Investigation report

On March 28, 2009 GOGPI investigated claims of paranormal activity at New Dawn Theater’s 2nd Stage Theater in Duluth, GA. Claims of activity included hearing disembodied voices, cold spots, a moving light anomaly, and shadow people.

Investigators & People present at investigation: Investigators – Ed Laughin, Mike Yow & Beth Peters – Investigator Trainee, Trisha Morris – Theater President, Sherry Ingbritsen

Weather conditions: Moon phase- 3% lit-Waxing Crescent
Geomagnetic Field- Normal-Quiet
Weather Conditions at March 28, 2009 – 8:51 EDT
8:51 24 Hour Max 24 Hour Min
Temperature 57.2° F 62.6 at 18:50 57.2 at 9:50
Dew Point 57.2° F 60.8 at 18:50 55.4 at 9:50
Relative Humidity 100% 100 at 12:50 94 at 9:50
Wind Speed 0 mph 9 at 12:50 0 at 17:52
Pressure 28.69 in 28.71 at 9:50 28.60 at 17:52
Sea Level Pressure 29.80 in 29.83 at 9:50 29.70 at 17:52
Altimeter 29.81 in 29.84 at 9:50 29.72 at 17:52
Weather conditions lt rain, fog – –
Visibility 2.00 miles 5.00 at 18:50 1.00 at 7:50
Ceiling 300 feet 900 at 17:52 200 at 7:01

Condition of Theater:

The theater was originally built for a butcher shop. Later an addition was built on and the building became a grocery store for numerous years. It was then converted into a theater for plays. The structure of the building is sound. The windows and outside doors were in good shape with very little drafts come from the outside. The wiring was in good shape as the older wiring was replaced with newer wiring. There were several electrical panels throughout the building with normal EMF readings coming from the panels.

Equipment used by Investigators:

Cameras: One Rebel digital camera and Three IR Video Cameras connected to a J2000 DVR.
EMF Meters: Cell Sensor cellular phone/EMF detection meter, Electro Sensor EMF
Meter, and K-II Meter.
Pg.1
Audio Recorders: Sony P210 digital voice recorder and an Olympus D-10 digital voice
recorder and Olympus VN-4100PC.

Thermometers: Cen-Tech mini non-contact infrared digital thermometer and an Omega
HH68K ambient thermometer.
Before we began the investigation, while Ed and Mike set up equipment – Beth, Sherry and Trisha started taking base readings and getting a feel of the theater room by room around 9:30 pm.

Base Readings:

1. 9:30 pm – First Front Lobby – average 64.4 degrees, average EMF readings 0 – 0.5
• Sensitive report – Benign feelings
2. 9:35 pm – First Entry Hall – average 64.4 degrees, EMF readings went crazy going between 1.0 – +6.0, most of the time the detector was topped out.
• Sensitive report – Benign feelings for the most part, but confused why the EMF detector was so high in readings – we thought it was because we were under the light booth.
1. 9:36 pm – Concession Area – average 68 degrees, EMF readings continued to fluctuate between +4.0 -1.0 – 1.5 – 2.5 with meter reading going higher when the detector was pointed at the floor
• Sensitive report – Benign feelings for the most part, but still confused as to why we were getting such strange readings and why they fluctuate. It was noted there was some kitchen equipment and wires in the area.
2. 9:40 pm – Concession Lobby – average 69 degrees, average EMF readings – between 0.5 – 1.0.
• Sensitive report – Benign feelings
5. 9:45 pm – Main Restroom Area – average 64.3 degrees, average EMF readings – between 1.0 – 1.5.
• Sensitive report – Benign feelings – Fuse box in boys restroom noted, and several wires, electrical boxes.
6. 9:55 pm – Large Dressing Room – average 63.degrees, average EMF readings – between 1.5 – 2.0. EMF readings higher toward the floor – Storage room in large dressing room – average 63 degrees, 1.0 EMF readings.
• Sensitive report – Benign feelings
7. 9:58 pm – Back hall behind theater and large dressing room – average 63 degrees, average EMF readings – between 0.5 – 1.0. around the corner – average 62 degrees, average EMF readings 0.5 – 1.0
• Sensitive report – Benign feelings, but it was creepy.

Pg.2

8. 10:02 pm – Small dressing room, – average 66 degrees, EMF readings fluctuate randomly between 3.0 – 2.0 – 4.0, meter reading were higher on the floor, but sometime we got a higher reading in the corners of the room.
• Sensitive report – a little bit of a weird feeling about the dressing room, but we noticed lots of wires, electrical boxes going into the dressing room, and lights around mirrors.
9. 10:04 pm – Small rest room off backstage area – average 68 degrees, average EMF readings – 0.5.
• Sensitive report – Benign feelings
10. 10:05 pm – Backstage left – average 67 degrees, average EMF readings – 0.5
• Sensitive report – Benign feelings
11. 10:07 pm – Crow’s Nest – 85 degrees, heater vent noted in ceiling. Average EMF readings – 0.5
• Sensitive report – Benign feelings
12. 10:10 pm – Open Stage Area Stage Left – average 68 degrees, average EMF readings – 0.5.
• Sensitive report – Benign feelings
13. 10:11 pm – Open Stage Area Stage Right – average 67 degrees, average EMF readings – 0.5.
• Sensitive report – Benign feelings
14. 10:12 pm – Stage Right hallway – average 66 degrees, average EMF readings – 0.25.
• Sensitive report – Benign feelings
15. 10:13 pm – Sherry’s office – average 66.8 degrees, average EMF readings – 0.5.
• Sensitive report – Benign feelings
16. 10:14 pm – Board Room – average 64 degrees, average EMF readings – 0.25.
• Sensitive report – Benign feelings
Had to go back and do base readings in these areas because we forgot them after the investigation had already started.

17. 10:43 pm – VIP Booth – average 73 degrees, No EMF readings – 0.Sensitive report – Benign feelings
18. 10:45 pm – Light/Sound Booth – average 73 degrees, No EMF readings – 0.
• Sensitive report – Benign feelings
19. 10:50 pm – going back through first entry hall – No EMF meter readings – 0.
• Sensitive report – We think it is really strange that there is no EMF readings we came back through the front hall, even under the light booth.
As a team we decided it was possible that Beth’s cell censor was battery drained after the base readings. Brand new batteries had been put in the cell censor before the base reading walk through. It was decided to change EMF detectors for the Main Investigation.
Pg.3

Main Investigation:

Approximately 10:55 pm we started the main investigation. We divided up into two teams at first –Beth and Trisha started the second walk through in the Concession area.

1. 10:55 pm – Concession Area – Average 66 degrees, with No EMF readings this
time – This was with a different EMF detector – average EMF was between 0 – .25
• Sensitive report – A little confused about the lack of EMF readings when the meter was going crazy on the first walk through.
2. 10:57 pm – Main bathroom area – Average 66 degrees, with No EMF readings this time – same detector – average EMF was between 0 – 0.25
• Sensitive report – A little confused about the lack of EMF readings when the meter was higher the first walk through.
3. 10.58 pm – First Entry Hall again (changed EMF detectors for the 3rd time) – EMF started fluctuating again between 1.5 – 0.5 – 2.5.
• Sensitive report – A little confused about the EMF readings.
4. 10:59 pm – Concession Stand – EMF fluctuated between 0 – 0.5 – 1.5.
• Sensitive report – A little confused about the EMF readings.
5. 11:00 pm – Light/Sound Booth – EMF readings between 1.5 – 2.5.
• Sensitive report – A little confused about the EMF readings.
6. 11:05 pm – Small Dressing Room – EMF readings between 2.5 – 3.0.
• Sensitive report – A little creepy in this room.
7. 11:08 pm – Large Dressing Room – EMF readings between 2.5.
8. 11:10 pm – Large Dressing Room – EMF readings 3.0 in the doorways toward the main restrooms
• Sensitive report – Had weird feelings in this area.
9. 11:12 – Main Restroom Area – VERY HIGH EMF readings with Ed’s detector 11.0 – 12.0 – detector was topping out.
• Sensitive report – starting to have very strange feelings about the EMF readings and very confused. Starting to think there may be some paranormal activity with these readings that are so different from each other.

Started another investigative walk through with EVP sessions with Beth, Sherry & Mike.

1. 11:30 pm Concession Area – average 73.9 degrees, average EMF readings – 1.5. (no activity compared to base readings)
2. 11:43 pm – Concession Lobby Area – EVP session
3. 11:53 pm – Concession Lobby Area – End EVP session
• Sensitive report – we decided to go toward the backstage area because Mike kept hearing strange noises in this direction. Beth had benign feelings.
4. 11:55 pm – Backstage Left – 73.9 degrees

Pg.4
5. 11:56 pm – Crow’s Nest – 64 degrees (much cooler this time, but no heat blowing through the heater vent either) No EMF readings – 0.
6. 12:01 am – Stage Left on stage – 57 degrees (much cooler)
7. 12:01 am – EVP session
8. 12:07 am – End EVP session
9. 12:10 am – Small dressing room – 54 degrees (much cooler)
• Sensitive report – 12:14 am – Small dressing room hallway going out, Mike saw shadow hallway doorway – Sherry bumped wall, then she heard a bump, then we all heard another bump after – EMF spiked up to 3.0 on chair in the mall dressing room – 12:18 am.
10. 12:21 am – End EVP (not sure when it started)
11. 12:25 am – Large Dressing room – 50 degrees (much cooler) – No EMF readings this time – 0.
12. 12:32 am – Main Restroom Area – No EMF readings this time – O.
• Sensitive report – Beth is getting really strange feelings about the random EMF readings. None of them are the same, and they make no sense.
13. 12:34 am – Long back hall behind the Large Dressing room and stage – 52 degrees, and No EMF readings.
14. 12:37 am – By the loading dock in the back hall behind Large Dressing Room – EMF spiked to 3.0
15. 12:39 am – Center Stage – 65.3 degrees – No EMF readings 0.
16. 12:44 am – Stage Right – Slight EMF reading, and EVP session
17. 12:50 am – End EVP session
18. 12:54 am – Lobby Hallway – 64 degrees, and No EMF readings

Started another investigative walk through with EVP sessions with Ed & Tricia.

1. 1:14 am – First Entry Hall – No EMF
2. 1:16 am – Right outside of the boardroom – camera #2 Beth & Sherry saw a possible shadow figure on monitor behind Ed and Trisha. Reviewed video footage and it appears that it was Trisha’s arm moving as she was metering the area.
3. 1:18 – 1:24 am – Concession Lobby Area – EVP session
4. 1:27 am – Main Restroom Area – average 59 degrees, EMF spike 3.0
5. 1:32 am – Large Dressing room – average 52 degrees, EMF readings 0.
6. 1:33-1:40 am – Large dressing room – EVP session
7. 1:49 am – Back hallway behind large dressing room and stage – average 60 degrees, No EMF readings – 0.
8. 1:50-1:58 am – Back hallway behind large dressing room and stage – EVP session – heard rattling sound toward back door by the vending machine.
9. 2:06 am – Corridor backstage – 0 EMF readings, EMF readings 3.0 near the water heater.
10. 2:12 am – Small dressing room – average 65 degrees, No EMF readings
11. 2:15 – 2:21 am – Small dressing room – EVP session
Pg.5
12. 2:23 am – Small dressing room – Trisha had a sudden EMF spike – 3.0
13. 2:29 am – Crow’s Nest – average 74 degrees, No EMF readings 0 – Tricia got chill bumps
14. 2:29-2:35 am – Crow’s Nest – EVP session, Trisha got head pressure, headache, felt strange

Started another investigative walk through with EVP sessions with Beth, Tricia, Sherry – then Mike and Ed met up with us after loud bangs.

1. 2:55 am – Mike tried to open men’s bathroom door in main restroom area – hard to pull open, like a suction. Approximately 10 minutes later the door was rechecked and opened with incident.
2. 2:56 am – Felt a very cold area behind the bathrooms.
3. 2:59 am – First Entry Hall – Heard sound toward dressing room
4. 3:00 am – Main Restroom Area – Heard loud noise like a door closing.
5. 3:04 am – Large dressing room door area – EMF spikes
6. 3:10 am – Heard car alarm beep twice, car was right outside front door – EMF detectors started having large spikes – topped out.
7. 3:17 am – Going back to large dressing room – still very cold and uneasy feeling
8. 3:21 am – Large dressing room – warmer in the room
9. 3:30 am – Started having EMF spikes by the main restroom area and the hall again

Ended Investigation at ………….3:54 am

Findings:

During our investigation of New Dawn Theater there were a few personal experiences such as hearing noises, which we were unable to find the causes, feeling chilled with goose bumps, seeing shadow figures, and sudden onset of sharp head pain. We cannot say that these were due to paranormal causes but we were unable to find out the causes of the personal experiences, either by normal or paranormal causes.

There were also strange EMF readings throughout the building, one time there would be high readings and the next time there would be none. We used several different EMF meters with the same results on all of them. Also this does not indicate any paranormal causes due to the age of the building and with all the wiring that was there. We did pick up on the two video cameras in the lobby
Pg.6

a fluctuation in the fluorescent ceiling lights. I recommend having the lights and wiring checked as it appeared to be caused by the electrical system more than any paranormal cause.

We were unable to substantiate the claims of activity by the numerous people who had experienced them. Although a couple investigators saw shadows in human form we were unable to pick them up on our equipment to verify what was seen. We also didn’t pick up anything on the video or still pictures taken but we did record numerous EVP’s which indicate some type of activity taking place while we were there.

With the stories from the numerous people that work at the theater and from what the investigators experienced along with the EVP’s I would have to say there is some type of activity in the theater but cannot say the place is haunted. It is hard to say a place is haunted or not with one investigation plus what findings we have do warrant a follow up investigation to see if we can find other evidence of activity.
Ed Laughlin
Ghosts of Georgia Paranormal Investigations