February 6, 2009
GHI: Cultural Center
The "Second-Halfer" in this week's Ghost Hunters International episode was the Cultural Center in Brazil's Rio De Janeiro. Primarily, I wan to emphasize how very cool the staircase in the lobby is. It's sort of like an enormous (much wider than usual) spiral staircase except, rather than spiral it seemed to twist in an almost random way. Very cool, much cooler than the investigation we're about to discuss.
GHI's host told the team that the primary historic reason folks believe the place is haunted is it's reportedly built atop a graveyard where they buried all the slaves that didn't survive the ship voyage from Africa. To be sure, there were many stories of paranormal experiences from staff and visitors, but this historical note about the graveyard seemed central in the minds of those interviewed so I was surprised we didn't see Dustin off at the local library or interviewing a historian to find out if it really was built on an old graveyard or not. C'est la vie.
Right away the team started with the debunks — when walking up the staircase, it sounds as if someone is walking up at the top of the staircase but it's really just the way the acoustics work; cats and other wildlife making weird noises outside; Dustin even heard (and so did we, on the recording) chains rattling in the attic — can you get more cliche than that? Is that you, Jacob Marley? It turns out, as we hear a truck passing by right afterwards, it was probably just another sound coming from outside the building through an open vent in the attic.
Mind you, none of these things are consistent with the reports of the people who have had experiences at this location. These people reported seeing apparitions and hearing someone call their names. The latter is a somewhat common phenomena that can often be attributed to a quirk of how the mind works — which is basically what Robb told their host, who didn't seem too-too disappointed to hear GHI was labeling his building as virtually ghost-free.
…and that was that, really. Not much more to it.
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Comments on GHI: Cultural Center »
Nosfer @ 8:18 pm
The names being heard…I was expecting an encore of Robb's explanation that he gave at Real Felipe(?) about the ghosts who mimic. I was pleased to see that he didn't venture down that path again.
blinddog50 @ 8:36 pm
AHHH, A another quick trip from Europe to South America.
Damn, Their flyer miles must be piling up.
About the myth of the building is build on the graveyard of slaves that did not survive passage to the New World.
I have a problem accepting the fact that a soft hearted slave trader(s) would keep a dead body on board for the length of said passage.
More likely they were given the ol' heave ho and rapidly became fish food.
The client seemed a little PO'ed that they didn't find the spookies that he claimed that was there.
Watching GHI & GH has become like driving down the highway.
There's an accident ahead.
You know it's in poor taste to look, but every Wed. night at 9:00 we slow down to take a peek.
Wes @ 10:47 pm
Good point about the slave burial ground, Blinddog.
Generally speaking, slave ships would dump bodies of the dead to lighten the load and prevent spread of disease. It would seem that since the legend of the slave burial ground was so central to the reports of hauntings, a little investigation would have been in order — but, to give GHI the benefit of the doubt, maybe they didn't think they needed to address that since they really didn't find anything.
Nosfer @ 11:05 am
Wes, they probably _should_ have addressed it…but BEFORE they "supposedly flew back down to Brazil just for this investigation"
Would have saved themselves a bunch of time and maybe they could have spent that time at a more promising spot.
I love their methods:
"Well, we've finished the investigation, now let's send Dustin out and see if there is any validity to any of these scene-setting stories"
"There's not, aww crap, I guess we COULD have slept in this morning"
Hal @ 11:21 am
Me thinks personally the host misexplained the history of the graveyard. It would make more sense if that ground was where they buried slaves who died at the hands of their taskmasters, or from illness, rather than arriving in port as stiffs already! By the way, Rob & Company, when back in Brazil . . . SPEAK PORTUGUESE!!
The Doctor @ 1:46 pm
A somewhat strange episode but the staircases make it worth watching.
Have they given up thermal sweeps ?
No attempt to duplicate the window shadows ?
Interesting that the announcer at the start says " Then GHI returns to Rio …"
I don't recall they were ever IN Rio.
You have to give GHI a little credit though, it dosen't seem like they are filming blatently false footage after Pilgrim decides what episodes to use where as GH seems to do regularly
lar @ 8:51 am
Just a thought. Why is it with affordable camcorders or security cameras, do NONE of these locations have ANY video evidence of anything. If I operated the facility & if guests/employees claimed for example room 218 were haunted, I would have a camera in there 24/7.I would occupy the room myself or ask someone I know to do the same. There isn't video because nothing is there.
If hangers were flying off your coat rack would you call TAPS or video tape it. It's obvious you'd set up a camera, or two.
You cannot have as many claims of the paranormal but only have your greatest evidence be distorted audio which you allege as someone saying, "Bury this show along with the rest of the false paranormal claims."
Nosfer @ 9:48 am
Robb: So Brandy, tells us what we have to look forward to here.
Brandy: They've reported shadows, full body apparitions, smells, being pushed down stairs
[After 10 hours of Investigation]
Barry: I think ve've got something hieer. (presses PLAY)
Recorder: SCHSHHSHSHSHSHSJGJAHSH burp ASDAGAHGA thunk
Next investigation
Robb: So Brandy, tells us what we have to look forward to here.
Brandy: There have been reports for centuries of shadows, full body apparitions, people being tripped, and a mist that refers to itself as something about "Christmas Past"
[After 10 hours of Investigation]
Barry: Ooooo, taik a looook at this, we mai have something. (releases PAUSE button)
Angela: Is that your thumb?
Barry: Yesss, but see how different it appears in Full Spectrum
Next Investigation
Robb: So Brandy, tells us what we have to look forward to here.
Brandy: I don't know, Jason called and told me to stop doing upfront research.
Barry: (excited) Take a loook at dis!
Robb: Calm down Barry, we haven't even set up yet.
Wes @ 11:17 am
Nosfer,
Now that's funny. I don't have to watch the rest of the season now.
PatAttack @ 12:47 pm
I have to agree with everyone as to why they do not speak in Native Tongue when visiting a FOREIGN location. It is absolutely mind-numbing. As we all know, they are not the brightest bulbs in the socket but don't you think they could bring a translator along to deal with this. I'm sure Sci-Fi has deep enough pockets for this. I do have one question. Did the tour guide from Dragsholm Castle remind anyone of the guy from The Stanley Hotel? The way they told the stories of hauntings were exactly the same. Truly sensationalized.
Shhh. Did you hear that? Hell no we did'nt and neither did you.
connecting dots @ 1:02 am
GH can be entertaining, but GHI has to have the socially most awkward bunch of people in one place on TV. Rob is a complete zero with all the personality of a used tissue, and Dustin and Brandy have the worst nasal voices and both should go see a doctor to get their sinuses looked at, don't get me started on the backwards and upside down visor; it's all just too painful.
The fact that this gormless bunch of haddocks manages to put together any kind of show speaks volumes for the talent of the editing and post production staff; as on their own these people couldn't find the haystack let alone the needle.
One other thing, the girl that wears too much makeup is cross eyed in every night vision shot, it's quite strange.
The show needs to develop some style and discipline, but that would involve it being a totally different show, with completely different people
Cassy Morava @ 8:30 pm
What is the actual name of the Culture Center? I was trying to find a website so I could get a pic of the staircase. I work in the construction industry and thought that the stair was FASCINATING! Thanks for any info you can pass along.
Cassy
Revenant @ 3:40 am
Cassy,
The Jose Bonifacio Cultural Center. I thought the staircase was fascinating as well. Unforunately, I couldn't find their actual website (if they even have one). In fact, I couldn't find any pictures of the Center except for a couple of shots from the outside. You may be stuck watching that episode again just to see the staircase. Almost worth it…almost…