Bang, Bang. On the Door, Baby!

I'm a costume designer and I have been designing costumes for more years than I care to admit. And, I love it! Most of the time.

I have worked for many of the local theaters, schools, universities, and churches, but one theater stands out-- a theater downtown. (The theater season starts in the early fall and so do the “ghost” tours around Charleston. You can be a part of “ghost” tours other times of the year, but the fall lends itself to the tours.)

There are so many “ghost” tours in the Charleston area because Charleston has ghosts... ghosts... and more ghosts!  Ghosts in our old churches; ghosts in the old theaters downtown; in our hotels, our parks, and especially our cemeteries! Ghosts everywhere around the city-- pirate ghosts at White Point Gardens where they were hanged; criminal ghosts in the old jail where they were held until they were hanged. We even have ghosts and the outlying areas – the Summerville light! These stories send chills up and down my spine!

We all love a good ghost story once in a while and we always wonder—is it true?

Do you remember when we were kids at a party we would sit in a circle, holding hands and telling spooky stories until we would all get a good scare, scream, and fall over laughing!!  I sure do! So much fun!!

But—back to the “ghost” tour story.

One of those tours passed by the rear of the theater where I worked about once an hour—most of them at night. Right down the alley outside the loading doors. And, since I worked almost every night during the “season,” I got used to the stories being told till the hair would stand up on the back of my neck. Night after night; detail after detail.

I would listen through the doors that lead out into the alley, until one night I thought... “Hey, why don't I help this ghost story along?” There were chains hanging on the sliding doors so they could be secured until someone needed to load supplies into the theater.

What an opportunity!

So, with the support of my “most able-bodied assistant,” as the tour headed down the alley, we jumped at the chance to rattle the chains, moan and then scream. Everyone in the alley immediately became quiet as a “ghost” as they listened to our sound effects. Night after night the tour groups came through and they almost always stopped close by our doors waiting to hear any ghostly activity there was to be heard.

On this one particular night, we were busy with our costumes when another tour group came by. Ah-ha!!!

The perfect time to strike!

So, with my “assistant” by my side, we turned out all the lights and waited for the group to assemble outside the door.

And, strike, we did! As soon as the story reached its climax we struck!!!

Chains rattling, groaning and moaning, and when the moment was right, screaming at the top of my lungs. But this time it wasn't laughter that we heard in response. WE were shocked to hear screaming right back at us. We didn´t realize someone had a small child with them!!

Oh, my goodness, had we made a mistake!!!

We had scared this child until they were sobbing uncontrollably. The “ghost” sounds and the chilling ghost stories were more than they could handle. The parents tried to console the child but to no avail. Still screaming, the parents grabbed the child up and proceeded to head off to finish the tour.

Well, that little episode cured me... No more scaring little children! I felt terrible but you have to admit... It was fun!

~ Jeannie Joyner