What do you think?
Rate this book
Hollywood Haunted: A Ghostly Tour of Filmland
1999, trade paperback edition, revised and updated, Angel City Press, Santa Monica, CA. Printed in China. 128 pages. Nifty vintage photos throughout. Here is a ghostly tour of filmland, with supernatural happenings at the former homes of Clifton Webb, Ozzie Nelson, restaurants, streets, hotels, and theatres in the city of Hollywood. Very nicely done.
128 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1994
9 people are currently reading
151 people want to read
About the author
Laurie Jacobson
13 books22 followersWhen Laurie moved to L.A., she quickly found her way to Harvey Lembeck's Comedy Improv Workshop, working for years with classmates Robin Williams, John Larroquette, John Ritter and more. While performing with comedy groups and as a stand-up, Laurie was uncovering and reveling in the history of those who had come before her. The stories and interviews she collected became the basis for her first book HOLLYWOOD HEARTBREAK, (1984, Simon & Schuster, 3 printings), a 75-year history of Hollywood told through the lives and deaths of 31 people. The book helped establish Laurie's reputation as a Hollywood historian.
Since then, she has written and produced documentaries, television series and specials, including: “20TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE MARY TYLER MOORE SHOW”, “THE MUSEUM OF TELEVISION AND RADIO’S SALUTE TO FUNNY WOMEN OF TELEVISION”, Warner Bros Studio Rededication Party, “THE SUZANNE SOMERS SHOW”, “PHOTOPLAY” and “HOLLYWOOD CHRONICLES”.
Laurie’s second book, HOLLYWOOD HAUNTED (Angel City Press, 7th printing) covers more than 100 years of ghostly goings-on in filmland. Her third, DISHING HOLLYWOOD (Cumberland House, 2nd printing), spills the beans on 43 Tinseltown scandals -- with a recipe connected to each one.
Laurie is the reigning expert on Tinseltown’s ghosts as well as a respected Hollywood historian. She appears regularly on radio and television, including: E!’s Mysteries and Scandals, CNN, Mike Wallace’s 20th Century, Art Bell, Entertainment Tonight, A&E, History Channel, Discovery Channel, AMC and many more. Recently, Laurie returned to her acting roots for a starring role in “Not Fade Away”, an independent film starring Shirley Knight.
This fall marks the 50th anniversary of Jon Provost’s debut as Timmy on “Lassie”. Laurie celebrates the occasion with the October release of her fourth book: TIMMY’S IN THE WELL -- The Jon Provost Story, (Cumberland House) an autobiography she co-wrote with Provost, her husband. They make their home with their beagle, Barney, in Santa Rosa where Laurie loves teaching a writing workshop at American Eagle Studios.
Since then, she has written and produced documentaries, television series and specials, including: “20TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE MARY TYLER MOORE SHOW”, “THE MUSEUM OF TELEVISION AND RADIO’S SALUTE TO FUNNY WOMEN OF TELEVISION”, Warner Bros Studio Rededication Party, “THE SUZANNE SOMERS SHOW”, “PHOTOPLAY” and “HOLLYWOOD CHRONICLES”.
Laurie’s second book, HOLLYWOOD HAUNTED (Angel City Press, 7th printing) covers more than 100 years of ghostly goings-on in filmland. Her third, DISHING HOLLYWOOD (Cumberland House, 2nd printing), spills the beans on 43 Tinseltown scandals -- with a recipe connected to each one.
Laurie is the reigning expert on Tinseltown’s ghosts as well as a respected Hollywood historian. She appears regularly on radio and television, including: E!’s Mysteries and Scandals, CNN, Mike Wallace’s 20th Century, Art Bell, Entertainment Tonight, A&E, History Channel, Discovery Channel, AMC and many more. Recently, Laurie returned to her acting roots for a starring role in “Not Fade Away”, an independent film starring Shirley Knight.
This fall marks the 50th anniversary of Jon Provost’s debut as Timmy on “Lassie”. Laurie celebrates the occasion with the October release of her fourth book: TIMMY’S IN THE WELL -- The Jon Provost Story, (Cumberland House) an autobiography she co-wrote with Provost, her husband. They make their home with their beagle, Barney, in Santa Rosa where Laurie loves teaching a writing workshop at American Eagle Studios.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
November 1, 2007
“Gets the blood flowing…” Kenneth Turan, LA Times film critic
Hollywood’s citizenry has always leaned toward the dramatic and the sensational, and its ghosts are no exception. The history of Hollywood unfolds as Laurie takes you into the oldest studios and hotels, the most glamorous theaters and nightspots, and beautiful homes from Beverly Hills to Hollywood. Hear about the ghosts of mobsters, lovers and bandits. Learn about the celebrities who have seen ghosts, celebrities who have lived with ghosts and celebrities who are ghosts! These spine-tingling, true ghost stories include movie stars, love affairs, murder mysteries, rare photographs, celebrity interviews and a good dash of humor.
Sharon Tate and Paul Bern, Ozzie Nelson, Lucy, Madonna, Bela Lugosi and Hollywood & Vine, Lon Chaney and Universal Studios, Howard Hughes and the Pantages Theater, Marilyn, Monty Clift and the Roosevelt Hotel, the headless ghost of Beverly Glen, Ciro’s and the Comedy Store and more.
Hollywood’s citizenry has always leaned toward the dramatic and the sensational, and its ghosts are no exception. The history of Hollywood unfolds as Laurie takes you into the oldest studios and hotels, the most glamorous theaters and nightspots, and beautiful homes from Beverly Hills to Hollywood. Hear about the ghosts of mobsters, lovers and bandits. Learn about the celebrities who have seen ghosts, celebrities who have lived with ghosts and celebrities who are ghosts! These spine-tingling, true ghost stories include movie stars, love affairs, murder mysteries, rare photographs, celebrity interviews and a good dash of humor.
Sharon Tate and Paul Bern, Ozzie Nelson, Lucy, Madonna, Bela Lugosi and Hollywood & Vine, Lon Chaney and Universal Studios, Howard Hughes and the Pantages Theater, Marilyn, Monty Clift and the Roosevelt Hotel, the headless ghost of Beverly Glen, Ciro’s and the Comedy Store and more.
February 19, 2014
Ghosts of Hollywood
Haunted Hollywood has been discussed and presented on cable network, E! And various other channels such as History Channel, A&E, Entertainment Tonight, Unsolved Mysteries and other entertainment news programs. There are many websites, which gives the reader plenty of information. This book contains limited information and falls short of satisfying real ghost enthusiasts. The author could have expanded to include more haunted stories and perhaps more details. The reader could invest his/her money on something else and read from websites.
Haunted Hollywood has been discussed and presented on cable network, E! And various other channels such as History Channel, A&E, Entertainment Tonight, Unsolved Mysteries and other entertainment news programs. There are many websites, which gives the reader plenty of information. This book contains limited information and falls short of satisfying real ghost enthusiasts. The author could have expanded to include more haunted stories and perhaps more details. The reader could invest his/her money on something else and read from websites.
October 28, 2017
After all of these years, it is still the definitive collection of Hollywood ghost stories, which is why it gets five stars (although it is closer to 4.5 stars). My main issue with it has to do with the story of the headless man in the opera coat, a story that isn't as clearly defined as the others. In fact, it probably should have left out of the book. Otherwise, HOLLYWOOD HAUNTED reads stronger than its competition by a country mile.
November 13, 2018
A Good Read in Dire Need of a Proofreader
There is a lot to like about this book; solid prose, interesting -- if sometimes familiar -- tales of hauntings, research that feels more thorough than many books on this subject. But the sheer number of obvious typographical errors was an unnecessary and disappointing distraction, and I'm generally more forgiving on that score than many I know.
There is a lot to like about this book; solid prose, interesting -- if sometimes familiar -- tales of hauntings, research that feels more thorough than many books on this subject. But the sheer number of obvious typographical errors was an unnecessary and disappointing distraction, and I'm generally more forgiving on that score than many I know.
May 9, 2020
This is not a bad little book regarding haunted Hollywood history. My only complaint is that this book came out in the early 1990's so you would think the photo quality throughout the book would be much better.
May 31, 2020
Review
I really enjoyed the stories in this book. This is why I gave it 5 stars, it is the only reason! The amount of misspellings was awful. It made the book seem very unprofessional. The editor should have picked up on the errors.
I really enjoyed the stories in this book. This is why I gave it 5 stars, it is the only reason! The amount of misspellings was awful. It made the book seem very unprofessional. The editor should have picked up on the errors.
March 4, 2021
Definitely recommend reading this book for avid ghost and haunting fans. If you want to learn more about the actors from the 1930s-1950s and the haunted Hollywood history behind it, this is a book to read.
January 23, 2020
A lot of filler and little substance, along with baseless assumptions on the author's part merely serving to be spooky.
May 10, 2011
Of the books I’ve read about ghosts, this was one of the most enjoyable. Jacobson has no agenda, other than to tell a good story. She’s not trying to convert the reader to believing in ghosts. She’s not preaching theories about the afterlife. She’s just relishing tales of old Hollywood, smacking her lips over the juicy bits and shuddering happily at the shadows moving across the wall.
Ever since Jacobson saw a mysteriously convulsing curtain at Grauman’s Chinese Theater in Hollywood, she has been searching for ghosts in Los Angeles. Some of the stories she relates, like the bloody vision Sharon Tate had one night in Jean Harlow’s old house, actually gave me goosebumps, even though I insisted on reading this book in daylight on the bus. Other stories, like the stroll the ghost of Bela Lugosi is said to take down Hollywood Boulevard to the bus stop at Vine, are just charming Hollywood lore. While the book occasionally reaches back beyond the days of the film industry to the bandits and Spanish senoritas of earliest Los Angeles, the bulk of the tales involve actors, actresses, electricians, wardrobe ladies, and all the wannabes who chase their dreams west. Marilyn, Montgomery Clift, Howard Hughes and Lon Chaney are a few of the famous names drifting through these pages.
This is a beautiful put together little book, from the soft matte feel of the cover to the beautiful typeface of the text. Even the blue-gray tint to the old photos of the stars and the new photos of the haunted sites helps to create the atmosphere of this book.
This review comes from Morbid Curiosity #2.
Ever since Jacobson saw a mysteriously convulsing curtain at Grauman’s Chinese Theater in Hollywood, she has been searching for ghosts in Los Angeles. Some of the stories she relates, like the bloody vision Sharon Tate had one night in Jean Harlow’s old house, actually gave me goosebumps, even though I insisted on reading this book in daylight on the bus. Other stories, like the stroll the ghost of Bela Lugosi is said to take down Hollywood Boulevard to the bus stop at Vine, are just charming Hollywood lore. While the book occasionally reaches back beyond the days of the film industry to the bandits and Spanish senoritas of earliest Los Angeles, the bulk of the tales involve actors, actresses, electricians, wardrobe ladies, and all the wannabes who chase their dreams west. Marilyn, Montgomery Clift, Howard Hughes and Lon Chaney are a few of the famous names drifting through these pages.
This is a beautiful put together little book, from the soft matte feel of the cover to the beautiful typeface of the text. Even the blue-gray tint to the old photos of the stars and the new photos of the haunted sites helps to create the atmosphere of this book.
This review comes from Morbid Curiosity #2.
January 19, 2016
This is a 1999 book on various ghosts in Hollywood. Topics include Supernatural Super Stars, (including Ozzie Nelson); Hollywood Hot Spots (with an interesting note about Bela Lugosi); movie studios, theaters and hotels. Some of the individuals discussed include Lucille Ball, Ricky Nelson, Marilyn Monroe, Montgomery Clift and others.
There is also a section about The Comedy Club, which was one of the sections on the Unsolved Mysteries ghosts discs.
This is a fun book to read about ghosts involving people that are (or were) involved in entertainment. Nothing incredibly serious, no paranormal experiments or anything, just fun stories.
There is also a section about The Comedy Club, which was one of the sections on the Unsolved Mysteries ghosts discs.
This is a fun book to read about ghosts involving people that are (or were) involved in entertainment. Nothing incredibly serious, no paranormal experiments or anything, just fun stories.
April 28, 2015
In Jacobson’s and Wanamaker’s book, the authors take the readers on a ghostly tour of haunted Hollywood. From supernatural stars to the best Hollywood haunts, it’s an incredible journey for anyone who loves ghost stories.
September 18, 2016
Good book but short.
Very interesting book especially if you enjoy old Hollywood ghost stories. It was a little too short for the cost but still a good read.
Very interesting book especially if you enjoy old Hollywood ghost stories. It was a little too short for the cost but still a good read.
September 20, 2014
I love ghosts. I love Hollywood history. This is the a perfect combo of the two!
January 16, 2017
This would be a good place for someone to start who wanted to learn more about Hollywood history.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews