Prominent American Ghosts

by Susy Smith

"The author has traveled from Maine to California, from a burlesque theater in Los Angeles to a novelties warehouse in Miami Beach to collect these fascinating accounts of strange visitations that have been experienced by thousands of Americans. Summing up the results of her research Miss Smith says, 'Whatever they are — ghosts are real.'"

— excerpt from description on book jacket

Genres: Nonfiction

180 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1967

Reviews

[Edwina Book Anaconda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Why do I like this type of book ?
Am I obsessed with things that go bump-in-the-night ?
Nah ...
What fascinates me is the History behind the folklore.
For instance, the charming old house in Kinderhook, N.Y. named Lindenwald, where Washington Irving visited often, (and based his character, Ichabod Crane on the local schoolmaster), was also the home of Martin Van Buren who bought the house when he retired from the Presidency.
In due course, John Van Buren inherited the house from his father and then quickly lost it, and his Mistress, one night while playing cards.
The lucky winner was Leonard Jerome who moved in with his wife, and teenaged daughter, Jennie.
Jennie had a successful season in London, married a nobleman and gave birth to a healthy baby boy.
Did she call him Winnie or Win or some other pet name ? I don't know.
I call him Sir Winston Churchill.
You can take a virtual tour of Lindenwald here: http://www.nps.gov/features/mava/feat01/

[Leah]

While I was familiar with several ghosts included: Bell Witch, The Whaley House, Winchester House, I was pleasantly surprised by the number of haunts I hadn't heard of, at least don't remember hearing before now. Though, I was not surprised by the problematic bits - it was written in 1967 after all, but one always hopes...

The longest entries are "The Bell Witch" and "Miami's Pertinacious Poltergeist."

[Cullan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book, filled with long-forgotten but nonetheless classic American ghost tales. Her firsthand examination of the Tropicana Arts Poltergeist alone is worth tracking down a copy of this book.

[Adam · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'd say at least half the stories are pretty interesting. I actually like the historical and logical info the author adds, but a few of the stories only consist of that. I picked this up because one chapter is about the Bell Witch, and it was easily the best chapter.

[Shanelle Holt · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't really like it only because I thought it was going to be about famous or infamous ghosts..Some stories were good but others were not and went on to long...Plus I am curious to know if the "hauntings" are still going on today rather than when the book was written in the 1960's...

[Jorge · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tepid and tedious. The only part that kind of scared me was when I was reading a chapter on poltergeists and I heard (what I hope was just) a raccoon collecting fallen acorns from our porch roof.

[Diane Dunham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kept me reading. Still not sure if I believe in ghosts. But there must be something out there with all the happenings going on.