Haunted Theaters of the Carolinas by Cheralyn Lambeth

I met Cheralyn Lambeth when I attended a Ghost Huntiing Tech panel at Atomacon (in North Charleston, SC) last November and was happy to learn that she was the author of a book that had been in my Amazon wish list for a few weeks.  The book is called Haunted Theaters of the Carolinas, and since I'm a playwright/paranormal blogger who majored in theatre in college, it should come as no surprise that I enjoyed this book.  Haunted Theaters of the Carolinas was published  in 2009 and focuses on 21 theaters (16 in North Carolina and 5 in South Carolina).  The book is very informative, as Lambeth includes some history about each of the theaters, and I really liked when she talked about her own paranormal experiences at some of the theaters, such as Roanoke Island's Waterside Theatre, where she heard footsteps pass her, then saw a door open and close when there was no one there.  I enjoyed reading about all of the theaters, but especially Charleston's Dock Street Theatre since I have been there many times and Charlotte's Loonis McGlohon Theatre/Spirit Square because it is part of the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, and I saw Shatner's World and The Book of Mormon in their Belk Theater.  I have never seen a ghost at the Dock Street Theatre, but I had heard that it is haunted by a prostitute named Nettie Dickerson, who died when lightning struck the railing on the balcony she was standing on.  Though I already knew that story, I appreciated that Lambeth gave more details about Dickerson's background that what I had heard before.  I also found out that the Dock Street is said to be haunted by Junius Brutus Booth (John Wilkes Booth's father), who stayed there in 1838 when it was the Planter's Hotel.

If you're interested in books about haunted places, check out this book...and if you happen to be an actor, playwright, director, stage manager, etc. or just enjoy going to plays, I bet you'll find it really interesting. Now I know what to look out for if I see a play at any of the places discussed in the book. ; )

My rating: 8.5/10

http://cheralynlambethmedia.webs.com/

Book Review: Haunted Charleston

Haunted Charleston by Sara Pitzer contains twenty-five stories about ghosts in Charleston, South Carolina, which just so happens to be where I live.  The book is divided into six sections: Hospitality Haunts, Grave Haunts, Scary Places, Heard But Not Seen, Seen But Not Heard, Plantation Haunts, and The Gullah Legends.  The places that are talked about in the book include the Battery Carriage House Inn (which is haunted by a heartbroken college student who committed suicide and by a much more terrifying growling headless male), St. Michael's Episcopal Churchyard (haunted by Harriet Mackie, who died at age seventeen the night before her wedding), the Old City Jail (haunted by Lavinia Fisher, who is believed to be America's first female serial killer), the Joe E. Berry Residence Hall at the College of Charleston (thought to be haunted by children who died in a fire when the residence hall used to be the Charleston Orphanage), and the Dock Street Theatre (haunted by a prostitute who was struck by lightning on the balcony when the theatre was the Planters Inn).  I had heard a few of the stories in the book before, but not most of them, which was nice since I think I've read every book about Charleston ghosts in the Charleston County library system.  If you live in Charleston, this book is a must!  If you just visit here or are interested in haunted cities, you'll probably enjoy the book too. : )

My rating: 8.5/10

http://www.amazon.com/Haunted-Charleston-Scary-Sites-Encounters/dp/0762771828/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1378768803&sr=8-2&keywords=haunted+charleston

A little bit about me...

Name: Crystal Smith-Connelly
Birthday: December 31st
Birthplace: Melbourne, Florida
Current city: Charleston, SC
Pets: dog Layla, turtle Tori, hamsters Bret and Jemaine
Favorite extraterrestrial: ALF
Favorite ghost: Slimer from Ghostbusters
Favorite paranormal book: The Doomsday Conspiracy-Sidney Sheldon
Favorite paranormal movie: E.T.
Scariest paranormal movie: The first 3 Paranormal Activity movies scared the crap out of me.  I don't really get scared while I'm watching them...I don't get scared until I'm trying to go to sleep and start thinking about the movies. : )
Favorite paranormal TV show: The 4400, with The X-Files a close second

Last paranormal book I read: Witness to Roswell-Tom Carey and Don Schmitt

Last paranormal movie I watched: Dark Skies
Favorite Ghostbuster: Peter Venkman (Bill Murray)

Favorite vampire: Pam Swynford De Beaufort (Kristin Bauer van Straten), True Blood

Favorite haunted place: Dock Street Theatre, Charleston, SC

Favorite place devoted to the paranormal: The International UFO Museum and Research Center, Roswell, NM