Shannon Lusk and Scott Sukel of the Ohio State Mansfield Reformatory talk with Nathan S and Magnus Apollo about the Ghost of the famous prison seen in The Shawshank Redemption and on Ghost Adventurers.

Built in 1834, the Ohio Penitentiary was actually the second Ohio Penitentiary, the third state prison, and the fourth jail in early Columbus. In April 1955 it housed an all-time high of 5,235 prisoners. Most prisoners were removed from the prison by 1972 with the completion of the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility, and the facility was closed in 1984. The state sold the Ohio Penitentiary to the City of Columbus in 1995.

Stone walls and iron bars they’re still here, but what of the humanity, if you can call it that, of the old Ohio State Reformatory at Mansfield. What of the 154,000 inmates who passed through it’s gates in it’s 94 years as a working prison. Not to mention their keepers, the Wardens, and the Guards, the gravediggers, and the rest, what of them remains? As it turns out, more than you might think. No matter what their crime, some sent to Mansfield have never left. They rest unclaimed in a cheerless graveyard just outside the fence. 215 numbered markers laid out row on row. Most were victims of disease, influenza, tuberculosis, but some died of less natural causes; From the violence, that is all to common inside any prison and was far from unknown in this one. And the worst of it occurred well away from the main cell block with their rows of cages stacked tier on tier, and inmates, one or two to a cell. There were too many eyes, too many witnesses here, no the worst of it was reserved for a far lonelier place, deep beneath the prison ground. A place called local control, or solitary, by some, known by everyone else as the hole. Near total isolation can crack all but the toughest of cons, but none was so alone that there wasn’t room for death. At least one inmate managed to hang himself, another set himself on fire, once two men left too long in a single tomb like cell, only one walked out, leaving his cellmate’s body behind, stuffed beneath a bunk. Could there be other similar surprises? Or words left over from the days before the prison closed? Even when they’re empty, some swear something walks these halls. It isn’t enough for contemporary visitors not to wonder off alone while sight seeing, what‘s become one of Mansfield’s more popular tourist attractions. But the bloodiest single incident in the old prison’s history occurred outside it’s walls. In July 1948, when the Reformatory’s farm boss, his wife and daughter were kidnapped and shot to death by two parolees bent on revenge. A six state manhunt for the so called mad-dog killers ended in a shootout that left Robert Daniels of Columbus in custody and his partner, James West dead. “I’ll get the Chair” Daniels told police as he signed the confession. And on January 3rd, 1949, he did. A year later in 1950 disaster struck again. This time, here in the living quarters of the Warden himself. The Warden’s wife, removing a jewelry box from a closet shelf dislodged a pistol from it’s hiding place. When it hit the floor, the gun went off inflicting a fatal wound. And within the decade, even more bad luck. The Warden, hard at work in his office, suffered a heart attack and died. All this was nearly 40 years ago and more, how then to explain the voices shaken tour guides swear they hear today? Man and woman talking, to faint to understand, to persistent to ignore and chilling to listeners who think they’re alone, only to find themselves apparently eavesdropping on the warden and his wife locked forever in an endless conversation from beyond the grave.

Download 03-14-10

Bonnie of Ghostlytalk joins Nathan S. of the Ghostman & Demon Hunter Show as we talk to Derek Bartlett of Cape Cod’s Haunted History Tour.

Derek formed CAIPRS in August 2001. Derek  has always been looking for answers. These questions started as early as his childhood while hearing local legends and stories of New England ghosts and shipwrecks. Since forming CAIPRS he has not only found a dedicated team who seek the same answers but has found more questions as to how and why paranormal events happen around us. Derek believes in a pragmatic, scientific approach to ghost hunting and uses both technical equipment and intensive historical research in his case work. CAIPRS, led by Mr. Bartlett is involved with cases that span from New England to New Orleans and beyond. Derek is a former US Marine and employs the  concepts of both discipline and an intense theoretical approach in his work. A self described “skeptical believer” he is not out to debunk everyone else’s work as much as he is to prove his own findings. He maintains a high standard for CAIPRS and feels that leading by example is not only better for his own group, but for the overall perception of paranormal research groups as a whole. Both Derek and CAIPRS are based in West Barnstable, Massachusetts.

Download 03-07-10

Shaun and Nathan are joined by Dean of the Bird Cage Theatre. The Bird Cage Theatre is Tombstone’s most authentic attraction and one of the west’s  most famous landmarks.Visitors and employees of the Bird Cage Theater have reported seeing the spirits of former prostitutes and men in cowboy hats. Some claim to have been touched and pushed by unseen forces. At night, the sounds of laughter, yelling and music have been heard, as though the parties of the Old West were still raging. Many have claimed to see the visage of a man in black wearing a visor pacing across the stage.

Then they are joined by Orlando Ferrante and Joe Franke of the Connecticut Paranormal Research Society. The Connecticut Paranormal Research Society is a non-profit organization which is devoted to helping people with paranormal disturbances.

Orlando Ferrante is not only the co-founder and senior technical investigator of the Connecticut Paranormal Research Society; he is also a gifted sensitive and accomplished paranormal consultant with over 16 years experience in paranormal investigation. Orlando possesses a unique and uncanny ability to sense the presence of spirits and to see visions of future events with remarkable accuracy. His experience and unrivaled passion for finding the truth makes him one of the leading investigators in the field today.

Joe Franke, in addition to being the co-founder and senior lead investigator of the Connecticut Paranormal Research Society; Joe is also an expert paranormal consultant. His investigative experience spans well over two decades, with him spending the majority of his adult life helping others understand and overcome their paranormal experiences.

G&D 02-28-10

We are joined by Sheena Metal of the Sheena Metal Experience.  www.latalkradio.com/Sheena.php

Sheena is also the Executive Producer of Montgomery House – The Perfect Haunting, www.montgomeryhousehaunting.com .

Sheena Metal is a Los Angeles entertainment icon.  She has anchored numerous radio shows for over ten years in Los Angeles–six of which were spent on top-rated talk station KLSX (97.1 the FM Talk Station) where she helmed five successful shows (The Sheena Show, Late Night Booty Call, Sheena and The Princess, Sheena and Sam). Her untouchable wit, unforgettable voice and unflinching fan base have proven Sheena to be an undeniable radio presence that was the subject of a comprehensive five-page feature in the Los Angeles Times Sunday Calendar section, as well as being featured in: LA Weekly, the Daily News, Music Connection, and dozens of other periodicals. In addition, Metal was interviewed and quoted in Michael C. Keith’s Sounds in the Dark, currently in publication with a forward by Larry King.  Currently she hosts Music Highway, an internationally syndicated music/talk hybrid heard on over 2,400 affiliates to nearly 130 million listeners worldwide.

We were also joined by our Crypto Pal John Magnus Champlin.

Download 01-31-10

Weird NJ/Weird US/Weird Hauntings/Last Exit

Joanne M. Austin is a writer and editor who covers two subject matter extremes: the financial services industry and regional folklore as featured in the magazine Weird N.J. At the latter, she edited two special editions of the magazine – Tales From Clinton Road and Last Exit: Travels with Death in the Garden State – and interviewed a wide range of weirdly interesting people, including the Amazing Kreskin, Jonathon “The Impaler” Sharkey, and Sci-fi author Jeffrey Ford. She also compiled and edited the award-winning anthology Weird Hauntings: True Tales of Ghostly Places and has done the same with a second book, Weird Encounters: Ghostly Tales of Haunted Places, which will be available from Sterling Publishing in September 2010.

Since graduating with honors from the Maryland Institute College of Art with a BFA in Illustration Ryan Doan has supplied illustration and photo design services to such clients as Barnes and Noble, Sterling Publishing, BMG Entertainment, Sababa Toys, Art Asylum, The Aquarian magazine, The Sun, and commissioned costumers.In 2004 he joined Weird NJ magazine as an Associate Editor and Production Associate/Photographer. That position soon parlayed into Staff Artist when Weird NJ signed a large book deal with Barnes and Noble. He enjoyed that position for five years until branching out to establish himself as a freelancer. He was the primary illustrator for over 32 internationally syndicated titles also supplying cover art for three editions. Included in those titles is the award-winning Weird Hauntings, where he was responsible for acquiring the photography and which he enjoyed being the sole illustrator. The follow-up book Weird Encounters: Ghostly Tales of Haunted Places, his second book, will be released in the fall of 2010 to hopefully the same response as the first. Ryan has also worked as a freelance photojournalist, interviewing and photographing often eccentric, colorful characters. His photography has also appeared in many of his book projects and on the walls of commissioned clients. Ryan just finished working on a special issue for Weird NJ entitled Last Exit: Traveling With Death In The Garden State. He is now seeking to expand his freelance clientele. He can be reached through his web site www.ryandoan.com .

Download 01-24-10

Kimberly Gunn is an avid collector of haunted dolls or as she prefers to call them, spirit children.  Many of the dolls in her collection were mis-understood and frightened their owners,  while some of my other spirit children were owned by Wicca, Celtic or paranormal investigators who were either researching them or understood them and were trying to help them. Steve Gunn is a Psychic Medium, Metaphysical Practitioner, Tutor and Author.

Download 01-10-10

Download 01-03-10

Horror Movies with CINEMA KNIFE FIGHT:

L. L. Soares’s fiction has appeared in such magazines as Cemetery Dance, Horror Garage, Bare Bone, Gothic.Net, and Lullaby Hearse, as well as the anthologies THE BEST OF HORRORFIND 2, RIGHT HOUSE ON THE LEFT, RAW: BRUTALITY AS ART, and TRAPS. His story -Second Chances- received an Honorable Mention in sixteenth annual edition of THE YEAR’S BEST FANTASY AND HORROR, edited by Ellen Datlow & Terri Windling. He is an Active member of the Horror Writers Association -HWA, as well as the current co-chair of the New England Horror Writers -NEHW. His first story collection, IN SICKNESS, will be published in 2010 by Skullvines Press.

Michael Arruda is the author of numerous short stories and movie reviews. His work has appeared in anthologies, magazines, and online publications, including BE VERY AFRAID!, AMAZING HEROES, LOVECRAFT’S WEIRD MYSTERIES, FAR SECTOR SFFH and DAWNSKY. Michael’s an Active Member of the HORROR WRITERS ASSOCIATION and served as the HWA’s NEW ENGLAND CHAPTER co-coordinator from 2001 to 2007. He’s also been penning the movie review column -In the Spooklight- for the HWA NEWSLETTER since 2000. Michael also writes the movie review column -Cinema Knife Fight- with L.L. Soares.

Download 12-20-09

Joshua has been involved with the crystal skulls since 1983 when he had an opportunity to be in the presence of an amethyst skull located in northern California.  At that time, he felt a very strong connection with this artifact which forever changed his life. Since then, he has devoted a great deal of time and effort to sharing with others key information about the crystal skulls and the role they have to play in the prophesized “Golden Age”.

He feels very fortunate to have had an opportunity to be able to visit privately with a number of the more well known crystal skulls in the world including: the “Mitchell-Hedges Crystal Skull”, “ET”, the “British Museum Crystal Skull”, and “Ami”.

Download G&D 12-13-09

EVP’s with Laurie Champion

Laurie Champion, Author of Forever Dead and the director of Pinellas/Pasco Paranormal at the age of fifty one,,has been in this field for thirty one years.  She got into the field because she herself was the victim of a hostile haunt for years as a child. She and her team have much experience with all kinds of hauntings and some cryto cases.

Download G&D 12-06-09

G&D talk with Lanaia Lee, author of Skulls of Salvation, about 2012, the end of the world, magic and all things on peoples minds as we come closer to what many believe is the end of the world. The same things Lanaia puts in the fictional books called the “Of Atlantis” series.