The symbol of Pomona is the apple and the incorporation of this celebration into Samhain probably explains the tradition of "bobbing" for apples that is practiced today on Halloween.

By the 800s, the influence of Christianity had spread into Celtic lands. In the seventh century, Pope Boniface IV designated November 1 All Saints' Day, a time to honor saints and martyrs. It is widely believed today that the pope was attempting to replace the Celtic festival of the dead with a related, but church-sanctioned holiday. The celebration was also called All-hallows or All-hallowmas (from Middle English Alholowmesse meaning All Saints' Day) and the night before it, the night of Samhain, began to be called All-hallows Eve and, eventually, Halloween. Even later, in A.D. 1000, the church would make November 2 All Souls' Day, a day to honor the dead. It was celebrated similarly to Samhain, with big bonfires, parades, and dressing up in costumes as saints, angels, and devils. Together, the three celebrations, the eve of All Saints', All Saints', and All Souls', were called Hallowmas.

Head over to History.com for the complete article as well as other interesting Halloween facts and videos!

Halloween Facts: History of the Jack O'Lantern!

2010-10-29T17:09:00.000-07:00

If you've ever wondered where the roots of the Jack O’ Lantern come from, this story from History.com tells of the origin of the pumpkin-carving tradition, from Ireland!

People have been making jack o'lanterns at Halloween for centuries. The practice originated from an Irish myth about a man nicknamed "Stingy Jack." According to the story, Stingy Jack invited the Devil to have a drink with him. True to his name, Stingy Jack didn't want to pay for his drink, so he convinced the Devil to turn himself into a coin that Jack could use to buy their drinks.

Once the Devil did so, Jack decided to keep the money and put it into his pocket next to a silver cross, which prevented the Devil from changing back into his original form. Jack eventually freed the Devil, under the condition that he would not bother Jack for one year and that, should Jack die, he would not claim his soul. The next year, Jack again tricked the Devil into climbing into a tree to pick a piece of fruit. While he was up in the tree, Jack carved a sign of the cross into the tree's bark so that the Devil could not come down until the Devil promised Jack not to bother him for ten more years.

Soon after, Jack died. As the legend goes, God would not allow such an unsavory figure into heaven. The Devil, upset by the trick Jack had played on him and keeping his word not to claim his soul, would not allow Jack into hell. He sent Jack off into the dark night with only a burning coal to light his way. Jack put the coal into a carved-out turnip and has been roaming the Earth with ever since. The Irish began to refer to this ghostly figure as "Jack of the Lantern," and then, simply "Jack O'Lantern."

In Ireland and Scotland, people began to make their own versions of Jack's lanterns by carving scary faces into turnips or potatoes and placing them into windows or near doors to frighten away Stingy Jack and other wandering evil spirits. In England, large beets are used. Immigrants from these countries brought the jack o'lantern tradition with them when they came to the United States. They soon found that pumpkins, a fruit native to America, make perfect jack o'lanterns.

Cemetery Photo of the Week

2010-10-27T03:00:00.000-07:00

In honor of it being Halloween week, today's cemetery photo comes from the ultimate American spooky tale...The Legend of Sleepy Hollow author Washington Irving!

Photo Taken at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, Sleepy Hollow New York on Halloween 2007.

The Walking Dead Coming to AMC

2010-08-27T22:33:00.000-07:00

It's about time we had a television series about zombies. The first episode is directed by Frank Darabont of The Mist and Shawshank Redemption, Executive Produced by Gale Anne Hurd of Terminator and Aliens. Based on the comic book series by Robert Kirkman.

Cemetery photo of the week

2010-08-23T03:00:00.000-07:00

Photo taken at Mountain View Cememtery, Oakland, CA in August 2009.

Cemetery Photo of the week

2010-08-16T03:00:00.000-07:00

Photo taken at Mountain View Cemetery, Pasadena, California in March 2008.

Cemetery Photo of the week

2010-08-09T03:33:00.000-07:00

Photo taken at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, Sleepy Hollow, New York in October 2007.

Paranormal Events at Eastern Airlines

2010-08-03T02:59:00.000-07:00

The Tuscon Citizen released an interesting article on strange events in connection to the once bustling Eastern Airlines which closed back in 1991. Pilots, crew members, passengers, even shareholders have seen apparitions, ghosts and unexplained phenomena in conjunction to this airline. Established in 1926, the thriving Pitcairn Aviation won a government contract to deliver mail between New York and Atlanta. In 1938, the airline was purchased by a well known World War I dog fighting ace named Captain Eddie Rickenbacker with the help of a major financial backer; third generation Laurance Rockefeller.

Numerous reported events witnessed by highly credible people have no rhyme or reason to what they saw. From fireballs flying through the plane during a routine flight of EA 539, ghostly sightings of downed plane flight 401 when salvaged parts were used again for current planes in service and UFO sightings during flights.

“I was seated near the front of the passenger cabin of an all-metal airliner (Eastern Airlines Flight EA 539) on a late night flight from New York to Washington. The aircraft encountered an electrical storm during which it was enveloped in a sudden bright and loud electrical discharge (0005 h EST). Some seconds after this, a glowing sphere a little more than 20 centimeters in diameter emerged from the pilot’s cabin and passed down the aisle of the aircraft approximately 50 centimeters from me, maintaining the same height and course for the whole distance over which it could be observed.” – Physicist Richard Jennison, published in Nature, 1971

In 1993, Laurence Rockefeller and his niece Anne Bartley created the UFO Disclosure Initiative in which they submitted it to the Clinton White House calling for all UFO classified files and information from the CIA to the Air Force be declassified, including the famous Roswell UFO Incident. In 1994, the Clinton White House declassified files from the National Archives without any reference to UFO phenomena. The Air Force still denied that there was any UFO relation to the Roswell incident.

Below is an interview with Paul Davies; Arizona State University professor, cosmologist, astrobiologist and author of the book Are We Alone?: Philosophical Implications Of The Discovery Of Extraterrestrial Life. Davies is questioned about the meeting between Laurance Rockefeller and Hillary Clinton in which Rockefeller gives Clinton a copy of Paul Davies' book emphasizing Rockefeller's interest in UFOs.

Cemetery Photo of the Week

2010-08-02T09:42:00.000-07:00

Photo taken at Highgate Cemetery, London, England in April of 2008.

If you happen to be in London I highly recommend visiting this cemetery.

Swain's Lane
London N6 6PJ, United Kingdom
020 8340 1834

Cemetery photo of the Week

2010-07-26T03:00:00.000-07:00

Photo taken at Etna Cemetery, Etna, California in January of 2010.

New structure found at Stonehenge

2010-07-22T11:23:00.000-07:00

Exciting news out of England this morning!

"Archaeologists have discovered a wooden version of British prehistoric monument Stonehenge at the same site, the project's leader told Reuters on Thursday. Using radar, the archaeologists found a circular ditch less than one kilometre away from the iconic stone circle, which is thought to date back to the Neolithic period 2,000 to 4,000 years ago.

"This finding is remarkable," said project leader Vince Gaffney, professor of archaeology at the University of Birmingham.

"It will completely change the way we think about the landscape around Stonehenge."

Head to MSNBC for the complete article entitled Archaeologists find new structure at Stonehenge

Story courtesy of MSNBC.

Cemetery photo of the week

2010-07-19T03:00:00.000-07:00

Photo taken at Mountain View Cemetery, Oakland, California in August of 2009.

The Creeper: Wall Sculpture

2010-07-17T03:00:00.000-07:00

The folks over at Design Toscano are selling a creepy wall sculpture titled The Creeper, designed by artist Liam Manchester.

"Drawing upon the rich stories of the ancient druids who once lived near his English manor home, British artist Liam Manchester created this sculpture to appear as if it is floating mid-air! What you don’t see is as important as what you do with the stunning effect of “negative space” balancing the matte black, textured interior. Cast in quality designer resin and ingeniously hand-painted exclusively for Toscano."

Check out Design Toscano for this and other spooky sculptures!

I-Dosing: The New Teen Digital Drug

2010-07-16T18:00:00.000-07:00

Wired Magazine online reports of a concern in Oklahoma on teens getting high from MP3 digital audible tones. This was first reported from Oklahoma News 9.

Music tracks purchased from online dealers are believed to offer the same affects as marijuana, cocaine, peyote or opium. The report explains that the sounds are bi neural or two-tone technology designed to alter brain waves and mental conditions. Oklahoma officials are more concerned that it could lead teens into looking for an even greater high and actually try real drugs. "Kids are going to flock to these sites just to see what it is about and it can lead them to other places,” Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs spokesman Mark Woodward informed News 9.

One track is available on YouTube titled, Gates of Hades (Listen at your own discretion.) I listened to the first few minutes through my computer speakers to the sounds of vibrating tones suddenly varying high and low. I would think such possible effects could be due to being enveloped in the sounds (when wearing headphones) while the mind wonders what's going on around them, possibly causing paranoia or other mental reactions.

This subject reminds me of the classic psychological moment in A Clockwork Orange when Alex played by Malcolm McDowell is being rehabilitated. That's something I don't want to experience.

Possible Chupacabra sighting in Hood County, Texas

2010-07-16T03:45:00.000-07:00

"A barn in Hood County, Texas, has become ground zero in the hunt for the chupacabra.

Earlier this week, animal control officer Frank Hackett shot and killed what was unquestionably one of the ugliest creatures to ever walk the planet. That much we know. What's less clear is whether or not the departed creature was the elusive goat-sucking beast.

Interestingly, that wasn't the only chupacabra sighting around Hood County. A second creature was spotted and killed several miles away. Both appear to be either hairless coyotes, extremely ugly dogs, or, who knows? Maybe the thing they call el chupacabra."

Full article with video footage can be found Here

Paranormal TV - Ghost Hunters International: Season 2 resumes Wednesday

2010-07-14T03:00:00.000-07:00

GHI Season 2 resumes tonight, Wednesday July 14Th @ 9/8 central on Syfy channel. See below for a sneak peak of Episode 214: The Spirit of Robin Hood!

For more information on GHI including team biographies, behind the scenes video footage, and an episode guide visit the official site here.

"Zombies" crash in Portland, Oregon

2010-07-12T13:17:00.001-07:00

An odd story out of Portland, Oregon from Friday July 10th! If anyone has a picture of this please send it to us!

"PORTLAND, Ore. -- A car full of people dressed as zombies crashed on Interstate 84 near downtown Portland on Friday, causing initial confusion by people who witnessed the crash.

Portland Police said the car was swerving in the eastbound lanes of the freeway just east of the Lloyd District just after 9:30 p.m. when it rolled over and crashed onto its top.

Emergency crews took five victims from the crash to area hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries.

Police said that in their investigation they learned that the people inside the car were dressed as zombie costumes and they were headed to a party at the time of the crash.

Sgt. Greg Stewart said people who witnessed the crash initially thought the victims' injuries were much more serious, because of the zombie costumes.

"We're glad that everyone is alive, despite being 'undead'," Sgt. Stewart said, referring to the costumes.

While everyone in the car was taken to the hospital, Stewart said crews are investigating the possibility that more people were in the car at the time of the crash but fled the scene on foot.

The crash halted traffic in the eastbound lanes for about an hour, reducing travel to just one lane. All eastbound lanes were opened at around 11 p.m."

Story courtest of KGW on MSNBC.

Cemetery photo of the week

2010-07-12T03:00:00.000-07:00

Photo taken at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, in Sleepy Hollow, New York in October of 2007.

Paranormal TV: Haven

2010-07-10T13:45:00.000-07:00

On Friday July 9th, 2010 Syfy debuted Haven, a new show based on Stephen King's novella The Colorado Kid.

"The series follows the shrewd and confident FBI agent Audrey Parker (Rose) who has a lost past, and arrives in the small town of Haven, Maine on a routine case. Before long, her natural curiosity lands her in the epicenter of activity in this curious enclave, which turns out to be a longtime refuge for people that are affected by a range of supernatural afflictions.

As the townspeople's dormant abilities begin to express themselves, Audrey helps keep these forces at bay while discovering the many secrets of Haven — including one surrounding her own surprising connections to this extraordinary place. "

For more information on Haven, including photo's, video blogs, and full episodes visit the official page at Syfy.

Haven, Friday nights at 9/8 central only on Syfy.

Paranormal Activity 2: Official Trailer

2010-07-07T11:51:00.000-07:00

Now, I saw Paranormal Activity in an almost empty movie theater and I was looking over my shoulder through the entire film. For it's low budget old school filmmaking, I was impressed. It really worked. I recommend the first film to any fan of the horror genre or filmmaker interested in learning old school movie making. The effects were fresh and simple. At times a little near the cheese factor, but with disappointments like the Nightmare on Elm Street remake, it shows a little know-how and storytelling can go much further.

Hopefully, Paranormal Activity 2 can pull off what Blair Witch 2 couldn't.
Paranormal Activity 2 releases in theaters October 22.

Cemetery photo of the week

2010-07-05T03:00:00.000-07:00

Photo taken at Mountain View Cemetery, Oakland, CA August 2009

New weekly series: Cemetery photo of the week!

2010-06-28T03:00:00.000-07:00

Today on Cemetery gates we debut a new weekly article: Cemetery photo of the week!

Throughout our business and personal travels we always manage to stumble upon a beautiful cemetery, and while we may not always have time to investigate each cemetery's very unique paranormal experience or haunting, we always keep our cameras handy!

We hope you enjoy these weekly photos as much as we enjoy taking them.

Photo taken at Highgate Cemetery, North London, England in May of 2008.

Obscure Horror Films that should be on DVD, or better yet remake!

2010-06-25T14:40:00.000-07:00

While Blu-Ray gets cheaper and standard DVDs become coasters on out coffee tables. There are still many great horror films that never even made it to our DVD shelves. First off is one of my childhood favorites called Sleepy Hollow with Jeff Goldblum and Dick Butkus. I know this has been remade before by Tim Burton with Johnny Depp, but this Washington Irving adaptation has a place in my heart and should be on DVD.

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, 1980

BLOOD BEACH, 1981

Another campy film from a post-Jaws era about a creature under the sandy beaches of California sucking down unsuspecting beach-goers into the sand. It stars John Saxon from the classic Black Christmas and Burt Young from the Rocky films. Who knows what you'll find under the beach.

GARGOYLES, 1972

This is not your kiddie Disney-esque film about gargoyles on church tops saving the day. Oh no! This is a live action film about gargoyles trying to save their race from extinction by taking a human woman captive for their leader when his mate is hit on the highway by a passing 18-wheeler. It has a Roger Corman feel to it with impressively surreal effects for it's time and monster make-up that made me keep the nightlight on for months.

Ghosts at Disneyland!

2010-06-06T10:17:00.000-07:00

Disneyland in Anaheim, CA has long been rumoured to have several haunting at it's famed Haunted Mansion attraction, and after spending significant time in there over the years I have often times felt what I can only describe as a "real "ghostly" presence there. After all it is the perfect place for a real haunting to occur when all of the unsuspecting mortals are expecting to see the Haunted Mansion's "999 happy haunts."

Thanks to the folks over at Ghost At Disneyland (You Tube channel) we may now have some evidence to show that these specters don't just haunt the Haunted Mansion!

Each of the 3 videos appear to be authentic security and maintenance camera footage of ghosts popping up in empty seats on various attractions, or seen wandering around the park. As I am a former Disney employee I can attest that these feeds appear to be valid locations of where the camera's do exist. What do you think? Real? Or more Disney "Magic?"

If I should come back as a ghost, I would absolutely visit Disneyland, and however cliche it is, I would spend a great deal of time in the Haunted Mansion scaring my formal mortal brethren!

Happy Birthday George Noory!

2010-06-04T00:00:00.000-07:00

At The Cemetery Gates wishes George Noory a wonderful 60th Birthday, today June 4th, 2010!

George, the long time main host of Coast to Coast AM is a constant inspiration to us here at the Gates.

We hope you have a great day George!

"Dance of Death" Drawings

2010-04-07T10:30:00.000-07:00

A wonderful article with pictures from Bibliodyssey!

"After beginning his working life as a printer's apprentice, Louis Crucius (or Crusius) completed the necessary requirements to graduate as a pharmacist in 1882 and a doctor in 1890 in St Louis, Missouri. While he was studying he worked in a pharmacy and made humorous sketches that were placed in the window of the store. A collection of these drawings was published in 1893 ('Funny Bones'). He lectured in histology and anatomy and eventually came to be a Professor of Anatomy but died in 1898 from kidney tumours.

Although he gave most of his drawings away, Crucius sold a number of them to the Antikamnia ('opposed to pain') Chemical Company which had been established in St Louis in 1890. They produced antikamnia medicines containing the coal tar derivative, acetanilid, an anti-fever drug with pain relieving properties somewhat related to paracetamol, but which would be later shown to be a toxic compound not to mention addictive. Antikamnia was mixed with substances like codeine and quinine to enhance the pain relieving effects.

30 of the Crucius 'dance of death'-inspired drawings were used to make 5 years worth of Antikamnia Chemical Company calendars - between 1897 and 1901. They had a fairly aggressive marketing campaign in which the calendars (aimed at the medical fraternity) as well as postcards and sample packs were distributed to doctors in the United States and overseas.

The Antikamnia Chemical Company were eventually prosecuted for failing to disclose the source of the active ingredient on their packaging: U. S. v. ANTIKAMNIA CHEMICAL CO., 231 U.S. 654 (1914).

Check out a fantastic selection of pictures from the calendar!

Chupacabra found?

2009-09-04T16:32:00.000-07:00

Blanco, Texas.
Taxidermy school owner Jerry Ayer keeps what is believed to be a Chupacabra. Known to be a mythological creature in Mexico much like the North American Bigfoot. Sightings of this creature have been reported since 1990 in Puerto Rico and as far north as Maine. The Chupacabra from the word Chupa "to suck" and cabra "goat" has had increase sightings over the past years. Based on reports, it is believed that the Chupacabra attacks livestock and drinks the blood, preferably goats. The body of the hairless dog was given to him by one of his former students and since then it has been a media frenzy.

The Proof is in the Pudding

2009-09-02T13:37:00.000-07:00

Educate, Don't Vaccinate! Protect yourselves, protect your children from "Big Pharma" and the undeniable harm they are doing to the world.

Wake up America: Forced vaccinations, quarantine camps, health care interrogations and mandatory "decontamination's"

Daily Mail (UK) report on Swine Flu Vaccine

CDC Warns Neurologists To Watch For Nerve Disease Following Swine Flu Shots

Massachusetts Senate Passes Draconian Flu Pandemic Bill

Vaccine Creators Refuse to Take H1N1 Vaccine

CDC H1N1 forced quarantine docs leak

Quarantine or 1000.00 DAILY fine?

I realise this isn't a normal Cemetery Gates post, but I felt very strongly about the information getting out there as it is readily available, people need only to open their eyes and ears.

As always I highly recommend Coast to Coast AM and Info Wars for anyone wanting to get the news other main steam media sources will not discuss.

Could the King of Pop be Alive?

2009-08-26T10:25:00.000-07:00

I thought I saw Elvis and Jim Morrison at the grocery store.

Footage of what looks like Michael Jackson stepping out of a coroner's van after his death is spreading through the internet here.

Strange Glowing Clouds over the Night Sky

2009-07-21T07:27:00.000-07:00

The idea of glowing clouds moving across the sky at night isn't something you see every day.

An article on Wired.com reports that sky watchers across the globe have been capturing images of the strange phenomenon. It may be a natural occurrence by the sun's rays or something more concerning. Noctilucent ("night shining") clouds moving across the night sky were first documented by an amateur astronomer in 1885. The clouds are made from polar ice crystals in the air that are illuminated by the position of sunlight when the sun is below the horizon. Some believe it could be man-made due to global warming.

Sleepy Hollow and the Haunted Hudson Valley - Part 3

2009-07-15T13:00:00.000-07:00

Everything in this picturesque village, from street signs and public service images, embrace the visage of the Headless Horseman and the rich lore created by Washington Irving.

If you are looking for lodging while visiting Sleepy Hollow, I highly recommend Tarrytown House, which I consider to be the best lodging experience I have ever had -- in any part of the world!

At Tarrytown House, I found the staff to be very courteous and friendly. The grounds were impeccably manicured, the rooms were absolutely huge, and the food was wonderful! There is also a Tennis court, indoor swimming pool (though not heated when I was there in the winter), sauna, hot tub, pool, and Foosball tables!

Cellar 49 (formerly Sleepy Hollow Pub), the resident tavern is also not to be missed. Images(directly above) are from Tarrytown House and grounds. The Parlor at Tarrytown and Sleepy Hollow Pub (images below).

Here are some more images of the village and surrounding area!

(Washington Irving's Sunnyside, above. Funeral Parlour and Post Office, below).

And, of course, no visit is complete without a sighting of the legendary Headless Horseman (image above)!

Be sure to check back later in the week for part 4 of our Sleepy Hollow/Hudson Valley review: S leepy Hollow Cemetery and the The Old Dutch Church of Sleepy Hollow!

Ghostbusters Game Review

2009-07-11T19:31:00.000-07:00

Who ya gonna call? Your local game store.

Ghostbusters has everything and more for the Ghostbusters fan in everyone. Even the voices are played by the original cast of the films including but not limited to Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, Bill Murray, Harold Ramis and the secretary Janine played by Annie Potts. The only voices missing are Sigourney Weaver and the nerdy apartment tenant Rick Moranis.
As the story goes, you are selected as the new recruit of the Ghostbusters team and used as a guinea pig on all the latest gadgets and equipment. Ray Stantz walks you through the tutorial in the first level explaining how the equipment works and it's very thorough. Ghostbusting equipment is upgradable as the recruit discovers cursed artifacts hidden in the levels by using the PKE meter and collecting samples of ghosts for Ray Stantz's research. One added perk for collecting artifacts is that they later appear as household items in the fire house.

For game quality, at times it does seem like the player is being led through the game with limited free roam. But there are moments of massive game play when fighting the Stay Puft Marshmallow man and roaming the cemetery while fighting ghostly terrors.

Ghostbusters will bring back memories of the films and introduce new fans into the world of ghostbusting until the next film in 2012. Unless the world comes to an end based on the Mayan calendar, then you should get this game as soon as possible.

Sleepy Hollow and the Haunted Hudson Valley - Part 2

2009-07-08T13:00:00.000-07:00

Sleepy Hollow and the Hudson Valley are wonderful destinations any time of year, but we highly recommend visiting during the month of October as there are many spooky attractions for the Halloween loving individuals we all are.

The most popular of these attractions, The Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze (running October 3-4, 10-12, 16-18, 22-25, 28-Nov. 1, 2009 at the Van Cortlandt Manor ) "features more than 4,000 individually hand-carved, illuminated pumpkins! Meander through a riverside landscape and discover a breathtaking display: snakes, a giant spider web, an undersea aquarium, super-sized dinosaurs, even a colossal Stonehenge…all made of pumpkins!"

Click here for a video of this event.

Other events include Legend Weekend Days (October 17-18, 24 -25, 2009) at Washington Irving's Sunnyside and Philipsburg Manor where you can hear Irish Ghost stories, see puppet and magic shows, play games, pumpkin carving, open hearth cooking and other child friend Halloween Events.

Legend Weekend Nights (October 17-18, 24-25, 2009) at Philipsburg Manor where The Legend of Sleepy Hollow to comes to life by candlelight, lantern and bonfire! You can Wander through haunted landscapes filled with ghosts and goblins of the Hudson Valley folklore.

For detailed information on each of these attractions and events, to book reservations, or for directions please visit the office site of the Hudson Valley.

Be sure to check back later in the week for part 3 of our Sleepy Hollow/Hudson Valley review: Around the Hudson!

Sleepy Hollow and the Haunted Hudson Valley - Part 1

2009-07-06T01:09:00.000-07:00

“From the listless repose of the place, and the peculiar character of its inhabitants, who are descendants from the original Dutch settlers, this sequestered glen has long been known by the name of Sleepy Hollow. . . ”

-Washington Irving, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

For Halloween 2007, Cemetery Gates had the great pleasure of traveling from California to the little village of Sleepy Hollow, made popular by the immortal tale "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" (first published in 1820) written by author Washington Irving (April 3,1783- November 28 1859).

Sleepy Hollow is located on the eastern bank of the Hudson River, about 30 miles north of Manhattan, NY. From the end of the American Revolution until its incorporation the area was a hamlet called Beekmantown. The town incorporated in 1874 as "North Tarrytown," and then officially changed its name to "Sleepy Hollow" in March 1997 in honor of the story, "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow."

The village is the location of the infamous Sleepy Hollow Cemetery (please see Part 4 of our story in coming days) as well as many other fantastic attractions found throughout the historic Hudson Valley. Please see the list below.

Philipsburg Manor

The Old Dutch Church of Sleepy Hollow

Kykuit, The Rockefeller Estate

Van Cortlandt Manor

Washington Irving's Sunnyside

The Union Church of Pocantico Hills

Montgomery Place Historic Estate

Lyndhurst

Be sure to check back later in the week for Part 2 of our Sleepy Hollow / Hudson Valley review: Sleepy Hollow in October!

Cemetery Gates now on Twitter!

2009-07-05T12:10:00.000-07:00

The Cemetery Gates can now be followed via Twitter!

Ark of the Convenant: Unveiling Update

2009-06-27T09:00:00.000-07:00

Today, Abuna Pauolos, leader of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, backed off on the much-anticipated announcement about the Ark of the Covenant being in Ethiopian hands, which he claims to have seen.

No evidence or announcement was made public today even though world has been expecting the unveiling of the Ark.

Many still believe that Ethiopia may actually have the real Ark, but have been pressured by Governments and other religious leaders to keep it safe and hidden.

Bob Cornuke, considered by many to be a real life Indiana Jones, believes that Ethiopia "either ha(s) the Ark of the Covenant or they have a replica that they have believed to be the Ark of the Covenant for 2,000 years."

To read the full article please visit WorldNetDaily.

It's an exciting story either way, and one to keep track of over the coming weeks.

(Image above: "Sketch of Ark of the Covenant based on a description by the late explorer Ron Wyatt" {found at the Wyatt Museum})

Ark of the Covenant Unveiling

2009-06-25T13:00:00.000-07:00

On Friday June 26Th, 2009, the patriarch of the Orthodox Church of Ethiopia claims he will unveil to the world the Ark of the Covenant which, according to Biblical lore, contains the Ten Commandments.

If true, this will be one of the most exciting and important archaeological finds in history of our world. While some are claiming this is a political hoax, others are outraged that the Ethiopian Patriarch has decided to show this relic that has apparently been in Ethiopian hands for 2,000 years.

Whatever the case may be, this is truly exciting news!

To read the full article, head over to WorldNetDaily.

5 Modern Horror Songs to Terrify You while waiting for Halloween

2009-04-25T13:51:00.000-07:00

I made this list to avoid the cliche and traditional songs that grow tiring each year during the Halloween season; Monster Mash, Ghostbusters, Thriller. Be it they are classics, but to hear them at every party function is a nightmare. So, here's a new list of songs from some popular and not so popularly known bands that will get your blood curdling.

One by Apocalyptica

Ghost Town by Shiny Toy Guns

Shiny Toy Guns - Ghost Town
Uploaded by UniversalMusicGroup

Clown by Switchblade Symphony

Car Chase Terror! by M83

Devil Town by Daniel Johnston

Friday the 13th Movie Review

2009-02-28T17:42:00.000-08:00

I finally got around to seeing this much awaited sequel. I mean prequel? A remake? It seems to be more of a mesh of the first three films with an unclear time frame with new scares and a very familiar (and tired) storyline. When a group of teenagers end up missing near Crystal Lake. Everyone blames it on the legend of Jason, but no one seems to do anything about it. Even the police stay away from the infamous camp. The movie really begins when a stranger comes to town, Clay Miller played by Jared Padelecki best known for his role in Supernatural. Clay goes searching for his missing sister Whitney Miller, played by Amanda Righetti from the Mentalist TV series after she ends up missing for six months.

The story quickly turns into a group of college students led by a bullying rich kid named Nolan (Ryan Hansen) and his group has a party out at dad's lodge, which just happens to be right off the banks of Crystal Lake. Now, why did his dad choose to build off the banks of the lake? It just adds more to the plot convenience and weak story. Also the big speech that Officer Bracke gives to Clay was more expositional to those not familiar with Jason's lore, than moving the story along. And Jason's mother issues would drag this review on forever with more plot convenience than one can imagine. Okay, I'll skip the complaints and move to Jason Voorhees played by Derek Meers. His performance backed by every special effect of every stab, gouge, decapitation, chase and incineration made this movie worth watching. Ignoring the fact that Clay Miller finds evidence that Jason exists making the local police look like idiots. I would recommend renting this over paying top dollar again at the movie theater.

Zombies Ahead?

2009-02-07T13:00:00.000-08:00

Fox News has reported a story about a prank that hackers in Austin, Texas and Collinsville, Illinois have played on the local community and the morning commuters.

Apparently, an electronic road sign which is used primarily to give drivers traffic updates was hacked in the early morning hours of Monday January 19th, 2009.

Drivers used to getting information on road closures or traffic jams instead had something else to deal with on this particular morning...Zombies!

I don't know about you, but I think after seeing this I would have been taking the back roads!

For the full story, click on Hackers Crack into Texas Road Sign.

Five Horror Movies to look forward to in Spring 2009. Is horror becoming mainstream?

2009-01-13T19:53:00.000-08:00

As the new year begins, so does a whole slew of new and renewed horror movies. The list is too long to mention, so I will break it down one season at a time starting with the best of the Spring season. I for one am looking forward to what seems to be a resurgence of the genre with remakes of Friday the 13th to Suspiria. This list only scratches the surface of what I think will be a great year in horror history.

First off is David S. Goyer's J-horror styled film, The Unborn, best known for penning the Blade franchise and The Dark Knight. The Unborn is about Casey Beldon, Odette Yustman (Cloverfield), fights for her life against a spirit possessing her, and she seeks Rabbi Sendak played by Gary Oldman to complete an exorcism to remove it.

My Bloody Valentine in 3-D, based on the 1981 title but with a twist. It's in 3-D and pick axes. Miners with pick axes. Some theaters don't offer the 3-D novelty, but with digital technology today, I recommend it. MBV stars Jensen Ackles from television's Supernatural and Jaime King,The Spirit, My bloody Valentine is about Tom who returns to his hometown on the tenth anniversary of the Valentine's Day massacre and he becomes the primary suspect to the murders.

The Uninvited I think this is the most interesting horror film of all this Spring. Why? Yes, it's a remake based on a Korean film about a young girl Anna, who recovers at the hospital after the death of her mother and returns home to discover her father is engaged to her mother's former nurse. Anna is soon warned by her mother's ghost regarding the former nurse's ill intentions. Visually, this film looks like a thriller more than a horror giving it a chance to step out of the J-horror genre stylistically, and not become just another cliche with familiar scares and nothing to really be afraid of.

Underworld: Rise of the Lycans
Another installment of the successful Star Wars sized horror franchise continues, and it's also a prequel. Again with the conflict of vampires and werewolves, in the Dark Ages, a young Lycan named Lucian becomes the leader of the werewolves to fight against Viktor, the leader of the vampires. This is an origin story to the series directed by special effects (creature designer) guru Patrick Tatopoulos, ID4, Silent Hill and the long awaited Trick'r Treat.

Finally, the return of horror legend Jason Vorhees in Friday the 13th about a group of teenagers and young adults find a run down Camp Crystal Lake, and a machete wielding killer dressed in a hockey mask, played by Derek Mears. All signs point to a continuation of the series and not a remake which will hopefully bring life to the dormant franchise. Directed by Marcus Nispel, director of one of the better remakes of Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

Happy Holidays from the Cemetery Gates

2008-12-24T13:00:00.000-08:00

We at the Cemetery Gates want to wish everyone a safe and joyous Holiday Season!

Be sure to visit us often in the New Year as posts will begin to be more frequent(finally)

Resident Evil 5 for PS3 and Xbox 360

2008-12-06T19:49:00.000-08:00

The latest installment of Capcom's Resident Evil 5 takes Chris Redfield former member of STARS, who joins a group only known as the BSSA to Africa. He continues to fight a plague infected population in a poverty stricken village. One familiar face is Wesker former leader of STARS and operative of Umbrella Corp. Resident Evil 5 has a new character named Sheva that is also available in co-op mode. Looking forward to seeing if the game holds up to Residen Evil 4 which was so successful they made a chainsaw controller for after it. I just wish the movies lived up to the video game franchise. Resident Evil 5's sreet date is March 13, 2009

Happy Halloween from the Cemetery Gates!

2008-10-31T11:37:00.000-07:00

Happy Halloween 2008 to everyone! We hope you have a Spooktacular day while celebrating this ancient holiday!Cheers

cheers!

Looking for a special Halloween event?

2008-10-27T09:30:00.000-07:00

If you are looking for some fun and spooky things to do this Halloween season be sure to check out the Haunt World website for state by state lists of all haunted houses (real and staged), pumpkin patches, corn mazes, amusement park haunts and all creepy events throughout The United States as well as Internationally.

This fantastic site compiles hundreds of the afore mentioned attractions complete with locations, links, reviews of your chosen attraction, and their own rating system for each and every attraction! With all the crummy, waste of money Halloween events popping up everywhere during this time of year, I highly recommend referencing Haunt World, and checking their informative reviews and ratings section.

Haunt World's ratings for each attraction are based on a scale of 1-10 Skulls covering the following criteria:

Scare Factor
Monsters/Actors
Originality
Sets, Detail, Theming
Special FX

Also at Haunt World you will find links for costumes, pumpkin carving techniques and templates, Haunted photos/videos, and even Halloween games to keep you busy!

Creepy Gnome Terrorises Town in South America

2008-10-24T09:05:00.000-07:00

Teens capture video on their cell phone in Argentina of what is to believed to be a gnome walking the streets.

This grainy footage catches international attention of what looks to be a small man dressed in a pointy hat emerging from the grass, sideways. The nearbly town have locals terrified. Residences have seen the "gnome" only at night and at times following them.

Colonel Sanders Seen from Space

2008-10-11T07:00:00.000-07:00

Just a few miles outside Rachel, Nevada near the top secret base known as Area 51 and the Extraterrestrial Highway. KFC also known as Kentucky Fried Chicken takes advertising to new levels for aliens everywhere by offering the worlds largest marketing image of Colonel Sanders. The logo of the Colonel contains 65,000 one-foot-square painted tiles. The image is large enough to be seen from space and can be viewed on Google maps.

Cemetery Gates and the Kingdom of Crystal Skull Vodka?

2008-10-09T20:00:00.000-07:00

The Legends of the Crystal Skulls have captivated society for years. From scientist to archaeologist. Supernatural Enthusiast to Film maker. These fascinating artifacts are a definite mystery!

Actor, Writer, Parapsychology enthusiast, avid researcher of the Crystal Skulls, and Ghost Buster Dan Akroyd introduces us to something that is guaranteed to excite us all!

Crystal Head Vodka ($45.00-$50.00 USD) a Canadian, triple diamond filtered, 4x distilled Vodka made from the purest waters in Newfoundland recently hit stores after 2 years in development! Each hand filled bottle packaged in a unique skull shape design created by American portraitist and Crystal Skull enthusiast John Alexander.

Each glass skull is an accurate rendering of a human skull, and quite frankly the coolest designed bottle I have seen in recent memory! As an added bonus the Vodka is extremely good in both quality and taste.

A lot of care went into design of both packaging and alcohol, and the subject matter in which the Vodka was inspired by is truly relevant with us here at the Cemetery Gates!

For more information on Crystal Head Vodka, and an entertaining and informative "making of" video complete with a brief chat of the actual Crystal Skull mystery that the Vodka is inspired by, please visit the Crystal Head Vodka Website by clicking the link or click on Dan Akroyd's video below.

DAN AKROYD'S CRYSTAL HEAD VIDEO

There is a plethora of research information available online for these fascinating, possibly otherworldly objects. For some starter sights please follow the links below, and don't forget to check out Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, on DVD October 14th!

Crystal Skulls on Wikipedia

World Mysteries

Mendhak

I raise a glass of Crystal Head Vodka in a toast to Dan Akroyd for his continued fascination with the "invisible world" and continued support and belief in these fields. We need more of his type in the world.

Upcoming Films: Twilight

2008-09-12T08:12:00.000-07:00

Based on the novel by Stephenie Meyer. Twilight is the story of a young girl named, Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) who moves to her father's home in Washington when her mother remarries. She meets a young boy named, Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson) most known for his role as Cedric Diggory in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

Bella quickly learns Edward is nothing like the other boys, but a vampire. He is immortal with super strength and for something new to the Vampire genre, no fangs. They quickly fall in love and she discovers that her scent is much more powerful to him than any other human driving him to want to kill her. He controls his primal actions for their relationship to grow, until another coven of vampires arrive and Edward must protect Bella from them. Twilight will be in theaters November 21.

Possible Bigfoot body found? HOAX

2008-08-23T14:34:00.001-07:00

Last week we wrote about the body of a Sasquatch that was reportedly discovered by 2 men in a secluded forest in Georgia. I am sad to report that the creature ended up being a hoax. For more on this story please head over to the website of Searching for Bigfoot Inc.,

Why people continue to waste time on elaborate pranks, fraudulently attempt to deceive the public and in this case extort money from Bigfoot organizations I will never understand. One of the perpetrators of this hoax was even a law man for Clayton County Police Department in Georgia. Pathetic.

I hope Searching for Bigfoot Inc., gets justice for the fraud these two individuals created, good luck to them.

Well, atleast we will always have...

Ghost on Asheville High Surveillance Camera

2008-08-23T10:31:00.000-07:00

Is it a ghost or something else?

Asheville, NC; Captured on a high school surveillance camera an image of what looks like a floating apparition. The school faculty and experts are baffled at what might actually be a ghost.

Representatives of the Asheville Paranormal Society have studied the video, and they can't find a logical explanation or any definitive way to disprove the footage. One employee of the school district wants to accept it as being the shadow of a bat flying through the hallways and corridors of the school, yet it's movements are nothing like a bat.

One teacher accepts the morphing human image to be a former student or child wandering aimlessly through the halls of the high school.

CNN reports possible Bigfoot body found

2008-08-15T10:33:00.000-07:00

Some more crytozoology news for you today.

CNN has listed an article that 2 men in Palo Alto, California claim to have found a body of a Sasquatch otherwise known as the Legendary Bigfoot cryptid.

The report states that: "Matthew Whitton and Rick Dyer, a pair of Bigfoot-hunting hobbyists from north Georgia, say they found the creature's body in a wooded area and spotted several similar creatures that were still alive. The carcass of the furry half-man, half-ape is 7 feet, 7 inches tall and weighs more than 500 pounds, they say. However, the two are not disclosing the exact location of their discovery to protect the remaining creatures."

The 2 men, in conjunction with a group called Searching for Bigfoot Inc. plan to release photo and DNA evidence of their discovery at a press conference, scheduled for Friday August 15th, 2008 from 12:00-1:00 pm at the Cabana Hotel-Palo Alto at 4290 El Camino Real in Palo Alto, California, 94306. The press conference is not open to the public.

For the most up to date information on this exciting news please check in with CNN and Searching for Bigfoot Inc. websites.

More information on Bigfoot can easily be found online.

Possible Chupacabra sighting caught on video!

2008-08-13T14:10:00.000-07:00

A wonderful little bit of Cryptozoology news came through the wire today. We have a possible Chupacabra sighting caught on video from a DeWitt County, Texas Sheriff's Deputy.

In the video you can clearly see what could possibly be the long sought after creature as described in legend.

If you are looking for more information on the cryptid Chupacabra , I recommend visiting Wikipedia as well as the site Unexplained Mysteries.

For more on Crytozoology and a List of Cryptids please click on the links.

What do you think? Could this really be a Chupacabra?

Urban Legends: Ghost in the Television

2008-07-31T20:01:00.000-07:00

For years, I've watched movies like Poltergeist and The Ring about supernatural beings living beyond the white noise of a television set. One such Urban Legend is hooking the video camera to the television and record the screen to find faces and images of people looking back at us.

Many skeptics believe it's a cross-signal or frequency distortion with a network station. But others believe it could be the deceased from the other side broadcasting to us in hopes of making contact or a ghost trapped within the television itself. So to test this theory, all that's needed are the cables that came with the home video camera. Since digital video and even VHS tape camera recorders include a cable to plug the camera into the television to show recorded home movies of friends and family, what if a home movie was made of the television instead?

Now, I should warn the possible permanent damage to the television and camera. I don't recommend doing this at home. WARNING!! The following video has FLASHING IMAGES!

Protective Tips for the Ghost Hunter

2008-07-20T13:00:00.000-07:00
While many ghost hunters may never have an experience with an evil entity, there are others who are unlucky enough to come across these spirits.

Ghost Hunters will certainly be more susceptible to the dark spirits if in their own lives they focus on negativity, if they have addictions or are mentally or emotionally unstable.

I have some suggestions that you may find beneficial before doing an investigation.

1) Always go into an investigation calm, cool, collected, and with an open mind.

2) Focus on exactly what it is you want to accomplish with your investigation.

3) Do your homework on the location you are investigating to learn of any known hauntings, specific areas with high spirit activity, or areas recommended to avoid. Learn the history about the location if possible. This will give you direction and focus for your investigations.

4) Always introduce yourself to the spirits at a location and ask their permission before taking photos, EVPs, or video recordings. I have personally found that if a spirit does not wish to be impeded upon or otherwise involved with an investigation that you will have a feeling or a sign. As mentioned in point 2, it is always imperative you remain focused, so you can notice the signs the spirits are giving to you.

5) Respect the dead. When walking through cemeteries, crypts, and haunted locations always remember to show respect to your surroundings. Try to avoid walking across graves if at all possible or ask permission if this is necessary. (Avoid stepping on graves. It is seen as disrespect and the ground could collapse into a cave-in.)

6) A prayer of protection is always recommended to help keep the Ghost Hunter safe in his/her investigations. These prayers can help to ensure that Ghost Hunters do not bring any unwanted entities home.

7) If you or another member of your group has a bad feeling about a location and your investigation and prayer of protection does not solve the issue, it's always recommended to abandon the investigation.

Everyone of us come from different walks of life and has many different religious views and practices, so not every prayer you come across may work for you. I recommend finding a prayer that has meaning to you as a person, whether its an actual Catholic or Wiccan affirmation, chant, or simply a mantra that has protective meaning to you.

One of the more effective and commonly used prayer amongst Ghost Hunters is the Prayer to Saint Michael. As long as you believe in what you are saying, this short prayer should work to protect you and your group.

Michelle Myers at Ghost Hunting Secrets recommends the following to individuals who are comfortable with saying prayers and affirmations:

"I am sealed from all imperfect energies."

"I am divinely protected and guided. Any spirits that I encounter will remain bound to the confines of the cemetery/house/location."

"May all that is not in accordance with the highest will of God, within and without my entire being, be immediately transformed into divine light."
"In the name of God, please protect and guide me as I investigate [insert your location here]. Amen."
For Michelle's complete post on the topic please check the Ghost Hunting Blog.

There are many forms of protection spells readily available to you, easily found on the Internet, your local book store, priest, or spiritual person. It is up to each individual if they choose to use them or not.

By taking the above points into consideration, it should help you to have a safe and fruitful investigation.

Happy Ghost Hunting!

Upcoming Films: The X-Files: I Want to Believe

2008-07-13T00:01:00.000-07:00

After ten years of waiting, The X-Files is finally back!
The plot line is kept as much a mystery as the plot lines in the television series. Other than the trailer and what we know about the popular series, Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) and Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) return to the roles of one of television's most famous FBI investigators.

If you think you know what the story is about, try your luck at The X-Files Fan Forecast Contest at for your chance at autographed movies posters, DVDs and props from the movie. Just go the official website by clicking on the movie poster above for details. The X-Files will be in theaters July 25.

The Zombie of Montclaire Moors

2008-07-11T13:00:00.000-07:00
Here is an interesting item for those of you wanting to add a little extra haunt to your garden!

Whether you are looking to put some fright into the kids around the neighborhood, getting ready for the upcoming Halloween season, or simply attempting to spruce up your lawn with something other than a cliched gnome, follow the link below:

The Zombie of Montclaire Moors Sculpture.

This resin sculpture by British artist Alan Dickinson measures 31½"Wx19½"Dx8"H (3 pieces)weighs 13 lbs, and is incredibly death-like in look. I can't wait to order my own Garden Zombie!

Upcoming Films: Death Race

2008-07-08T00:05:00.000-07:00

Now Death Race is not Death Race 2000 as the trailer shows. That can be good, but from remake history it's usually bad. Written and directed by Paul W.S. Anderson, Death Race is the story of an ex-con forced to compete in a brutal car race in which inmates must kill one another to win. The gritty locations and the suped up cars look great, but will is hold up to Roger Corman's Death Race 2000?

From what I've summed up, the difference between this modern take and the original is that the warden of the prison runs the show instead of the president of the United States did in the original, and the world is limited to Terminal Island much like The Running Man. I wonder if Paul went this route to avoid a political message and the off-the-wall killing of the weak and feeble for extra points like Death Race 2000 did.

But looking back at the original, that's what made the movie so different and completely hilarious. I couldn't keep my eyes off the screen just knowing that some innocent pedestrian can be seen as a point score for the drivers. Either way, I'll give Paul's version a chance, especially to see our hero don the mask that was once worn by the legendary Frankenstein, which was the name of our hero in the first movie. Death Race will be in theaters August 22nd.

Book Review: The Werewolf Book by Brad Steiger

2008-07-07T00:05:00.000-07:00

A regular guest on George Noory's Coast to Coast AM, Brad Steiger has completed over 150 books on everything from the occult, folklore to the supernatural. The Werewolf book is an encyclopedia on everything about werewolf lore in classic films like an An America Werewolf in London, the mysteries about shape-shifters, children raised by werewolves and pop culture.

I picked up this book as a reference guide and my interest in the werewolf lore. What I didn't expect, is that it covers the minds of history's serial killers like Richard Ramirez the famous Night Stalker and Jeffrey Dahmer. Steiger ties in their mental states in relation to a man under the influence of some dark and sinister process similar to a man growing insane at the sight of a full moon.

The Werewolf Book goes beyond the myth by covering topics on cannibalism, witchcraft, ghosts and the many Hollywood films feeding the public's interest on the subject. My only complaint is that the encyclopedia book, like many books of this type grow slowly outdated due to the content. It was published almost ten years ago in 1999. It's certainly a good time to release an updated edition on the past ten years of films on the subject and the public's growing interest for the unknown.

I Ain't Afraid of no Ghost!

2008-07-06T08:31:00.000-07:00
Here is a little something to look forward too...

Ghostbuster's: The Video Game

That's right, the "original" Ghostbusters are back this fall in a brand new video game published by Sierra Entertainment and developed by Terminal Reality!

The premise of the game has you, the user, joining the Ghostbusters as a new recruit to help rid the city of Manhattan from ghosts, demons and other supernatural beings.

The game script was penned by the original creators, and each of the 4 main actors (Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, Ernie Hudson) have reprised their roles as the Ghostbusters voices.

This game looks promising for Ghostbusters fans and Ghost Hunter aficionados alike. We here At the Cemetery Gates can't wait to check this out in the fall, and will definitely be doing a full review!

For more information on this upcoming title, click on Ghostbusters: The Game.

Ghosts of Alcatraz: San Francisco, CA

2008-06-30T23:01:00.000-07:00
There are many tales of the famous Alcatraz prison, from Al Capone to Machine Gun Kelly and the famous escape that Hollywood films have re-enacted over the years. But what some may not know are the strange ghostly accounts that have been occurring all over the prison. One tale I wanted to investigate was the ghost of Al Capone.

As the story goes, Capone's health was failing due to illness, yet he played the banjo for the prison band. Due to Capone's deteriorating mental state and to avoid fights out at the prison yard. He was given permission to practice in the shower room. An Alcatraz park ranger recalls hearing the distinct sound of music playing in the shower room. It sounded like a banjo. He had no other explanation for this, but many familiar with the history of Alcatraz do.

I headed for the showers and surprisingly enough, it is the first room I entered for the Alcatraz tour. Now the room is much larger than expected with a winding path around the showers to the awaiting tour guides. The audio is tough to navigate due to the acoustics of the room, so recording would unfortunately capture every voice and noise possible. The tour was about to start, I set up a digital recorder and tried to capture the music first hand.

Book Review: The Serpent Grail by Philip Garnier and Gary Osborn

2008-06-25T19:49:00.000-07:00

Ever wondered what the two snakes that symbolize medicine represent?
Caduceus

The Serpent Grail investigates the history of the serpent and its influence on mythology, religion and science. Garnier and Osborn delve into such fascinating myths as the Philosopher's Stone, the Elixir of Life, the Naga Serpent Lords and the Holy Grail, explaining the possible connections of their existence through symbolism, photographic documentation and historical accounts. They examine the cultural affects of the serpent and the power that it has on cultures across the world. I thought their research makes a strong point, that we don't understand everything about the mysteries of serpents and snakes. And the possibility that they are the link to eternal life and divine healing.

Book Review: How to be a Ghost Hunter by Richard Southall

2008-06-18T17:30:00.000-07:00

A vast compendium of knowledge for any ghost hunting enthusiast. Southall's book breaks down the ghost hunting field to lamens terms by defining what a ghost hunter does from a hobbyist level to a professional driven to create a ghost hunting organization. How to be a Ghost Hunter differentiates the paranormal forms in thorough, yet simplistic definitions by explaining auditory sounds and physical manifestations. He even goes over equipment choices when starting out, and the political side of counseling clients and dealing with naysayers. The price is well worth the knowledge that he offers in this guide.

Mountain View Cemetery - March 30th, 2008

2008-05-25T08:15:00.000-07:00

Mountain View Cemetery - March 30th, 2008

Mountain View, located in Alta Dena, California is a small cemetery established in 1883 and is one of the oldest public cemeteries in the San Gabriel Valley.

The Cemetery has been used as filming locations for many television shows and movies throughout the years and is located just a few miles North of Pasadena.

I had my camera and Digital Voice recorder (DVR) handy during my visit. On the afternoon of March 29th, 2008 I witnessed a burial taking place in the farthest end of the cemetery. I didn't think much of it, as I was walking around taking my usual photos and voice recordings, but decided to come back the next afternoon and take some recordings of the newly deceased.

March 30, 2008 I approached a burial site and asked for permission from the spirits to take photo's and recordings then set upon my work. The day was grey with light rain on and off, but not cold. As I came closer to the grave site, I noticed a fairly substantial drop in temperature, as I could now see my breath. It was very still in this location and I got the feeling that I wasn't alone.

I asked out loud if any entity was present, specifically the recently deceased and if so encouraged them to speak. I finished my recordings, snapped a few photos and went about my day. It was until 7 weeks later that I sat down to go over my pictures and voice recordings.

Many of the photos taken had very clear "orbs" or "wisps" of smokey air, but it was the DVR that caught my attention. During the recording, I had asked if the recently deceased were still present. At this point in the recording, I began to here some very odd sound distortions, almost moans that were audible for approximately 30 seconds. I am in the process of getting these uploaded to the computer, and I intend to put them in slow motion to see if there are any audible words, but it was definitely an exciting discovery.

Was this recording an actual conversation with the dead? Or was it simply the wind? Perhaps I won't ever be 100% certain on this particular recording, but I can tell you that I felt a strong and sad presence near by.

Feel free to view the pictures section on the Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/atthecemeterygate under the topic "Mountain View Cemetery" for any photo's relating to this and other investigations in this location.

For more information and history click on Mountain View Cemetery.

For a list of notable burials in Mountain View Cemetery click on Find a Grave.