THE UPSTAIRS LOUNGE

By Alyne A. Pustanio  

PART THREE: THE REVEAL

THE RESTLESS DEAD ARE STILL UPSTAIRS

Fire Escape - Iberville Street Side

VISIT HERE FOR LARGE SCREEN VIDEO ~ HALLWAY ORBS

Sunday, June 27^th 2010, 5:45 a.m.

 

Photographer Harriet Cross and I emerge onto Iberville Street from the stairwell of the Upstairs Lounge to a sight less familiar to both of us these days – the first hint of sunrise over the French Quarter.

 

Standing at the curb, two beauties from the next-door “Dixie Divas” lounge are waiting for a cab to take them home after a long night of entertaining bar clientele.

 

“Oh, that place IS haunted!” says the dark-haired girl, after chatting with Harriet for a moment.  “And they come over to our side all the time!”

 

“We’re always having problems,” her blonde companion chimes, in, “they come in the bathroom when we’re trying to get ready, they stand by the bed – I mean, you can just feel them.  I haven’t seen anything,” she added.

 

“I have,” said her friend, “I saw a man come out the wall, honey!  I mean, out the wall, you hear?  I was putting on makeup and could see the bedroom and he just came from that side,” here she pointed toward the Upstairs lounge, “through the wall and walked across the room, and disappeared.”

 

After a long night’s watch in the empty upper stories of the old Upstairs Lounge, Harriet and I agreed the girls were probably telling the truth.

 

Evidence Review

 

Almost thirty cumulative hours of video, digital recordings, and photographs were collected during the Upstairs Lounge investigation.  All of this material was subjected to several weeks of review by multiple investigators and what is presented here is simply the best of the best; there is a tremendous amount of additional “positive” findings that has been omitted for the sake of space.

 

After being personally present in the old Upstairs Lounge and weeks spent reviewing the evidence, the LSPR Society team and I can state unequivocally that we believe the building to be one of the most haunted locations we have ever experienced.

 

What follows is the evidence.  You be the judge.

VISIT HER FOR VIDEO MULTIPLE HALWAY ORBS

The third floor is a particular hot bed of activity.  It is surmised that the spirits of the victims being consumed in the fire of the second floor escaped to the “etheric safety” of the third floor – and remain there today.

 

The most haunted locations on the third floor are a small room off the main hallway numbered with a “2” and the area around the old, unused elevator shaft and workings.

The environment of the third floor has barely changed since the time of the fire and although the area is dusty and not the best suited for obtaining perfect “orb” images, there were some manifestations that could not be explained away as dust or light refractions.  The example below, where a kind of ectoplasm manifests above the head of one investigator, is one of these manifestations.

VISIT HERE FOR VIDEO CASPER AMOMALY

The restless spirits of the old Upstairs Lounge weren’t shy in appearing for our cameras, nor were they reticent about responding to our questions.  The following Class A EVPs were obtained in direct response to questions or conversation prompted by investigators.

 

SOUND BITE “MALE.SENTENCE”

 

“BUD”:  EVP captured in second floor, former bar area.  The spirit of George “Bud” Matyi identifies himself immediately, followed by an indecipherable comment from another spirit.

 

SOUND BITE “ALL.THE.SMOKE”

 

 

“SMOKE” / “ALL THE SMOKE”:  In this EVP the spirits respond to questions about the fire and how victims might have died.

 

SOUND BITE “DUDES” HERE

 

“DUDES”:  Investigators hear the spirits saying “Dudes,” followed quickly by an indecipherable polyglot that may be several spirits speaking at once.

 

Finally, an important part of my attempt to communicate with the spirits of the Upstairs Lounge was especially to contact the spirit of pianist Bud Matyi, whose presence there was indicated by to me by interview with two psychics prior to the investigation.  I also hoped to communicate with Rev. William Larsen of the Metropolitan Community Church, who was the unfortunate soul caught in the window and burned alive before helpless onlookers.  I had spoken out loud to both Bud and Rev. Larsen throughout my EVP sessions and had made it clear to them that my efforts in particular were aimed at achieving recognition for the dead of the Upstairs Lounge by the LGBT community of New Orleans, no matter how long it might take.

 

Listening to the following EVP, I realize that not only did the spirits hear me, but they fully expect me to keep my promise; this article is only the first part of that.

 

SOUND BITE “PROMISE.ME”

 

 

 

FINAL THOUGHTS

 

Over the past several weeks I have made many attempts to reach out to the local gay community asking them to help me in my effort to bring the Upstairs dead the recognition and thanks they so rightly deserve for the sacrifice they made.  Thus far, all my attempts have been unsuccessful, but this hasn’t daunted me in any way, although oddly enough the “theme song” of this year’s New Orleans Decadence Festival is entitled “You Promised Me” ... 

 

With the Day of the Dead fast approaching, a time when the hearts of New Orleanians turn to memories of their beloved dead, perhaps the time will soon come for the restless spirits of the old Upstairs Lounge to move on to a more peaceful place.  This is a promise I intend to keep.

 

Many thanks go out to Bernadine LeBlanc, Cheryl Cheramie, and all the members of the Louisiana State Paranormal Research Society who braved the stifling heat and other challenges to accomplish this investigation.  Thanks also to Mr. Jimmy Massaci, Jr., for allowing us unhindered access to his property, and to the indomitable Mr. Eugene who stuck out and “really enjoyed” his first paranormal investigation; and also to the spirits of the old Upstairs Lounge who chose to make their presence known and spend time with us.  Many blessings upon them.

 

 

Videos, photographs, and electronic media are the sole property of the Louisiana State Paranormal Society and are used with their permission. Article in its entirety Copyright © 2010 by Alyne A. Pustanio. No portion of this article, nor any material contained therein, may be reproduced without the expressed written consent of the author, owners, and copyright holders. Unauthorized use of any material contained herein, or on this website, it a violation of all applicable U.S. and international copyright laws.