28 Thursday Aug 2014
Posted in Authors, Live Paranormal, Media, Radio Show
≈ Comments Off on Connie Hall-Scott LIVE Tonight
Connie Hall-Scott, author of Haunted Dalton, Georgia
Join the API Gals on Archer Paranormal Radio as we chat with Connie Hall-Scott, author of Haunted Dalton, Georgia. We are LIVE at 7 pm EST on http://www.liveparanormal.com.
Haunted Dalton, Georgia
21 Thursday Aug 2014
Posted in Famous Locations, Ghost Hunting, Media, Movies, Prisons, Radio Show
≈ Comments Off on Haunting of Cellblock 11: Success with Crowdfunding
Tags
andrew p jones, crowdfunding, filmmaking, haunting of cellblock 11, horror movies, micro-budgets
Haunting of Cellblock 11
Haunting of Cellblock 11: Success with Crowdfunding
Screenwriter Andrew P. Jones appeared on Archer Paranormal Radio and discussed his horror movie, Haunting of Cellblock 11. If you haven’t screened it yet, do! Great script, fabulous actors, and beautiful location. All for a fraction—deep fraction—of a major Hollywood film. Jones produced the movie on a micro-budget and utilized crowdfunding.
A studio-backed major Hollywood movie costs roughly $139 million to produce. That’s 1-3-9-MILLION. The odds of your script making it to the big screen are nil. Independent filmmakers are creatively funding their projects. For some genres, the reward is huge.
Horror movies consist of 4% of the overall motion picture market share. However, they are the second most profitable genre. Documentary films are statistically the most profitable, but they are also the cheapest films to produce. The average documentary costs $2.6 million, and most are made far below that figure. So, for major genres, horror movies are the best genre. I’m not surprised. There are loads of statistics on why we love horror movies. But that’s another blog.
Back to Jones. He was able to raise enough money and create a production schedule based on a very small production budget. That’s encouraging to all the other independent filmmakers out there. Inevitably, Jones turned to crowdfunding to raise some of the money.
Crowdfunding started in 2007. In 2012, $2.7 billion dollars was raised through crowdfunding (www.gogetfunding.com). Films/Performing Arts comprise nearly 12% of the money raised in campaigns. For a small contribution, movie fans can buy in on a film. Although the most successful campaigns attempt to raise a few thousand dollars, with $7,000 the best target, some independent films have been able to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars. According to Fundable.com, the average campaign lasts 9 weeks, 24-35 years olds are more likely to contribute, and males donate more than females. Thirty percent of the total is raised within the first week. The critical factor driving success is social media outlets. The more people who see the post, blog, tweet, the more money contributed. Important. Re-read that one again. In order for a crowdfunding campaign to succeed, the campaign has to utilize as many social media outlets as possible.
Independent filmmakers like Andrew don’t need the blessing of major studios to produce horror movies. Instead, Jones and others can work with micro-budgets and establish crowdfunding campaigns inviting horror movie fans to own a piece of the film. I like that. Less Hollywood control equates to less formulaic movies and more people entering the industry. Shoot. I may even buy a piece myself.
Dee Wallace, Haunting of Cellblock 11
22 Sunday Jun 2014
Posted in Authors, Books, Famous People, Ghost Hunting, Media, Paranormal, Radio Show
≈ Comments Off on Patrick Doyle Interview
Patrick Doyle
The Archer Paranormal Investigations Gals interview Patrick Doyle. Patrick shares stories, insights, and a preview of his new book Ghosts from the Ground Up, this Thursday (June 26th) at 7 pm EST. Tune in to http://www.liveparanormal.com and find out why we absolutely ADORE patrick!
Ghosts from the Ground Up.
12 Thursday Jun 2014
Posted in Disasters, Live Paranormal, Radio Show
≈ Comments Off on Ghosts of Flight 401 Tonight on Archer Paranormal Radio
Ghosts of Flight 401
Tonight on Archer Paranormal Radio at 7 pm EST:
Oops. In the legal field, we call it a conflict. Larry Flaxman will not be on this week. Stay tuned for new date. This week the API Gals are talking all things airline related: Ghosts of Flight 401, Haunted Hotels that the crew stays in, etc. Plus the latest paranormal news.
Tune in to Archer Paranormal Radio every Thursday evening at 7 pm EST on www.liveparanormal.com. Subscribe to our YouTube.com channel: Archer Paranormal. Follow us on Twitter: @JMSpear, @HauntedLib, and @MagnoliaPsychic. Check out The Haunted Librarian, www.thehauntedlibrarian.com.
10 Tuesday Jun 2014
Posted in Authors, Books, Famous People, Ghost Hunting, Live Paranormal, Paranormal, Radio Show
≈ Comments Off on Larry Flaxman LIVE with the API Gals
Larry Flaxman
This week on Archer Paranormal Radio at 7 pm EST:
The API Gals chat with Larry Flaxman, bestselling author and all-around cool guy! Tune in as we talk about all things paranormal with one of the leading authors/researchers in the field.
Tune in to Archer Paranormal Radio every Thursday evening at 7 pm EST on www.liveparanormal.com. Subscribe to our YouTube.com channel: Archer Paranormal. Follow us on Twitter: @JMSpear, @HauntedLib, and @MagnoliaPsychic. Check out The Haunted Librarian, www.thehauntedlibrarian.com.
31 Saturday May 2014
Posted in Famous Locations, Haunted Houses, Hotels & Motels, Radio Show, Urban Legends
The Historic Windsor Hotel in Americus, Georgia
Just the Facts! The Historic Windsor Hotel, Americus, Georgia
Last weekend my fellow ghost hunting gals spent the night investigating the Historic Windsor Hotel in Americas, Georgia. I couldn’t attend. Seems I may have missed a great investigation. But I’m the history buff, so I still did my research. Apparently, other groups may not have.
I’m amazed at how quickly groups perpetuate urban legends without doing a little legwork. Just like hearsay is not admissible in court, urban legends shrouded as the “truth” should not make it to print. But let me back up.
The Historic Windsor Hotel, Street View
History
Americus, Georgia wanted to build a winter destination for snowbirds. Two architects were in the running to design the massive hotel. Ultimately, G.L. (Gottfried Leonard) Norrman (1848-1909) won out. He envisioned a High Victorian themed hotel. The Historic Windsor Hotel opened on June 16, 1892. It cost $150,000 to build. The 5-story Queen Anne castle-like structure takes up a city block. Originally it had 100 rooms. A 3-story atrium is the focal point upon entry. The hotel was named after local businessman John T. Windsor (1847-1930). [Note: Mr. Wilson died on April 20, 1930. This is creepy since April 20th is my birthdate—just not the same year.] The hotel was a mecca for politicians, athletes, and movie stars. However, the appeal wore off by the early 1970s. The Howard Dayton family was the last private owners. They gave—yes, gave—the hotel to the city in 1978. And the pigeons moved in.
G.L. Norrman
The city asked the community what should be done with the hotel: parking deck or remodeled hotel. Surprisingly, the community favored restoration. Good for them! Restoration costs are reported to be between $5 million and $8 million dollars. The hotel re-opened in September of 1991. The Best Western now operates the scaled down 53-room hotel. The 3-story atrium survived the renovations. The fourth floor was not restored and is used primarily for storage.
Hauntings
Stories of hauntings abound. People claim to hear a washing machine in the 5th floor attic. The 3rd floor rooms are most active. Certain rooms are supposedly more haunted; however, the numbers change depending on who you ask. [Note: I would expect the ghosts to roam from room-to-room anyway. I cannot locate any tragic event occurring in any one room. So this fluctuation does not bother me.]
The dining room and board room are also supposedly haunted. There is a gorgeous mirror inside that is also supposed to do something, too. Not sure the link.
The former bellman Floyd Lowery (finally a name!) worked at the hotel for 40 years. He is the namesake for the bar. His ghost is supposedly haunting the establishment. Further, all indications are that he is friendly and helpful, even in the afterlife.
The story that troubles me is the one about a mother and daughter who were murdered sometime in the 1920s. The story goes: Mother was having a tryst. The man was her husband, lover, or her “john.” Rumors are she was the head housekeeper, domestic help, and or prostitute. For some reason she lived at the hotel. The man became upset, reasons vary, and pushed the mother and daughter down the open elevator shaft, killing them upon contact. An online story identifies them as “Emma” and “Abigail.” Jenn and Lisa were given the names “Emily Mae” and “Emma.” I cannot find any of these names in any newspaper. I searched the Americus Times-Recorder, the county organ. Nothing. I would expect a story like this would have been covered by the Atlanta Constitution or the Atlanta Journal (they were 2 separate and distinct newspapers back then). Nope. I’ve searched death certificates. Online obituary listings for Sumter County. Even Find-a-Grave. Still nothing. Deep sigh.
I did, however, find that John T. Windsor’s wife’s name was Emily Amelia. There’s a link. Maybe the names were confused. Still looking.
I also found that Mr. G.L. Norrman committed suicide in 1909 at the age of 61. He designed some amazing buildings in Atlanta and Savannah and was one of the organizers for the Southern Chapter of the American Institute of Architects the same year the Windsor opened. Those, my friends, are facts. The other stuff? Not so sure. But I would expect someone would dust off some microfilm and find out. If you do, please feel free to contact me with it. I promise to share!
Restored Historic Windsor Hotel
24 Saturday May 2014
Posted in Conspiracy Theories, Famous People, Hoaxes, Radio Show
≈ Comments Off on ChemTrails: Now That’s Just Crazy Talk
ChemTrail Conspiracy Theory
ChemTrails: Now That’s Just Crazy Talk
The API (Archer Paranormal Investigations) Gals discussed ChemTrails recently on Archer Paranormal Radio, broadcasting every Thursday at 7 pm EST on www.liveparanormal.com. When 2L suggested the story, I had no idea what she was talking about. When I googled it, I thought: Really? People really believe this? But, I’ve been left speechless before.
ChemTrails are the white chemical trails following an airplane. Scientists and government officials claim that these white lines are merely ConTrails, condensation trails. Conspiracy theorists claim these trails signify chemical or biological warfare causing respiratory disease. The theory started in 1995 when late-night talk show host Art Bell promulgated the theory. Believers hung their hat on one piece of evidence: The trails lasted longer in the sky than previous trails.
Unfortunately, contrails existed long before 1995. They form at certain altitudes and atmospheric conditions. Basically, they may form or they may not. It all depends on a number of factors.
I find the argument for their existence tenuous at best. There are more efficient ways to chemically infiltrate a population. I highly doubt that a major airline corporation would willingly participate in a plan to kill off their clients. Corporations = Revenue. Airlines rely on paying passengers to increase revenue.
Now some readers may counter that the airlines are not willing participants. Okay. Why wouldn’t the government just use their own planes? They have plenty of them. Again, contrails are not always created. They dissipate at different rates of speed. They are unpredictable. Why would a government utilize an unpredictable form of chemical warfare when so many other reliable forms exist? They wouldn’t. And they don’t.
I’m really writing this blog because one of my favorite meteorologists, Paul Dellegatto, posted a hilarious ChemTrail photo on his official Facebook page. It was serendipitous since I was discussing this the previous night. Serendipity. Now that’s real.
22 Thursday May 2014
Posted in Animals, Fairies, Famous Locations, Famous People, Great Britain, Hoaxes, Radio Show
≈ Comments Off on Rossendale Fairies Redoux
Tags
archer paranormal radio, cottingley fairies, haunted librarian, hoaxes, rossendale fairies, sir arthur conan doyle
Cottingley Fairies, 1917
Rossendale Fairies Redoux
In 1917, two cousins painted fairies onto paper boards, strung them of trees, and photographed themselves mingling with the “fairies.” Named for their town, the “Cottingley Fairies” pictures were a sensation. The hoax fooled the likes of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Doyle was a strong proponent of spiritualism and used the photographs to illustrate his belief in fairies. Shucks. Who doesn’t want to believe in fairies?
Cottingley Fairies 2
Interest in the “Cottingley Fairies” dwindled by 1921; however, the girls remained adamant that the images were real until 1983—some 60 years after their publication. And now it seems that another Brit has photographed a new crop of fairies.
British professor John Hyatt thought he was capturing flora and fauna but discovered shortly thereafter that small, winged anomalies were also in the pictures. Hyatt claims they are fairies. One entomologist disagrees. She thinks that the anomalies are “midges,” a small species of fly. Former Fact or Faked: The Paranormal Files host, Ben Hansen, boldly declares them as doctored images. Hansen takes exception to the clarity of the “fairies” in contrast to Professor Hyatt’s story. Basically: “Why are the “fairies” in focus when Hyatt was photographing the flora, which is not in focus?”
Rossendale Fairies
Entitled “Rossendale Fairies” (a take on the Cottingley location from 1917), Hyatt’s photographs are currently on display in England. But what about fairies? Are they only seen on the British Isles?
Seems the petite creatures are mainly found in Iceland, Ireland, Norway, and Scotland. Great Britain also has some sightings. Not all fairies were nice. In some cultures, people believed that fairies swapped sickly fairy babies with healthy human babies—the changeling belief. This belief was popularized by the 1895 murder case where a husband killed his wife, Bridget Cleary, thinking that she was a changeling brought to him by the fairy people. Michael Cleary was found guilty of manslaughter and served 15 years in prison. After his release, Michael eventually immigrated to Canada.
The Irish children’s rhyme asks: Are you a witch, or are you a fairy. Or are you the wife of Michael Cleary?
Creepy. Almost as creepy as the children’s song in The Birds. I’ll save that commentary for another blog.
15 Thursday May 2014
Posted in Conspiracy Theories, Hoaxes, Media, Radio Show, Reality TV, UFOs
Hanger 1: The UFO Files
Hanger 1: The UFO Files
If I ranked my paranormal/unexplained topic interests in numeric order, the listing would be:
However, the UFO topic may move up. Last year a fellow Rotarian presented his evidence about his personal quest for UFO information to my club. He was interesting, and it piqued my interest. The API (Archer Paranormal Investigations) discussed UFOs on our weekly radio show. That really got me thinking. Personal Disclosure Statement: I believe in extraterrestrial life. I’m not sure whether we are as fascinating to them (and cause them to observe us from afar) as we are with them. Personally, I wouldn’t bother. However, when you peruse the Internet, the images are thought-provoking.
When I was a teenager growing up on the water of Southwest Florida I observed a strange unidentifiable object. It was a UFO in a literal sense. I had no idea what it was. That’s not stating that it was an actual extraterrestrial spacecraft hovering over the Intercostal waters. Now I’m hooked and want to know more. So I turned where every able-minded person goes: Television.
Hanger 1: The UFO Files debuted on February 28, 2014. It airs weekly on H2 (one of the various channels for the History Channel) on Fridays at 10 pm. Named for the MUFON facility housing the 70,000+ documents and evidence, the show purports to open the MUFON archives to the American viewing audience. Immediately, any viewer should be suspicious. Television executives whose goals are generating revenue for their networks tailored a TV show to the masses. The show is similar to every other paranormal/conspiracy theory latent enterprise. If you believe everything on the show, then you are one of the fools born every minute = SUCKER!
But that does not mean you should stop watching. You should watch. And question everything! MUFON, the Mutual UFO Network, was established on May 31, 1969 by Walt Andrus. He collected a group of UFO hobbyist and formed the Midwest UFO Network, commonly known as MUFON. The geographic focus shifted from the Midwest to international, but the acronym remained the same. The named changed in 1973. MUFON is the largest investigative organization devoted to Ufology. In the 45 years since its inception, MUFON has investigated a ton of cases—enough to fill a “hanger.” The television series is an attempt to disseminate their “findings” to the public.
Hanger 1 is interesting. I actually enjoy it. I’m not bothered by the supposed inconsistencies reported by skeptics or hard-core Ufologists. Again, this is television entertainment. If you disagree with it airing on H2, a History Channel network, then I sure hope you are waiving your banner at the Weather Channel for airing non-weather related shows. Or TLC (The Learning Channel) for the not-so-educational pageants and cheerleading mama dramas. Remember: Networks air television shows that will make them money. Presentation of the “truth” may not always apply. (Nearly every “reality show” comes to mind)
Back to Hanger 1: The re-enactments are minimal; the “evidence” plausible. For me, the show attains its ultimate goal: My interest is further piqued and I want to know more. That’s a rare feat for most network programming.
09 Friday May 2014
Posted in Conspiracy Theories, Disasters, Famous People, Paranormal, Radio Show, UFOs
Weird or What? with William Shatner
The Shat is Back!
I adore William Shatner. It’s true. I grew up watching Star Trek re-runs when you could only get 3—yes, 3—TV channels. Shatner has been able to parley the role of Captain James T. Kirk into an enduring career. Not bad for the 80-year-old pitchman. He is a fixture in the paranormal community. And he deserves every bit of kudos he can muster. Shatner’s TV show Weird or What? is a hoot, just like him.
Weird or What? airs on the National Geographic Channel. It delves into “mysteries and strange phenomena.” It also allows Shatner to interject his pithy humor. The episodes vary and run a full gamut of subject-matter. The API (Archer Paranormal Investigations) gals discussed one of the topics on our weekly radio show, Archer Paranormal Radio. The case involved the mysterious disappearance of three fishermen off the Australian coast in 2007. While the final determination is unknown, several theories have been bandied about: 1) They all fell overboard; 2) A giant squid attacked them; and 3) A USO (unidentified sea object) abducted them. This is good television, my friend!
This case is fascinating. The catamaran Kaz II was found drifting 5 days after the party set sail. All were experienced sailors. When officials boarded the boat, nothing seemed amiss—except the missing crew. I don’t think a giant squid attacked them. There would be noticeable signs on the boat. Nor do I believe in USOs. I do, however, believe that a UFO can submerge like a submarine. But a USO? Pass. So what really happened? I don’t think anyone will know. That is unless they pop up out of the blue like Travis Walton. Unfortunately, I think all three men are lost to the sea. But, thanks to Shatner’s show, I learned something: People love to make up their own acronyms. And Shatner ROCKS!
The Haunted Librarian 
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