Becky Ray is a writer, researcher, and guide for American Hauntings. By day she works as a librarian, and by night she has been actively investigating the unknown for over 35 years. She earned her BA in speech/theater with a minor in journalism from Southwestern Oklahoma State University. After college, she lived in California for several years before relocating to the Kansas City area in 1997.
Kansas City Hauntings: History and Mysteries of the Paris of the Plains is her first book. https://www.ghostsagogo.com/book KANSAS CITY HAUNTINGSHISTORY AND MYSTERY OF THE PARIS OF THE PLAINS BY BECKY RAY
Founded on the confluence of two rivers, Kansas City is a place of history, mystery,legend, and lore. The city helped settle the West as the gateway to the Oregon and Santa Fe Trails, and when the railroads arrived, it was considered the Crossroads of the Country. During the Civil War, the Missouri-Kansas border became the first battlefield in the bloody conflict. The Kansas City Stockyards put the city on the national map, as did the horrific massacre at Union Station, Kansas City jazz, and the crime and corruption of the Pendergast era and the years of Prohibition. With all that history, is it any wonder that Kansas City is one of the most haunted cities in America? Take a trip back in time to the early days of the city and discover how the events of the past created the hauntings that still linger in Kansas City today. Go behind the scenes of the most spirited places in the region with author Becky Ray as she reveals a colorful collection of favorite haunts, stories you’ve never heard before, and takes you behind locked doors for the true stories behind some of your favorite local haunts! You’ll be shocked and terrified by historical tales of crime and murder with lurid stories of gangsters, killers, thieves, and cold-blooded murderers that haunt the stories of the Bobby Greenlease Kidnapping, the Union Station Massacre, Kansas City Strangler, the Bridge Murder Case, the Prospect Corridor Killer, and more! Then search for the phantoms of the Savoy Hotel, the Muehlebach, Hotel President, the Folly Theater, Power and Light Building, Epperson House, Sauer Castle, and even journey out beyond the city borders to the Belvoir Winery and Inn, Vaile Mansion, Elms Hotel and Spa, Glore Psychiatric Museum, and much more! Part history book, part true crime thriller, and part ghost book, this volume is sure to have you looking over your shoulder as you turn the pages at night!
The video recording will go on our YouTube channel and our website shortly after the ‘Live’ broadcast.. Links for listening and/or watching the recording: https://www.youtube.com/c/MysticMoonCafe
So, for our Mystic Moon Cafe show Wednesday, October 28th at 7:00PM PST, we are going to have a SCAAAAARY Story night. IS there anyone that would like to tell a creepy story on our show. It can be one that you read to us, it can be a true story – or a complete work of fiction – that made your blood run cold or gave you severe goosebumps! You can write it out and have one of us read it on the video!
Tune in on Wednesday, October 28th at 9 PM Central/7 PM Pacific on Facebook Live!
Please PM Mystic Moon Cafe, June, Jake, or Wendy, and we will send you the link and instructions so you can jump on and creep us all out. You can also send an email to: mysticmooncafe@gmail.com
Mystic Moon Café hosts bring a variety of guests to talk about paranormal phenomenon, cryptozoology, ghost hunting, favorite authors on many topics – fiction, conspiracy theory, and fact, featured music artists, and more!
In this exciting new episode, we will be speaking with Jennifer Page, witchy woman and divination practitioner! She may be persuaded to do a few readings for willing participants too!
The video recording will go on our YouTube channel and the audio recording will go on our Spreaker channel and here on our website shortly after the ‘Live’ broadcast..
Recorded Video on YouTube:
The Podcast on Spreaker:
Jennifer Page
About Jennifer Page: Jennifer grew up with fairies dancing in her head and the notion that subtle magic is all around us. Everything is alive, growing, and connected. She loves celebrating what it means to be a part of this world and sharing the connections we all have together. She is co-creator and co-host of the paranormal podcast Odd Tonic as well as owner of The Forest Parlour: which offers divination readings and nature energy healing work. Jennifer is a master level Reiki healer and green witch. She lives in the woods of the Pacific Northwest with her spooky partner Maxwell and their black cat Amulet.
Join Mystic Moon Cafe as we host the Lovely Ladies of Morbidity, Kim Douthit and Gabi Fiore, to discuss their very spooky podcast, Ghoulish Tendencies.
Get the scoop on the Amityville House, the LaLaurie Mansion, Cecil Hotel, Jersey Devil, Myrtles Plantation and more!
Tune in on Wednesday, June 17th at 10 PM ET, 9 PM CT, 7 PM PT!
We’re two spooky ghouls, united in the PNW with a mutual love for all things ghostly, haunted, unexplained, and murderous.
Meet Gabi
Gabi Fiore, the Mulder to Kim’s Scully
A Seattle transplant from Los Angeles, who has always fancied all things spooky, bizarre, and unexplained. Makeup artist and brand executive by day, podcaster and ghost hunter by night.
She also has an English degree in creative writing, enjoys dogs, baking, and the X-Files.
Meet Kim
Kim Douthit, the Scully to Gabi’s Mulder
An original Seattlelite and self-confessed theatre nerd with degrees in theater and Shakespeare.
She is a teacher and director for children’s theater by day, and a tour guide at Spooked in Seattle by night, specializing in ghost and true crime tours. She is a human encyclopedia of the Horror film genre and enjoys talking all things ominous.
Tonight, Wendy and June talk creepy, scary, spooky stories … all while debuting YouTube Live during the radio broadcast. Now, you you SEE your hosts get creeped out while telling horrifying tales about ghosts and monsters?!
Tune in on Wednesday, May 27th at 10 PM ET/7 PM PT for the haunted hijinks!
This Wednesday, Feb. 26th, join us as we talk to the dynamic Jennifer Page and Maxwell Holechek of the highly popular and wildly entertaining podcast ‘Odd Tonic’…
Jennifer Page: A talented traditional and digital artist, Jennifer is perhaps better known as an actress in an extremely popular film series in the tabletop gaming world. This led to her becoming the official video spokesperson for several companies, including Microsoft Casual Games, and for many successful Kickstarter campaigns. She co-hosted the 2014 ENnie Awards and has been a VIP Guest at several game conventions. Off camera, Jennifer is a Social Media Manager and Visual Designer.
Maxwell Holechek: With a background in film production and theater, Maxwell utilized both during his 25 year tech industry tenure – most notably as Creative Director of the award-winning Nancy Drew adventure games. He has since returned to his roots, contracting and consulting as a writer, producer, director, and talent/spokesperson for podcasts and other emerging media.
About the Podcast: Retreat to the Gothic parlour with Maxwell and Jennifer! There, be enthralled by spooky and fantastic tales of weird history, strange science, and the paranormal. Drawn from their curated collection and choice listener submissions, your Ambassadors of Odd craft an enchanting and smartly polished, weekly podcast with high production value and low chit-chat. Each episode delights the mind and stirs the senses. They’ve been expecting you. Have a seat by the fire. Welcome to Odd Tonic….
Odd Tonic is a weekly paranormal podcast with a variety of topics discussed per episode. Examples of past topics include: Sleep paralysis, the science of ESP, timeslips, spirit possession, and obviously cursed objects.
Season One launched in March of 2019 and each episode is between 35 and 55 minutes in length. Odd Tonic is currently free to listen to and is mainly supported through listeners via Patreon, as well as Maxwell andJennifer’s personal funds. A merchandise line is on the way.
Also in development are plans for additional Odd Tonic episodes for premium subscribers and a richly developed online destination to support the podcast’s creative social community. Odd Tonic takes its subject matter and storytelling seriously, but in a warm, inviting, and playful tone. Maxwell and Jennifer’s obvious passion for and delight of their topics is contagious. Themes include the startling aspects of the Unknown and Unexplainable, but focusing on the story’s human aspect. After all, these events were experienced by someone. If you are a fan of Lore, Castle Rock, or Ripley’s Believe It or Not! and enjoy the company of two funny, smitten hosts whose macabre romance is a bit reminiscent of The Addams Family, you may enjoy Odd Tonic.
As the name suggests, it’s pretty much ‘open mic night’ on Mystic Moon Cafe! Get ahold of us if you want to participate! Paranormal Investigations, Spooky Stories, Whatever!
Mystic Moon Cafe Radio hosts bring a variety of guests to talk about paranormal phenomenon, cryptozoology, ghost hunting, favorite authors on many topics – fiction, conspiracy theory, and fact, featured music artists, and more!
This year, we decided that we would invite you all to help us resurrect an old, forgotten Christmas tradition of telling Christmas/Holiday ghost stories.
You can tell them live, pre-record if you won’t have time to share on Christmas Day, get a written copy for one of our hosts to read, or just listen…maybe join in the chat..
If we don’t get the chance between now and then, Merry Christmas to you all!
Join us on December 18th as we speak with Jefferson Davis – No, not THAT Jefferson Davis… This one is an author, historian, paranormal investigator, world traveler, and more!
Tune in at 7:00 pm Pacific, 9:00 pm Central, 10:00 pm Eastern!
Jeff Davis has lived in the Peculiar World for most of his life. As a boy, he decided to become an archaeologist and investigate the odd and unusual after watching the original Mummy movie with Boris Karloff.
For many years, Jeff worked in the woods of Pacific Northwest’s Cascade Mountains, the home of Bigfoot. Jeff has encountered many peculiar things while traveling around the world, visiting England, Italy, Bosnia, South Korea, Japan, and Southwest Asia.
Jeff has written, edited, or contributed to over a dozen books, including military history and the paranormal. Some of his books include Weird Washington and Weird Oregon. He has been a guest on Coast to Coast AM, Haunted History, Ghost Adventures, and The Dead Files.
Jeff Davis was born in Vancouver, Washington and grew up in the Army, so to speak. Jeff’s father was stationed at the Vancouver Barracks and Jeff grew up playing in and around the barracks. This led to his interest in a military career. This competed with his other interests, ghosts, mythology, and archaeology, which began when he spent many evenings watching old horror movies, such as the original Mummy with Boris Karloff.
Ghosts and Critters Career
Jeff was interested in the paranormal since childhood, but because of job and military commitments, was limited to short investigations and research projects. However, in the late 1990s, during a lull in work and military assignments, Jeff published his first book, Ghosts and Strange Critters of the Pacific Northwest. He wrote this book, and his later manuscripts with a focus on the historical context of hauntings, the who, what, where, and WHY a location might be haunted. Because of his anthropology background, and a natural suspicion of the government, Jeff was also interested in mysteries and conspiracy theories, strange animals, and forgotten facts. He included those in his books as well.
Jeff has written, edited, or contributed to over a dozen books on military history, and the paranormal. Some of these books include, Weird Washington, Weird Oregon, A Haunted Tour Guide to the Pacific Northwest, Ghosts, Critters and Sacred Place of Washington and Oregon, Volumes I – III, and many others. He has been a guest on Coast to Coast AM; and, the History Channel series, Haunted History. Jeff has also been a four-time guest expert on the Travel Channel show, The Dead Files, and two-time guest on Ghost Adventures.
Television Show Appearances
Haunted History was a UFA/Cafe Productions series exploring the supernatural. The American version of the show also debuted in 1998 (as a special) with the same premise of exploring the world to investigate the “haunted history” of reportedly haunted locations. Jeff was the historical consultant and witness for the episode, Northwest.
Haunted History: [Pacific] Northwest, Season 2, Episode 3, air date 2 March 2001.
Locations visited:
White Eagle Saloon (Tavern), Albina, Portland, Oregon
Manresa Castle Hotel, Port Townsend, Washington
The Underground, Seattle, Washington
Vancouver Barracks, Vancouver, Washington
Heceta Head Lighthouse, Heceta House Bed & Breakfast, Yachats, Oregon
The Dead Files is an American paranormal television series that premiered on September 23, 2011 on Travel Channel. The program features psychic medium, Amy Allan, and former NYPD homicide detective, Steve DiSchiavi, as they investigate locations that are reported to be haunted.
The Dead Files Episodes
Final Curtain Call: Season 2, Episode 5, air date 18 May 2012. Amy and Steve travel to Vancouver, Washington to investigate reports of frightening paranormal activity at the historic Victorian-era Slocum House Theater, which was the oldest community theater in the area. Amy discovers secrets hiding in the dark corners that include the spirits of children and the ghost of Laura Slocum inhabits the theater, especially when children visitors are present. Jeff was a historic witness/consultant for this episode.
House of Mirrors: Season 6, Episode 3, air date 9 May 2015. Amy and Steve head to Oregon when a man calls desperate for help due to bizarre activity in his home, his partner and son are also victims of the more malevolent activity that occurs in the home. Steve’s research details the past events that had occurred on the land where the property currently sits and Amy’s walk involves sinister entities referred to as “Tricksters” whom seem to have a diabolical purpose for the residents. Jeff was a historic expert for this episode.
The Whispering: Season 7, Episode 12, air date 18 June 2016. Steve and Amy investigate a woman’s claims that the activity in her Concrete, WA, home will kill her. Steve unearths the genocide of a local Indian tribe, while Amy encounters a powerful energy barrier constructed by the dead. Jeff was a historic expert for this episode.
While the Children Sleep: Season 8, Episode 7, air date 5 August 2017. A mother claims malicious paranormal activity is directed at her children and elderly mother. Steve learns of a deadly explosion that killed nearly a dozen people, and Amy encounters a vengeful murder victim. Jeff was a historic expert for this episode.
Ghost Adventures is an American television series about the paranormal that premiered on October 17, 2008, on Travel Channel. Produced by MY-Tupelo Entertainment, the program follows ghost hunters (Zak Bagans, Nick Groff (until season 10), and Aaron Goodwin) as they investigate locations that are reported to be haunted. The show is introduced and narrated by Zak Bagans.
Ghost Adventures Episodes
During Season 16, on all four Saturdays of October, 2018, the Ghost Adventures show aired a four-part mini series filmed in and around Astoria, Oregon. Behind the scenes, Jeff helped located venues and witnesses for each episode. He appeared in two of the episodes as a historic consultant.
Graveyard of the Pacific: Commander’s House: Located in Warrenton, Oregon, aired 20 October 2018. Zak and the crew continue their investigation of the Graveyard of the Pacific at a former military installation near Astoria, Oregon, that’s haunted by a tragic past and home to an aggressive entity.
Graveyard of the Pacific: Cape Disappointment: Located in Ilwaco, Washington, aired 27 October 2018. Zak and the crew conclude their investigation of the Graveyard of the Pacific with a visit to Washington State, where they explore a lighthouse that bore witness to some of the most tragic shipwrecks on the Pacific Coast.
Military Career
While still in high school, Jeff joined the US Army Reserves and spent 32 years in the US Army and Army Reserves. He started off as a private in the infantry and went on to serve three years on active duty. He spent 18 months in Italy, where he helped guard nuclear weapons and the other 18 months at Ft. Lewis, WA, where he served with the 9th Infantry Division. While there, his less pleasant job was as the gunner of a 90mm recoilless rifle. After his three-year hitch, Jeff went to college, went through ROTC, and received a commission along with his Bachelor’s degree.
Jeff ‘branched’ military intelligence and served with several units in the National Guard and Army Reserves. He went on overseas training missions to Japan and Korea, and eventually was mobilized and sent to Bosnia. In Bosnia, he served as a Civil Affairs officer. His most worthwhile duty was organizing a troop of soldiers who volunteered to put on puppet shows for Bosnian orphans in their off-duty hours.
After Bosnia, Jeff received assignments as a military historian. After September 11th, he was mobilized twice as a military historian. He spent most of this time in Southwest Asia and Florida. His duties included conducting interviews with Special Operations forces and writing reports on their actions. After his mobilizations, Jeff became historian for the 104th Division, of the Army Reserves, and unofficial army historian for the Vancouver Barracks. He eventually retired with the rank of Major after 32 years of military service.
Archaeology and Historic Preservation Career
Jeff received a BS in Anthropology from Portland State University, in Portland, Oregon. Between Army and Army Reserve work, Jeff worked for several years as an archaeologist. He worked at the Mt. St. Helen’s National Volcanic Monument, the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, Mt. Hood National Forest, Umatilla National Forest, and Boise National Forest.
In the 1990s, Jeff lived in England for nearly a year while he studied archaeology at the University of Sheffield. He eventually received a MA in Archaeology and Prehistory, after completing his thesis on the Vikings in Greenland.
Following his several mobilizations during the global war on terrorism, Jeff did not return to archaeology as a full-time job. Instead, he concentrated on the military history and heritage of the Vancouver Barracks and the Pacific Northwest. He and others formed the Vancouver Barracks Military Association (VBMA). Jeff combines his love of military history, the Vancouver Barracks, and the paranormal by giving regular Spirit Tours of the Vancouver Barracks.
Books on the Paranormal
Ghosts and Strange Critters of Washington and Oregon, Norseman Ventures Publishing
Vancouver USA Ghosts, Volume I Norseman Ventures Publishing
Weird England, Sterling Publishing. Jeff contributed two stories to this book.
Weird Hauntings, I contributed three stories to this book.
Weird Oregon, Sterling Publishing. Jeff co-authored this book, which mixes the unique history of Oregon State with its oddities, and significant people places and things.
Weird Washington, Sterling Publishing. Jeff wrote nine (9) of the 12 chapters in this book, of true stories of the odd, unusual, and unique heritage of Washington State. I focused on many places with archaeological and historic appeal. The Washington State Librarian recommended it for educators teaching introductory classes in Washington State History.
Archaeology and History Books
1995, A Macrobotanical Analysis of the Remains from the Middens of the Norse Greenland Farm Complex of Sandnes (v51) Unpublished master’s thesis, submitted to the University of Sheffield, UK. This document was a mix of historic research using translated documents, archaeological reports, as well as laboratory analysis to try to find what happened to the Norse settlers who disappeared from Greenland in the Middle Ages
1995, Nothing in Hell…The Story of the 104th Division Timberwolves in World War II. Unpublished manuscript, submitted to the Commander, 104th Division, Vancouver Barracks, WA, January 1996.
2011, History of the 75th Division 1943 – 2012 (Revised). Jeff was the principal author of several chapters detailing the history of this US Army unit, and edited chapters from the previous edition.
2014, Custer’s Other Brother-in-Law, the Fred Calhoun Log Book. (Editor) This is a copy of a 19th century book kept by Lieutenant Frederick Calhoun. He was stationed at the Vancouver Barracks for several years. It includes a bio of Calhoun, and overview of his life and times.
(In progress)- Custer’s Niece, the Household Account Book of Emma Reed Calhoun. This book is an annotated copy 19th century account book kept by Mrs. Frederick Calhoun. She was G. A. Custer’s niece, and married Calhoun after the Battle of Little Bighorn. She and her husband were stationed at the Vancouver Barracks for several years. It includes an overview of her life and in what was the western frontier.
This Thanksgiving Eve, we thought we’d keep it light, fun and simple as so many will be gearing up for a delightful, or not, family and/or friends celebration, with the following day being a maelstrom of frantic shoppers looking for ‘the deal of the century’.
Horror maven Kim Douthit has agreed to join in the shenanigans and talk about some of her favorite holiday horror movies and chime in on our hosts’ lists as well..
So please join us in either of the chat areas and possibly engage in a game of ‘stump the horror experts’ too. It promises to be a ghastly good time!
A few of the movies that will probably be talked about:
A young boy named Pietari (Onni Tommila) and his friend Juuso (Ilmari Järvenpää) think a secret mountain drilling project near their home in northern Finland has uncovered the tomb of Santa Claus. However, this a monstrous, evil Santa, much unlike the cheery St. Nick of legend.
As winter break begins, a group of sorority sisters, including Jess (Olivia Hussey) and the often inebriated Barb (Margot Kidder), begin to receive anonymous, lascivious phone calls. Initially, Barb eggs the caller on, but stops when he responds threateningly. Soon, Barb’s friend Claire (Lynne Griffin) goes missing from the sorority house, and a local adolescent girl is murdered, leading the girls to suspect a serial killer is on the loose. But no one realizes just how near the culprit is.
Note: The film has a 2006 remake and a re-imagining for 2019.
Not even Santa Claus is safe from the evil that descends on Bailey Downs, a small town that is suddenly plagued with malevolent spirits, zombie elves and Krampus — the anti-Santa Claus.
These are just a few that will be covered. Join us for a more complete guide!