Is there really such a
thing as paranormal experts in this haunted
world?
Story
by Mark Goldberg, Art by Ricardo Pustanio
POSTED:
Thursday April 26, 2007
Paranormal Experts:
The Real Ghost Hunters
When all else fails they say call in
the experts. If your haunting has gone
all out of control or you need some serious
validation to the strange supernatural
or paranormal occurrences that are happening
to you then seeking expert help is your
only solution. Published authors, lecturers,
radio and television hosts, and more are
all considered part of the ever growing
field of research. Some do not claim to
be experts in the paranormal, as no experts
really exist when it comes to the supernatural,
It's all just gathering information and
experience things on a first hand basis.
Many believe their personal quest is
to just seek out, allegedly haunted locations,
authenticate evidence of ghosts, research
ghost stories, sightings and conduct investigations
into paranormal activity. Much of this
is self proof.
Ghostbusters is a 1984 sci-fi comedy
film about three eccentric New York City
parapsychologists. After they are fired
from a university, they start their own
business investigating and capturing ghosts.
The concept was inspired by Aykroyd's
own fascination with the paranormal, and
it was conceived by Aykroyd as a vehicle
for himself and friend and fellow Saturday
Night Live alum John Belushi.
Ghostbusters was released in the United
States on June 8, 1984, starring Bill
Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, Rick
Moranis, Sigourney Weaver, Annie Potts
and Ernie Hudson. The film grossed approximately
USD$240 million in the U.S. and over $50
million abroad during its theatrical run,
more than the second "Indiana Jones"
installment, making it easily the most
successful film of that year, and the
most successful comedy of the 1980s.
The first film sparked the catchphrases
"Who you gonna call? Ghostbusters!"
and "I ain't 'fraid of no ghost(s)."
Both came from the hit theme song written
and performed by Ray Parker, Jr. The song
was a huge hit, staying #1 for three weeks
on Billboard's Hot 100 chart and #1 for
two weeks on the Black Singles chart.
The song earned Parker an Academy Awards
nomination for "Best Song,"
losing to Stevie Wonder's "I Just
Called to Say I Love You" for the
film The Woman In Red.
In 2000, readers of Total Film magazine
voted Ghostbusters the 44th greatest comedy
film of all time. Many believe this was
the start to all the paranormal wonderment
that television and the world knows today
as professional ghost hunting.
BUT WHAT ABOUT THE REAL
GHOSTBUSTERS IN THIS WORLD, WHO ARE THEY?
"The God Father of the Paranormal"
is Professor Hans Holzer, Ph.D., Writer
of 138 books on the supernatural and occult
for the popular market as well as several
plays, musicals, films, and documentaries
and has hosted a television show. His
extensive involvement in researching the
supernatural has included investigating
The Amityville Horror and some of the
most prominent haunted locations around
the world. He has also worked with well-known
trance mediums such as Ethel Johnson-Meyers,
Sybil Leek, Trixie Allingham. Holzer,
is a leading authority in the field of
the paranormal. He has earned his Ph.D.
from the London College of Applied Science.
He was a writer/producer and on camera
personality on the popular NBC series
"In Search Of..." as well as
several other documentaries on the paranormal.
HANS HOLZER
Holzer a professional spiritual intuitive,
writer and teacher; who lives in New York
City. She comes from a long lineage of
practicing Celtic psychics and healers.
Her web site is a regularly updated resource
of Holistic information concerning the
development of the intuitive faculties.
Merryn is also the editor and publisher
of online Merlian News Magazine. America's
leading full-time Parapsychologist.
According to the Parapsychological Association,
parapsychology is the scientific study
of certain types of paranormal phenomena,
or of phenomena which appear to be paranormal.
The term is based on the Greek para (beside/beyond),
psyche (soul/mind), and logos (account/explanation)
and was coined by psychologist Max Dessoir
in or before 1889. Its first appearance
was in an article by Dessoir in the June
1889 issue of the German publication Sphinx.
J. B. Rhine later popularized "parapsychology"
as a replacement for the earlier term
"psychical research", during
a shift in methodologies which brought
experimental methods to the study of psychic
phenomena. In contemporary research, the
term 'parapsychology' refers to the study
of psi, a general blanket term used by
academic parapsychologists to denote anomalous
processes or outcomes
The scientific reality of parapsychological
phenomena and the validity of scientific
parapsychological research is a matter
of frequent dispute and criticism. The
field is regarded by critics as a pseudoscience.
Parapsychologists, in turn, say that parapsychological
research is scientifically rigorous. Despite
criticisms, a number of academic institutions
now conduct research on the topic, employing
laboratory methodologies and statistical
techniques, such as meta-analysis.[citation
needed] The Parapsychological Association
is the leading association for parapsychologists
and has been a member of the American
Association for the Advancement of Science
since 1969.
The Parapsychological Association was
formed in 1957 as a professional society
for parapsychologists following an initiative
by J.B. Rhine. Its purpose has been "to
advance parapsychology as a science, to
disseminate knowledge of the field, and
to integrate the findings with those of
other branches of science." It holds
annual conventions, which is reported
in its Proceedings, and the proceedings
of which are published annually as Research
in Parapsychology.
In 1969 the Association took a giant
step in advancing the field by affiliating
with the American Association for the
Advancement of Science. The work of the
association is a reported in the Journal
of Parapsychology and the Journal of the
American Society for Psychical Research.
Its first president was R. A. McConnell,
then of the Biophysics Department, University
of Pittsburgh, and the first vice-president
was Gertrude R. Schmeidler of the Department
of Psychology, City College of New York.
Rhea White was named Secretary Treasurer.
Four others were elected to the Council,
bringing the total to seven: Margaret
Anderson, Remi Cadoret, Karlis Osis, and
W. G. Roll.
Some ghost hunters call themselves professionals,
some experts and still others the ever
learning students in this very haunted
world. Here is a list of the very best
in the world. Click on the one you wish
to contact and go directly to their official
or personal web site to contact them directly.
Before there was SciFi reality-TV series,
Ghost Hunters, the “real”
paranormal/parapsychological investigators,
Hans HolzerThe Warrens,Christopher Chacon,
Loyd Auerbach, John Zaffis Jr. and William
Roll were each, independently, conducting
their own extraordinary research into
all things considered paranormal such
as ghosts and poltergeistsm possession
and the otherworlds.
As a result of television shows about
the “paranormal”, many new
self-proclaimed paranormal investigators
and research groups have sprouted up all
over the world. But make no mistake, today’s
so-called paranormal researchers still
cannot hold a candle to to the select
few other world-renowned veteran paranormal
experts that have been conducting field
and laboratory investigations long before
reality TV cast a spotlight into the otherside.
William Roll was born July 3, 1926 in
Bremen, Germany, where his father was
American Vice-Consul. His mother was Danish
and Roll attended Holte Gymnasium in Denmark.
He enrolled at the University of California,
Berkeley in 1947, and received the BA
in 1949, majoring in philosophy and psychology.
After a year of graduate work in sociology,
Roll went to Oxford University, to do
research in parapsychology under Professor
H.H. rice until 1957. He received the
M. Litt. degree for a thesis entitled
"Theory and Experiment in Psychical
Research," and was president of the
Oxford University Society for Psychical
Research. In 1957, Roll joined the staff
of the Parapsychology Laboratory, Duke
University, working under Dr. J.B. Rhine
until 1964. During this period he made
his first RSPK and haunt investigations,
was appointed project director of the
Psychical Research Foundation (PRF), and
elected president of the Parapsychological
Association.
WILLIAM ROLL
After Rhine's retirement from Duke in
1964, the PRF became a sponsored program
at the Department of Electrical Engineering.
In 1986, Roll was appointed Professor
of Psychical Research and Psychology at
West Georgia College (now the State University
of West Georgia) with funding from the
PRF. In 1989, he received the Ph.D. from
Lund University, Sweden, for a thesis
entitled "This World or That: An
Examination of Parapsychological Findings
Suggestive of the Survival of Human Personality
After Death." Since 1990, Roll has
been teaching parapsychology at the University
as an adjunct professor.
Roll has written more than 100 scientific
papers, several articles for anthologies,
edited 11 volumes of Research in Parapsychology,
and written four books, The Poltergeist
(1972), Theory and Experiment in Psychical
Research (1975, his M.Litt. thesis), Psychic
Connections (1995, with Lois Duncan),
and Unleashed (2004, with Valerie Storey).
In 1996 he received the Parapsychological
Association's award for a Distinguished
Career in Parapsychology. In 2002 he was
awarded the Dinsdale Memorial Award by
the Society for Scientific Investigation
for his RSPK studies.
Selected Publications
Roll, W. G. (1968). Some physical and
psychological aspects of a series of poltergeist
phenomena. Journal of the American Society
for Psychical Research, 62, 263-308.
Roll, W.G. (1969). The Newark disturbances.
Journal of the American Society for Psychical
Research, 63, 123-174.
Roll, W.G. (1970). Poltergeist phenomena
and interpersonal relations. Journal of
the American Society for Psychical Research,
64, 66-99.
Roll, W.G. (2003). Poltergeists, electromagnetism
and consciousness. Journal of Scientific
Exploration, 17, 75-86.
Roll, W.G. (2004). The Poltergeist. New
York: Paraview (reprint of 1979 edition).
Roll, W.G. (1993). The question of RSPK
vs. fraud in the case of Tina Resch. Proceedings
of Presented Papers: The Parapsychological
Association 36th Annual Convention, 456-482.
Roll, W.G. (2000). Poltergeist and space-time:
A contemplation on Hans Bender's Ideas
About RSPK. The Parapsychological Association,
43rd Annual Convention, Proceedings of
Presented Papers, August 17-20, 316-332.
Roll, W.G., Burdick, D., & Joines,
W.T. (1973). Radial and tangential forces
in the Miami poltergeist. Journal of the
American Society for Psychical Research,
67, 267-281.
Roll, W.G., Burdick, D., & Joines,
W.T. (1974). The rotating beam theory
and the Olive Hill poltergeist. In W.G.
Roll, RL. Morris & J. Morris (Eds.),
Research in Parapsychology, 1973, (pp.
64-67). Metuchen, N.J.: Scarecrow.
Roll, W.G., & Gearhart, L. (1974).
Geomagnetic perturbations and RSPK. In
W.G. Roll, RL. Morris & J. Morris
(Eds.), Research in Parapsychology, 1973,
(pp. 44-46). Metuchen, N.J: Scarecrow.
Roll, W.G., Maher, M., & Brown, B.
(1992). An investigation of reported haunting
occurrences in a Japanese restaurant in
Georgia. The Parapsychological Association
35th Annual Convention, Proceedings of
Presented Papers, August 9-13, 151-168.
Roll, W.G., Moody, R, & Radin, D.
(1996). Reports of hauntings at Dragsholm
Castle, Denmark, and Engso Castle, Sweden.
The Parapsychological Association, 39th
Annual Convention, Proceedings of Presented
Papers, August 17-19, 253-270.
Roll, W.G. & Nichols, A. (1999).
A haunting at an Army post. The Parapsychological
Association 42nd Annual Convention, Proceedings
of Presented Papers, August 4-8, 253-270.
Roll, W.G. & Nichols, A. (2000).
Psychological and electromagnetic aspects
of haunts. The Parapsychological Association
43rd Annual Convention, Proceedings of
Presented Papers, August 17-20, 364-378.
Roll, W.G. & Persinger, M.A. (1998).
Poltergeist and nonlocality: Energetic
aspects of RSPK. Proceedings of Presented
Papers: The Parapsychological Association
41st Annual Convention, August 6-9, 1998,
184-198.
Roll, W.G., & Pratt, J.G. (1971).
The Miami disturbances. Journal of the
American Society for Psychical Research,
65, 409-454.
Roll, W.G., Sheehan, L.C., Persinger,
M.A., & Glass, A.Y. (1996). The haunting
of White Ranch. The Parapsychological
Association Annual Convention, Proceedings
of Presented Papers, August, 17-20, 279-294.
Roll, W.G., & Stump, J. (1969). The
Olive Hill poltergeist. Proceedings of
the Parapsychological Association 6, 57-58.
Stewart, J.L., Roll, W.G., & Baumann,
S. (1987). Hypnotic suggestion and RSPK.
In D.H. Weiner & RD. Nelson (Eds.),
Research in Parapsychology, 1986, (pp.
30-35). Metuchen, N.J.: Scarecrow.
Christopher Chacon is considered a prominent
authority on paranormal and supernatural
phenomena, anomalies, metaphysics and
the occult. In addition, he is a writer,
director and executive producer for television,
film, theatre and live-event attractions,
as well as an author and performance artist,
having begun his career in entertainment
as a master illusionist/magician.
A former field operative of The Office
of Scientific Investigation and Research
(O.S.I.R.), Chacon has traveled the world,
investigating and researching thousands
of cases of every type of paranormal phenomena,
including haunts and poltergeists, UFO
close encounters, possessions/ exorcisms,
miracles and divine intervention, all
types of psychic/parapsychological phenomena,
encounters with strange creatures and
unexplainable anomalous phenomena.
In entertainment, Chacon’s most
notable creation is the dramatic-adventure
TV series, "PSI Factor: Chronicles
of the Paranormal", starring Dan
Aykroyd, Michael Moriarity and Matt Frewer.
As writer, creator/executive producer
and director of this TV series, Chacon
produced 88 episodes that are currently
seen in over 30 countriesIn the early
1980’s, Chacon teamed up with Parapsychologist
Loyd Auerbach and together formed a research
team to investigate parapsychological
and psychic phenomena.
Christopher Chacon
In 1989, Chacon was recruited by The
Office of Scientific Investigation and
Research (O.S.I.R.), a well-funded private
scientific organization with the sole
purpose of assessing parapsychological
and paranormal phenomena worldwide. It
was O.S.I.R.’s advanced scientific
training that additionally equipped Chacon
with the skills to explore the vast amount
of psychic and parapsychological phenomena
he would encounter.
Chacon travelled the world investigating
and researching thousands of cases dealing
with altered-states of consciousness and
parapsychological and psychic phenomena,
including; clairvoyance, psychokinesis,
near death experiences, reincarnation,
precognition, psychometry, remote-viewing,
bi-location, channelling, mediumship and
astral projection. He has also investigated
thousands of cases of supernatural phenomena,
including; possessions and exorcisms,
haunts and poltergeists, miracles and
manifestations of divine intervention.
Additionally, Chacon has ventured on many
expeditions, archaeological explorations
and field research in various parts of
the world involving ancient mysticism,
metaphysical archaeological finds and
obscure supernatural/occult practices.
Because of Chacon’s experience
in confidentially investigating and researching
psychic phenomena, he continues to be
inundated with requests for help and assistance
from private individuals of all walks
of life, celebrities, dignitaries, government
agencies, corporations and high-ranking
officials from all religions.
Recognized as an authority, Chacon has
been featured on countless TV and radio
shows, including, "Unsolved Mysteries",
"Sightings", "Dateline",
"National Geographic Explorer",
"The Other Side", "Eye
to Eye with Connie Chung", "Discovery
Channel", "The Tom Snyder Show",
"20/20", "NBC, FOX, ABC,
BBC and Japan’s Nippon Network News".
Chacon was additionally a member of The
American Society of Psychical Research,
The American Association for the Advancement
of Science, The Society for Scientific
Exploration, Federation of American Scientists,
The New York Academy of Sciences and The
Center for Science Education.
Besides his work in parapsychology and
psychic research, Chacon makes his living
as a Creator/Writer, Director, Executive
Producer and Performer for television,
motion pictures and live-stage theatrical
productions. When not working in entertainment
or parapsychology, Chacon is involved
with several humanitarian and environmental
causes. He currently resides along California’s
central coast.
In research for his books, Mark Nesbitt
collected hundreds of these tales of the
unexplainable sightings, entity activity
or those strange echoes from a time long
gone that can mean only one thing: Gettysburg
may very well be, acre for acre, the most
haunted place in America.
