GhostWalk 20th Anniversary: Photos,
memorabilia sought for exhibit

August 15, 2014
Santa Paula News

With the 20th Anniversary of Santa Paula’s famed GhostWalk looming, Carlos Juarez is looking for good ghosts... or rather photos of actors in character that portrayed otherworldly types over the last two decades.

According to GhostWalk Producer Dee Helsel, the 20th Anniversary edition will feature favorite stories over the years starting and ending at the California Oil Museum.

The museum just happens to be where Juarez’s exhibit, sponsored by the Santa Paula Historical Society, will be featured.

Founded by Historical Society Founder/President Mary Alice Orcutt Henderson, GhostWalk - which each year benefits the Santa Paula Theater Center - is more than chilling tales... Henderson also envisioned the event as a way to highlight Santa Paula’s rich history and marvelous architecture, all interwoven into each year’s series of stories.

The stories themselves are true and/or based on real people or just legends and the imagination of the stable of GhostWalk writers.

The first GhostWalk, designed and staged by Jeff G. Rack, was held in the East Main Street area and for years has kept the show on the road by being centered at Santa Paula Airport, Faulkner Farm, Railroad Plaza area, the Oaks, and other locations.

With this year’s GhostWalk beginning and ending at the California Oil Museum it only seemed natural - or should we say supernatural? - to have a celebratory exhibit of years of things that go bump in the night.

Juarez is also compiling story outlines of past GhostWalks to go with the photos and other memorabilia. 

He is seeking all sorts of items related to past GhostWalks, including “Whatever props we can get... “

For the past several years Juarez has written stories for GhostWalk and created sets and props. He served as a GhostWalk Guide for six years, five years in technical direction working with Rack and Helsel, was the event’s technical director one year and for three years has written GhostWalk stories.

And, he added, “I have been a guest of GhostWalk tours for many, many years... “

Juarez said he especially enjoys, “Working with all the talented writers, actors and actresses, directors and all the hardworking group of volunteers and community organizations,” that donate their time each year to ensure GhostWalk success.

He said it is easy to recognize the appeal of GhostWalk: “Our guests enjoy being treated to wonderful stories in a street theater atmosphere,” tales, “Not meant to be scary or shocking, people sometimes get that when a story has a weird or wicked twist to it. 

“I’m sure, because they ask, they want to know which stories are true and which are fiction.”

Either way, added Juarez, “Guests are treated to some clever and entertaining stories during Ghostwalk in October.”

GhostWalk, as usual, will be held the last three weekends of October, October 10, 11, 12, 17, 18,19, and 24, 25 and 26.

Anyone who might have materials they could lend to the upcoming GhostWalk 20th Anniversary exhibit are asked to contact Juarez, 805-290-5525, or email k9marlo@aol.com





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