October 2009  "May you have a Spooktacular October!" - Richard and Debbie Senate...and Meggie!

(NOTE: My regrets for not getting this blog out sooner. I have been beset with
a nagging illness and a death in the family. Richard and Debbie Senate
are always available for you, contact them. Thank you,
John Anthony Miller, webster for the site.)

Movie Star’s Home Investigated by Senates

The Halloween Season is upon us and Mr. Senate has a whole bevy of new tours, talks and adventures planned for the season.

“I am excited at the new prospects,” he said in a telephone interview with this reporter. “I started out the Fall with an impromptu investigation of a Hollywood Actress’s home.  She was someone only a film aficionado would know.  Dorothy Herbert, who starred in “B” pictures and old Republic serials, was the focus of the investigation.  Perhaps her greatest role was in the classic serial, said to be the best one made in the 1940s, Dr. Satan’s Robot. She retired and raised horses. She loved her retirement and so it seems she lingers on at the house she loved in life.” 

Mr. Senate was joined by his wife Psychic Debbie Christenson Senate, Psychic Researcher Roberta Abbot and Megan, his daughter and a gifted dowser.  

“I will have a full report ready in the future. I am still doing research on Ms. Herbert and the events reported at the house,” adds Mr. Senate. 

We will look forward to his report. 

Richard & Debbie on the Lee Fitzgerald Show

The popular cable TV show had Richard and Debbie appear as a guests and they were asked to show there stuff at an unknown haunted house located in Mira Monte.  The team went to the large posh home not far away and they did pick up a presence using their tools.   The always skeptical host, Lee Fitzgerald, was surprised when what ever it was touch him with an ice cold and invisible hands!

It was a great show and may well have changed a skeptic into a believer! “I was pleased with what we found,” explains Mr. Senate. “I believe we confirmed the stories of ghosts in the old house.”

Mr. Senate and daughters making a Video

The Senates are making a 28 minute video to be titled Professor Senate’s Museum. 

“It is based on an exhibit I mounted at the Phantom Bookshop many years ago,” explains Mr. Senate. “I painted a large canvas banner that hung at the bookstore and I have kept it for many years.  The show will feature haunted places and ghosts in California.  I have wanted to do something like this for a long time and my daughters cornered me and said I should just do it. It’s about ½ done and it is hoped that I can get it finished by Mid October. I might post it on line when done. I may even make other episodes in the future but—I will only do this if its fun.” 

Investigation Planned for Truckee, California

The historic gold rush town of Truckee has several haunted sites. Mr. Senate’s sister Patricia has moved there and they are planning to look into the ghosts of the Truckee Hotel and the old Jail. There are several haunted sites in the town. “The most curious sighting is that of a Civil War Confederate soldier,” informs Mr. Senate. “History does record that Confederate irregulars were in California and that they once robbed a gold shipment to send to the South. There was a shootout that might be California’s only Civil War “Battle” (or skirmish). They may well have had a link to Truckee.”  This investigation might well re-write the history of California in the Civil War.  Patricia has already begun collecting data and she has felt the icy cold of the old Jail.  The report might be the basis of another video in the future. 

Mr. Senate’s Novel is Published! THE FLIGHT OF THE HERCULES.
A new "Steam Punk" extravaganza!

At long last Mr. Senate’s novel “The Flight of the Hercules” is released.  It will be in both hardback and soft cover.  The book is a real adventure and it is hoped that Mr. Senate’s fans will find it fun. It is in a new style called “Steam-Punk” and combines history with wild adventure. 

If you are interested, e-mail Mr. Senate at hainthunter@aol.com  and he will send you information on how you can get a copy.  More data  in future issues of the Ghost Watch Newsletter. 

    

Ghost Tours for the Fall

 10/10  (Sat) Ghostly Ventura Tour - 8:00pm-10:00pm (City Hall)

10/17  (Sat) Ventura City Hall Séance with Debbie Senate - 10:30pm-12:30am (NEW)

10/24  (Sat) Reyes Adobe Ghost Tour - 8:00pm-10:00pm (Agoura Hills)*

10/25  (Sun) The Ghost Bus Tour - 8:00pm-9:30pm (Meets at City Hall)

10/26  (Mon) Haunted Ventura Ghost Tour - 8:00pm-10:00pm (City Hall)

10/27  (Tues) The Haunted Cemetery in Ventura- 8:00pm -9:30pm (Memorial Park)

10/28  (Wed)  Ortega Adobe Séance with Debbie Senate -10:30pm-12:30am (NEW) This will sell out fast.

10/29  (Thur) Ghost Hunting Class for Kids - 7:30pm-9:30pm (City Hall)

10/30  (Fri) The Ghost Bus Extended Tour - 8:00pm-10:00pm (Meets at City Hall)

10/31  (Sat) Halloween City Hall Séance with Debbie Senate - 10:30pm-12:30am

11/2    (Mon) Day of the Dead Tour  - 8:00pm-9:30pm

11/ 7   (Sat) Ghost Hunting Class for Kids - 7:30pm-9:30pm (City Hall)

11/13  (Friday) Special Ghosts and Ghouls Tour - 8:00pm-10:00pm (City Hall)

11/14  (Sat) Reyes Adobe Ghost Tour - 8:00pm-10:00pm (Agoura Hills)* 

12/12  (Sat) Mysterious City Hall – 7:00pm-9:00pm

Tickets can be purchased for most tours through the City of Ventura at
www.CityofVentura.net
or call

805-658-4726.

*Tours in Italics can be purchased at Agoura Hills Community Services.  818-597-7361

Richard and Debbie Senate will also be telling ghost stories at the Brocalli’s Pumpkin Patch and Haunted Hayride in Ojai.   Oct 16-17.  

Mr. Senate’s Ghost Class at Ventura College

Mr. Senate will be offering a five week class on ghosts and haunted houses though the Community Services office of the Ventura Community College. The class will go over how to hunt ghosts and some of the many investigations done by Richard and Debbie Senate over the years.  This will also feature a field trip to a known haunted site TBA.  The class is an in-depth look at this popular subject.  To sign up, call the Ventura College Community Education at 805-654-6459.   If you have questions about the class contact Mr. Senate at his e-mail hainthunter@aol.com The class meets for 5 Wednesday nights starting 10/7.  

Famous People who became Ghosts          
By Mr. Richard Senate

1. Julius Caesar  who appeared to his assassins before they were killed in battle.

2. King Henry VIII who appeared to many over the years most recently to Charles the Prince of Wales.

3. Anne Boleyn,  Henry VIII second wife whom he had decapitated for witchcraft. She is seen in several spots in England including the Tower where she met her end.

4. Sir Walter Raleigh, haunts the Tower of London where he was imprisoned before his death. He walks the walls on moonlit nights.

5. Andy Jackson haunts the White House and his old home, the Hermitage, in Tennessee. where he died

6.  Abraham Lincoln, haunts the White House as well as several other places, most notably Ford’s Theater where he was slain. Also at Ford’s is his killer John Wilkes Booth.  Old Abe was manifest to Harry Truman once in 1945.

7. Lily Langtry, The famed singer is said to haunt her house in Leighton (now demolished) and was seen several times by the residents.

8. Billy the Kid, controversial westerner and gunfighter is seen in Sumnerlace where he was killed by Marshal Pat Garret.

9. Doc Holiday, The gunfighter friend of the Earp Brothers, and a participant in the 1888 Gunfight of OK Corral, walks the streets of Tombstone dressed in black with a fancy vest.   

10. Mark Twain, American writer, seen at his brothers old home in Carson City, and on the streets of Virginia City, Nevada where he once lived and worked. 

11. Jack London, American writer, haunts his old house, now in ruins at Glen Ellen, CA but he also stops in at the Valley of the Moon Saloon from time to time

12. Edgar Allen Poe haunts his old Baltimore home, now a museum, where he and his beloved wife lived before her tragic death.   His grave site is also haunted. 

13. Jefferson Davis, the first and last president of the Confederacy haunts Monroe where he was imprisoned after the Civil War. So far he has not been seen in the Confederate White House in Richmond, VA.  

14.  General Beaugard   of the Confederacy, the man who designed the rebel southern cross flag haunts the Beaugard House in New Orleans, now a museum.  

15.  Richard Nixon is said to haunt his boyhood home and grave site in Yorba Linda, CA now converted into his presidential library.  

16. Elvis Presley haunts Graceland, his Memphis mansion where he died and is buried.

17. Rudolph Valentino haunts his grave site and his old home in Beverly Hills, Falcon’s Lair.  He died at 31 a superstar of silent Hollywood. 

18 Clifton Webb, Actor haunts his Beverly Hills home and his tomb in Hollywood, CA.

19. Mae West, Actress, haunts her old apartment building in Hollywood, CA.

20. Mamie Eisenhower haunts her old home in Gettysburg PA. Now a museum.

21. Mackenzie King, Prime Minister of Canada.  His home, now a museum, in Toronto is rumored to be haunted.

22. John Lennon, Singer, haunts the Dakota Apt. building where he was gunned down.

23. Buffalo Bill Cody, western entertainer, haunts his old house in Wyoming.  

24. William S. Hart, cowboy movie star haunts his mansion in Newhall, California. Home is now a museum.

25. Michael Jackson, said to haunt his old Neverland Ranch and other places linked to the tragic entertainter's life.

Quote worth remembering:

“It is wonderful that in six thousand years have now elapsed since the creation of the world, and still it is undecided whether or not there has ever been an instance of the spirit of any person appearing after death. All argument is against it, but all belief is for it.”

    Dr Samuel Johnson (1709—1784)

Megan and Richard Senate’s Coloring Book for sale

Last year Richard and Megan put together 13 Ventura County Ghosts as a simple Coloring Book for kids who wanted to know about the legends and ghost stories of this California County. The little book was a hit and sold out. Now they have improved and re-printed the booklet for sale this Halloween. They will be offered at Brocalli’s Pumpkin Patch in Ojai.  Richard will be telling stories there on October 16 and 17.   “The hayride is a scary one,” Mr. Senate warns people, “but I would not miss it for the world.  The Pizza at Brocalli’s is the best I have ever tasted too. Try it and see if you agree.” 

The Ghostly Gazette Magazine on Life support!

With much fanfare Mr. Senate introduced a new on-line magazine. There was some interest and free copies of the proto-publication were sent out, but there seems little interest in the project.  “We can’t make a magazine with only 15 people interested,” laments Mr. Senate. “ I will put together one more issue and offer it for free to people but, if no one comes forth to contribute stories or pictures I will have to close the project. I do not have the time to do this on my own. I want to thank those few people who have helped with this project. The Ghostly Gazette will then truly become a ghost.”  

If you want to see a FREE copy contact me at hainthunter@aol.com at my web site:  www.RichardSenate.com or www.ghost-stalker.com and I will send you the October Issue.  It will focus on Hollywood and the supernatural.”