Now - we know that a lot of you are ultimately divided on the proclivity of the legendary
paranormal investigative duo, Ed and Lorraine Warren - the husband and wife pair that have
cemented themselves as the modern image of ghost hunting and paranormal investigation
across the Western world.
So much so, that they’ve spawned an entire franchise of horror films and literature based
upon their alleged ghostly experience - and whether you believe them or not is a different
story, because there’s one thing that’s undeniable - it’s interesting.
An idea that sparks across our collective consciousness - that perhaps, beyond this
life - lies something more.
Well - fortunately for us, they’re not the only ones throughout history who have made
it their life's work to chase ghosts and ghouls through the thicket.
So let’s take a look, shall we?
Hello horror fans - and welcome back to the scariest channel on YouTube - Top 5 Scary
Videos.
As always, I’ll be your horror host Jack Finch - as we curiously take a look at the
Top 5 Most Famous Ghost Hunters In Paranormal History.
Roll the clip.
For those of you that don’t know - that clip was, of course - from the 1973 horror
masterpiece, The Exorcist.
I thought the mood was rather fitting.
Kicking off at Number 5 - William Seabrook
Born William Buehler Seabrook on February 22 1884 - in Westminster, Maryland - this
guy led a pretty interesting life, to say the least.
Occultist, explorer, world traveller - and even cannibal, William Seabrook cemented himself
as a renowned figure of paranormal intrigue - claiming that his thirst for the supernatural
was inspired by his grandmother, Piny - an opium addict, child of nature - and a witch.
Seabrook established himself as a renegade journalist, travelling the globe and experiencing
the spiritual cultures of far flung worlds.
It was in Haiti though, that Seabrook gained such recognition in the world of the occult
and pursuit of the paranormal.
While researching his book The Magic Island - which is also largely responsible for introducing
the word zombie into the English lexicon - Seabrook developed a fascination with Haitian voodoo
and communing with spirits - which would later become his life’s work.
Also, The Magic Island directly inspired the 1932 film White Zombie by Victor Halperin
- which is widely considered to be the first ever zombie movie, and the birth of the zombie
genre.
Cheers buddy.
Coming in at Number 4 - Karlis Osis
Which is a great name, right?
Rolls straight off the tongue.
Born on the 26th December 1917 in Riga, Latvia - Karlis Osis is perhaps one of the most notable
psychologists to dive deep into the rabbit hole of ESP research - or extrasensory perception.
Second sight, visions, precognition - communing with the dead.
Whatever you want to call it, Karlis Osis laid the foundation of what was then known
as deathbed visions - first studied by British physicist and founder of the Society for Psychical
Research - William Fletcher Barrett.
Laid out in his book, At The Hour Of Death - Karlis Osis spent his life examining life-after-death
scenarios, alongside the possibility of using this study to communicate with the dead.
Alongside his fellow parapsychologist Erlendur Haraldsson, Osis conducted his most important
researched between 1959 and 1973 - when his research paper was finally published by the
American Society for Psychical Research - in which the pair claimed that deathbed visions
occurred in over 50 percent of the studied population.
Karlis Osis lived to the ripe age of 80, and up until 1997 he was the President of the
Parapsychological Association, investigating numerous claims of ghost and poltergeist activity
across the United States.
Next up at Number 3 - Frederick Bligh Bond
Born on the 30th June 1864 in Marlborough, Wiltshire - Frederick Bligh was actually a
renowned architect, illustrator and archaeologist before he was a psychic researcher.
Throughout his career as an architect - no one was really aware that Bligh was deeply
invested into the world of spiritualism and the investigation of the paranormal that was
emerging throughout the early 1900’s - and would regularly attend seances and visit mediums
- in an effort to communicate with ghosts.
It was until 1907 when he was hired to manage excavations in and around Glastonbury Abbey
that his true motivations began to manifest.
Unknown to his employers, Frederick Bligh was convinced that Glastonbury Abbey, an Anglo-Saxon
Benedictine monastery from the seventh century, had been built according to the specifications
of sacred geometry - and therefore, provided a leyline for communication with the dead.
Well, his employers didn’t like that thought - and he lost his job - but Frederick Bligh
Bond spent the rest of his life dedicated to paranormal research, becoming a member
of the American Society for Psychical Research and exploring the realm of psychic archaeology.
Swinging in at Number 2 - Montague Summers
And a man who led a very, very intriguing life to say the least.
Born on the 10th April 1880 in Clifton, Bristol - Augustus Montague Summers was essentially
a self-styled medieval witch hunter and vampirologist - dedicated to chronicling the dark forces
and supernatural occurences of the Western world.
Oh, and also - he was a Priest.
Let’s not beat around the bush, old Montague Summers was a pretty eccentric dude - and
he was criticised and mocked by many of his contemporaries for his proficiency to dress
in a black cassock and cloak, buckled shoes and shovel hat - parading himself around 1920s
England clutching tomes on Vampirism.
However - the reason that he makes this list, is for his decision to translate the 15th-century
witch hunters manual, Malleus Maleficarum, also known as The Hammer of Witches - into
English in 1928.
He spent the entirety of his life producing works of literature, such as Witchcraft and
Black Magic, The Werewolf in Lore and Legend and The Vampire: His Kith and Kin - which
greatly helped to lend credence to the idea that folk legends, paranormal investigation
and the practice of the supernatural were worthy of academic study.
And finally - at our Number 1 spot - Harry Price
A guy that was just as likely to punch a ghost in the face as he would a fraudulent spiritual
medium.
Harry Price was the living equivalent of Harry Dresden - without the magic.
Born in London in 1881 - he was a ghost hunter extraordinaire, making a career out of exposing
fake psychics and spiritualist mediums that were sweeping across the Western world at
the time - yet his all consuming passion and life work was the investigation of paranormal
phenomena - and he approached it with great capability, while debunking the fraudulent
around him
His first major case came in 1922 - when he exposed the spirit photographer William Hope
as a fraud, and later, would expose the likes of Eileen J. Garrett, Frederick Munnings,
Frank Decker and Rudi Schneider - all of which proved to add credence and credibility to
his own paranormal investigations.
The most famous being his publicized investigation of the Borley Rectory in Essex - which at
the time, was considered the most haunted building in England.
Still to this day, Harry Price is considered one of the most valuable and genuine researchers
of paranormal occurrences throughout the modern age.
Well - there we have it horror fans, our Top 5 Most Famous Ghost Hunters In Paranormal
History- let us know your thoughts in the comment box down below.
Before we depart though, let’s take a look at some of your more creative comments from
over the past few days.
Akash Goodoree says -- What did you lot think about Hereditary?
I truly enjoyed it, it levels like the exorcist for originality IMO great film. -- and I’ve
got to 100% agree, Akash.
Hereditary had that sense that not every horror movie manages to capture.
It’s like that old adage - you’ve either got it, or you don’t - and Hereditary had
it.
That same sick feeling you get in the bottom of your gut when watching really, really good
horror cinema.
Yeah, Hereditary was great.
Star Gazer says - Love your videos!
I just subbed not long ago and I’ve been binging your vids ever since.
Also, I love to write, and I’ve been thinking about putting together a horror short … any
topic recommendations anyone?
-- Well Star Gazer, we’re glad to have you on board - and I’m glad to hear that you’ve
got a passion for horror fiction.
Here’s one - why don’t you do a horror short on a YouTube host, that every time their
videos are uploaded, it actually uploads a clone … that slowly realises that they’re
trapped in their own video - and cursed for eternity to try and get out.
Wait a minute … how long have I been here?
Well, unfortunately folks, that’s all we’ve got time for in today’s video - cheers for
sticking around all the way till the end.
If you were a fan of this video, make sure to hit that thumbs up button - as well as
that subscribe bell, and we’ll be seeing you in the next one.
As always, I’ve been your horror host Jack Finch - you’ve been watching Top 5 Scary
Videos - and until next time, you take it easy.