The Hollywood sign is where struggling actress Millicent Lillian Peg Entwhistle chose to end her life in 1932. Photo / Getty Images
The Hollywood sign is where struggling actress Millicent Lillian Peg Entwhistle chose to end her life in 1932. Photo / Getty Images
The City of Angels is also home to ghosts and grim tales of death and murder. These 13 spooky spots are guaranteed to give you goosebumps
1. MUSEUM OF DEATH
The world's largest collection of serial killer artwork, crime scene pics and pet death taxidermy is located in the heartof Hollywood. Step through the giant skull facade to see truly macabre collections, including the guillotined severed head of serial killer Henri Landru — the Bluebeard of Paris. 6031 Hollywood Boulevard.
Henri Desire Landru, or 'Bluebeard,' murdered ten of his fiancees, all of whom mysteriously disappeared. Photo / Getty Images
Dan Aykroyd lived in this haunted house when he got the idea for the Ghostbusters movie. He was inspired by unexplainable events like jewellery moving across a dresser, a piano playing itself and lights going on and off. Aykroyd said a ghost once crawled into bed with him, which he thinks was former occupant Mama Cass Elliot. Natalie Wood, Ringo Starr and Renee Zellweger have all lived in the Hollywood estate. 7708 Woodrow Wilson Drive.
3. HOLLYWOOD FOREVER CEMETERY
One of the oldest cemeteries in LA is the permanent home of many Hollywood stars such as DeeDee Ramone, Victor Fleming and Charlie Chaplin Jr. Visitors sometimes hear sounds of a woman sobbing, which is said to be silent film actress Virginia Rappe. She died in suspicious circumstances after a legendary party at Roscoe Fatty Arbuckle's hotel suite. After three manslaughter trials Arbuckle was acquitted of killing her. 6000 Santa Monica Boulevard.
4. THE OLD ZOO, GRIFFITH PARK
When LA's second-oldest zoo closed in 1965, the cave-like enclosures were left in ruins and later turned into eerie picnic spots. Bears, lions and elephants lived there and filled the canyon with their growls and roars. The spirits of the unhappy animals can still be felt and heard.
5. HOLLYWOOD ROOSEVELT
Marilyn Monroe in 1952. Photo / Wikimedia Commons
The iconic Hotel Roosevelt neon sign sits atop one of the most haunted places in the world. Celebrities like Marilyn Monroe, Charlie Chaplin and Errol Flynn stayed at the Hollywood Roosevelt and are said to haunt it still. Monroe only lived there for two years, but her ghost still appears in a full-length mirror that was in her suite. Montgomery Clift is said to hauntroom 928, where he lived while shooting From Here to Eternity. 7000 Hollywood Boulevard.
6. AMERICAN HORROR STORY HOUSE
As American Horror Story housekeeper Moira says, the Murder House "has a personality, feelings. Mistreat it and you'll regret it". Architect Alfred Rosenheim builtthe mansion in 1902 in the prestigious Country Club Park district. It was a private residence before being turned into a Catholic Convent by the Sister of Social Service, who added a chapel. The historic landmark was used as the haunted Murder House in the first season ofthe TV series American Horror Story. 1120 Westchester Place.
7. 10050 CIELO DRIVE — THE MANSON SPOT
Charles Manson on his way to court in 1970. Photo / Getty Images
Roman Polanski and his wife Sharon Tate rented the Hollywood mansion in 1969 shortly after Tate became pregnant with their first child. It was in this house that Charles Manson and his followers brutally murdered Tate and four others in the middle of the night.
Sofia Coppola used the legendary luxury hotel as the set for her hit film Somewhere, but it has a sinister past. Modelled after a castle in France's Loire Valley, the Chateau Marmont quickly became a playground for the rich and famous including Jim Morrison and Hunter S Thompson. It is also where Blues Brothers actor-comedian John Belushi died from a drug overdose. 8221 Sunset Boulevard.
9. THE REAL BLACK DAHLIA TOUR
Elizabeth Short, a murder victim nicknamed the Black Dahlia. Photo / Getty images
The classic LA bus tour explores the areas where murder victim Elizabeth Short visited before her death in 1947. Nicknamed 'The Black Dahlia' after the film noir murder mystery The Blue Dahlia, her gruesome murder remains unsolved. You can also visit the Biltmore Hotel where Short was last seen alive and walk through Leimert Park where her mutilated body was found.
10. THE CECIL HOTEL
The creepy budget hotel has seen suicides, murders and weird disappearances. In 2013, the corpse of a 21-year-old Canadian tourist named Elisa Lam was found in a water tank on the hotel roof. Residents had been drinking the water for almost three weeks before complaining about the strange taste. Cecil was also home to The Night Stalker serial killer Richard Ramirez and Austrian serial killer Jack Unterweger called it home. 640 Main Street.
11. THE COMEDY STORE
The famous Comedy Store on the Sunset Strip, which launched the careers of many famous comedians, has a dark history. The building once housed Ciro's restaurant — a popular mobster hangout. Gangster Mickey Cohen is alleged to have interrogated his enemies in the basement. Illegal abortions for prostitutes from the brothel next-door were also said to be performed in the Ciro basement. The Comedy Store is said to be haunted by Cohen's victims who scream and moan in the basement. 8433 Sunset Boulevard.
12. THE SILENT MOVIE THEATRE
The Silent Movie Theater in Los Angeles. Photo / Getty Images
The theatre is said to be haunted by the ghosts of its first two owners. John Hampton opened the theatre in 1942, but closed it in the late 1970s when he got sick from years of inhaling toxic chemicals used in film restoration. After his death in 1990, the theatre was reopened by his friend Laurence Austin. In 1997, Austin was shot to death in the theatre lobby in a plot set up by his projectionist/lover who was set to inherit the estate. Austin is said to haunt the lobby while Hampton haunts the upstairs lounge. 611 N Fairfax Avenue.
13. THE HOLLYWOOD SIGN
Built in 1923, the 14m high Hollywood sign looms over the city and is one of the most famous signs in the world. Unfortunately the sign is also where struggling actress Millicent Lillian Peg Entwhistle chose to end her life in 1932. After difficulty breaking into the acting industry, the 24-year-old jumped off the sign's letter H. Her ghost still haunts the site. Mount Lee.
CHECKLIST
Getting there:American Airlines flies daily from Auckland to Los Angeles, with Economy Class return tickets on sale for $1110 until November 3 (for travel on selected dates).
