7 Famous People Who Became Famous Ghosts by Danny Gallagher Death doesnt spell the end of your time in the spotlight. Sometimes its just the beginning. Take Michael Jackson, for example. His body was still warm when millions of depressed fans claimed to spot his ghost roaming the halls of Neverland Ranch during a CNN special. But Jackson is far from the first celebrity to be the subject of ghost rumors. 1. Marilyn Monroe The Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood is known for two types of sightings: big Hollywood stars and free roaming spirits. The most famous of these uninvited guests is the former blonde bombshell herself, who got her first job by posing on the pools diving board for a suntan commercial and frequently stayed in a room of the hotel that her ghost allegedly haunts. Guests can even peer into the full-length mirror that former guests and staff members claim to have seen an image of a beautiful young blonde woman who spoke to them and then suddenly disappeared. 2. Orson Welles The acclaimed and embattled movie directors love of food and drink were well known. During his younger days as an ambitious classic theater director, a regular meal could include as much as two steaks, two loaded baked potatoes, an entire pineapple, three servings of pistachio ice cream and an entire bottle of scotch. That hunger is so strong that not even a massive coronary could kill it. Employees of the Sweetlady Jane Bakery on Melrose Avenue have reported seeing a large man dressed in black sitting in a corner of the restaurant and smelling the sweet scents of cigar smoke and brandy. The location of the bakery was once the Ma Maison restaurant, a French style restaurant where Welles often ate before he passed away. That probably explains why they went out of business. 3. John Lennon The ghost of this free spirit has been seen all over the world and by all sorts of people, including Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher and former band mate Paul McCartney while they were recording one of Lennons unfinished symphonies. But the ghosts most famous haunt is the building where Lennon tragically died. The Dakota building is one of New York citys most impressive apartment structures and once housed some of the worlds most famous people, such as Judy Garland, Leonard Bernstein and Lauren Bacall. It is also the place where Mark David Chapman gunned down Lennon and some residents claim that Lennon has never left. Some psychics held a televised séance in 2006 at the Dakota building and other spots around the world connected to Lennons life. They claimed Lennons ghost made more than one appearance to them. They didnt say who opened for him, though. 4. George Reeves The first man to give a physical presence to the legendary Superman died under very mysterious circumstances. The appearance of his ghost has only raised those suspicions. Multiple sightings have been reported from the Benedict Canyon Drive home where he died in 1959 from an apparent self inflicted gunshot wound. Visitors to the home have either reported hearing strange gunshots and screams or seeing a full apparition of Reeves in his Superman costume. 5. Lon Chaney The original master of monsters and makeup terrorized the minds, hearts and underpants of moviegoers. You can probably imagine how horrific seeing his ghost might be. His spirit is said to haunt a soundstage on the Universal Studios Hollywood lot where workers have reported hearing footsteps and seeing a caped man running through the catwalks. The stage was used to film part of the opera scenes for Chaneys iconicPhantom of the Opera, and still stands because several mysterious accidents have prevented the studio from fully dismantling it. 6. Rudolph Valentino One of the silver screens first and biggest heartthrobs also met with an equally tragic ending. He died in 1926 at the age of 31 from an infection contracted during an operation. His former Hollywood home, Falcons Lair, has been haunted ever since. Actor Harry Carey purchased the home sometime after and reported seeing a ghostly figure similar to the actors rugged good looks. Fashion icon Millicent Rogers only saw the ghost once because she refused to ever set foot in the house again. 7. Abraham Lincoln Several former presidents and first ladies have been allegedly seen roaming the halls of the White House in spirit form, but Lincoln definitely has the most residency points. Guests, dignitaries and even members of the White House staff have spotted him. Probably the most famous meeting involves former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill.Churchill had drawn himself a hot bath, and when he emerged from the tub with nothing but a lit cigar, he spotted the former president staring at him. Churchill remarked, Good evening Mr. President. You seem to have me at a disadvantage.The ghost smiled and disappeared. From then on, Churchill refused to stay in the Lincoln Bedroom. Danny Gallagher is a freelance writer, reporter, humorist and ghostbuster living in Texas. He can be found on the web atdannygallagher.net, on MySpace and onTwitter Friday, August 14, 2009 - 8:05am © 2013 MENTAL FLOSS, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. MENTAL FLOSS® IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OWNED BY FELIX DENNIS. MENTALFLOSS.COM IS A TRADEMARK OWNED BY FELIX DENNIS.
Posted on: Mon, 03 Feb 2014 15:45:51 +0000
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