Nov. 8, 1999

With the Halloween observance just past, there was probably some talk around your house about ghosts and goblins and other scary things.

But did you know that about one-third of Americans really believe* in ghosts? That's what a recent Gallop Poll showed.

We recently spoke with a group of people in Utah, who not only believe in ghosts, but go looking for them!

Barbara McBeath has believed in ghosts since she was a kid. Standing inside of Ogden's Egyptian Theatre, with an infrared video camera, she calls out. She says this building has a history of unusual "activity."

Barbara McBeath/Ghost Investigator: "Yes, it has, according to the people who work here, it has an awful lot of activity."

Brendan Cook, looking through viewfinder: "Oh, there goes one. It went to the right. It was coming straight from you over to the right. In fact, I think when you moved, you scared it!" Brendan is up on the theatre stage with his camera. Brendan, Barbara, and about 100 others in northern Utah are members of a group called "The Ghost Investigators Society." They use all sorts of equipment to try to capture sounds or images of ghostly phenomena.

And, if you think there's something odd going on inside your house, they'll come and check it out!

Brendan Cook/Ghost Investigator: "We try to tell them how common this actually is... that hauntings are extremely common. And then we will do our recordings and show them the results, and say, 'Here, look! You're not crazy.'"

Odd sounds and images are nothing new to these folks. They've shot hours of video, and shot hundreds of photographs.

Barbara McBeath/Ghost Investigator: "But the most common way for them to appear on film is in the shape of the orb or the ektoplasm."

Some "orbs" were captured on video by members of the group. If you look closely you can see the faint round objects that float erratically through the air. Group members believe these "orbs" are bundles of energy of the spirits of the dead.

The group has seen them in homes, hotels, basements, stairwells, attics. At the Egyptian Theatre, something was seen, as I was walking near the stage. And, when we reviewed the videotape...

Keith McCord: "It's pretty faint though.. Yeah, there it is."

Brendan: "Yeah, I'll have to analyze it on the computer.. and see if it is something."

Looking for that "something" consumes them. The "Ghost Investigators Society" holds monthly meetings, where members show videos and photos, and talk about their latest "findings." The public is always invited.

Keith McCord: "So if someone asks, 'Do you believe in ghosts?' the answer for you is..."

Brendan: "Oh definitely.. definitely!" ThThe "Ghost Investigators Society" also has a web site, where group members display their latest photos and audio recordings.

You can find it at ghostpix.com.