Posted on 10/09/2005 8:08:51 PM PDT by CurlyBill
Author: Carly Farrell
Publication Date: 2005-10-07
AMERICUS — According to encyclopedia.com, the definition of a ghost is, “...a spiritualistic manifestation of a person or object in which a form not actually present is seen with such intensity that belief in its reality is created.”
The Rylander Theatre in Americus has such a spirit according to at least two residents of Americus and Kathleen Walls’ book, “Georgia’s Ghostly Getaways.”
“We don’t know who the ghost is,” said vice-chairman of the Rylander Authority, Kent Sole. “My theory is that (he) was a former manager. (It) doesn’t do anything in the theater — mostly stays in the lobbies and in the office area. It’s a friendly ghost.”
Sole went on to explain that the spirit’s main concern is the safety of the building; the ghost primarily makes sure that doors are locked.
“You can be in the theater by yourself and turn around and the door’s been locked where it had been unlocked, and (there have been times) when the certain door can only be locked with a key,” Sole explained.
“He’ll also come up behind you and put his hand on your shoulder,” Sole said.
Sole, in fact, experienced this at one point after the Rylander reopened in 1999. The theater closed in 1951 and sat vacant behind office buildings until 1995, when a local car dealership owner decided, after he realized what a significant part of the early 20th century the Rylander Theatre was, to invest in renovating the facility.
“He likes to make sure the theater is safe — he’s always behind you. I was alone in the theater,” Sole explained, when he felt a hand on his shoulder.
When Sole turned around, no one was behind him or around him — Sole, in fact, realized, after searching the building, was sure that he was the sole individual in the Theatre at the time.
“To turn around, and not know what it is — it’s an eerie feeling,” he said.
Brooks Nettum, managing director of the Rylander Theatre, has also experienced the entity.
“Sometimes, I’ll go to unlocked doors, and they’ll be locked, and I don’t think that I have locked them,” Nettum explained. “I go to work at 6:30 in the morning when it’s still dark, and no one else is here. I’ll hear something. Every now and then I’ll look over my shoulder — I can’t put my finger on the feeling, but it’s something like how the book ‘A Widow for One Year’ (by John Irving) describes (the feeling) — it sounds like someone who’s trying not to make a sound. Every now and then, I’ll look over my shoulder.”
Nettum made it more clear by saying that sometimes, it is more of a feeling of a silent presence.
“But,” Nettum explained, “it’s not an evil feeling.”
Although Walls’ book does not tie down specific people who have experienced the phenomena, she does mention that people have experienced particularly cold spots in the theater itself, indicating to the spirit-friendly a specter is present. Also, Walls mentions that the lights, at times, flicker.
Ghost Ping!!
Ghost Ping!!
That does sound like a manager.
A couple of weeks ago I was preparing to turn in for the night when someone poked me sharply in the middle of my back. The bedroom door was closed; the room was dark, and the only other person present was my wife, who lay directly before me tucked into bed, sound asleep.
whoa.. that would result in a FAST exit for me!
thanks for the Ping to the great Read!
Shivers, as October 31st approaches, FR sees more ghost threads!
I had something very similar happen to me when I was about 6 years old. I very clearly remember always thinking and dreaming that my house was haunted. One night I was sleeping on my stomach and I felt something touch my back. It was like a hand softly patting the small of my back once. I turned and nobody was there. As I grew older, I kept thinking that maybe it was a muscle spasm or maybe my blankets had shifted somehow and made it feel as though someone were patting my back. Regardless, it was strange... and it never happened again.
Several years prior to this, a young man had been murdered in one of those rental houses--I can't say it was the one my wife and I rented, but it could very well have been. Ironically, I had known the murdered man in high school.
I had Mexican for dinner tonight and now I think my shorts are haunted.
The first, and best, thing to do is check all the janitorial closets on the upper floors. Go alone. Take only a flash light, and be sure to check for false walls. Then its onward to any attic or crawl spaces that might be present.
I bet you're surrounded by screams from within and without. This, too, shall pass.
If you want to really study an eerie film, check out this film clip that was turned into an .wmv file. It was made for a commercial but never aired, and has been making the rounds on the net recently. It seems to be a white misty figure just in front of a car as it comes out of some trees. It's a little difficult to make out, but if you're careful you might be able to see a figure.
http://www.blogtelevision.net/index.php?p=4&search=car21.wmv&Search=Search
Fester, be careful of the above link,..it is a bit eerie.
“But,” Nettum explained, “it’s not an evil feeling.”
Well...isn't that special. The only feeling that I would be having after a ghostly experience would be my feet hitting the floor hard and fast!
Now THAT'S scary!
Feet don't fail me now!
Probably scarier than the link in post #14. Can you make out what they are writing about?
Happy holloween.
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