‘Ghostbuster’ to Tell Secrets of the Hunt

By day, Richard Senate is site manager for the Albinger Archeological Museum in Ventura, where he has been known to protect the grounds from such intrusions as the making of a rock video. But Senate also moonlights as an investigator who looks into reports of psychic phenomenon, and tonight he will give his annual presentation on ghost hunting from 7 to 10 at Pierce College.

Once a skeptic himself, the 40-year-old Senate said he understands the doubters among his audience. “I didn’t believe in such things myself before seeing one in 1978 during an archeological dig at San Antonio Mission” near King City, Calif., he said.

A former junior high school social studies teacher with a bachelor’s degree in history from Cal State Long Beach, Senate will discuss sites throughout the West and California that are said to be haunted, from the desolate prison on Alcatraz Island to tract houses and movie stars’ mansions. He will also explain methods that ghost hunters use to identify apparitions and other paranormal activities.

Senate begins his 3-hour presentation with a lecture on the nature and study of ghosts and haunted houses. He notes that Mark Twain was the first spokesman for the American Society for Psychical Research, a group formed by American scientists in 1884 to study paranormal activities.

During the second hour, Senate presents theories on what ghosts might or might not be. He focuses on several cases, including his investigations of psychic phenomena on the luxury liner Queen Mary and the home of Rudolph Valentino. The third hour includes a slide show on sites such as bridges, houses and roadways that are allegedly haunted, and explanations of how to approach ghost hunting.

For reservations and information, contact the community services office at Pierce College, 6201 Winnetka Ave., Woodland Hills, or call (818) 719-6425. Registration fee is $10 for adults; $5 for children under 16 and Pierce College students.