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This documentary uncovers the chilling true story of Hollywood icon Elke Sommer and her husband, Joe Hyams, as they faced one of the most compelling and bizarre paranormal hauntings you’ve likely never heard of. From mysterious sounds in the dining room to eerie apparitions, this spine-tingling case will leave you questioning the boundaries between the living and the dead.
Why has this shocking story been left out of mainstream paranormal lore? In this video, we dive deep into the forgotten details of the haunting that gripped this glamorous couple’s lives and explore their supernatural ordeal step by step. We also examine the investigations by renowned mediums, including Douglas Johnson, Baroness Lotte von Strahl, Michael Hughes, Maxine Bell, Brenda Crenshaw, and Jacqueline Eastlund and members of the ASPR (American Society for Psychical Research).
LIFE magazine photographer Allan Grant and TV and Film actor Michael J Anderson, also experienced the paranormal at the house.
If you’re a fan of haunted Hollywood, true paranormal cases, or stories that defy explanation, don’t miss this deep dive into a case that has gone unnoticed for far too long.
Additional Voice Work by
– Nathan Rouse, husband, dad, goofball, actor and podcaster, The Fear of God: https://www.thefearofgodpodcast.com/thepod
– Tracy Nicholas (https://bsky.app/profile/folkloringpodcast.bsky.social) from the Folkloring Podcast.
https://www.folkloringpodcast.com/
WANT TO READ THE ORIGINAL JOE HYMANS ARTICLES? Subscribe to the Saturday Evenign Post archive, here:
https://www.saturdayeveningpost.com/
Chapters
0:00 Introduction: The Forgotten Haunting of Elke Sommer and Joe Hyams
1:09 Incogni Ad: Protect Your Privacy
2:42 Elke Sommer and Joe Hyams: A Hollywood Love Story
5:16 The First Encounter: Edith Dahlfeld Sees a Phantom Man in Elke’s House
8:07 Elke’s Mother Spots a Ghostly Intruder and Mysterious Noises Begin
12:38 Joe Hyams Sets Up Audio Equipment to Capture Paranormal Activity
16:40 A Friend’s Night Alone: Terrifying Paranormal Experiences
18:56 Private Detective Witnesses Lights Flicker Mysteriously
21:50 Ghost Sightings: A Pool Worker and Author John Sherlock See a Phantom
26:45 Could It Be Explained? The Cumulative Paranormal Evidence Grows
30:20 Joe Considers the Paranormal and Consults Dr. Roderic Gorney
33:44 The ASPR Investigates: Paranormal Experts Join the Case
36:04 Mediums Visit Elke and Joe’s Home: Startling Revelations
42:59 The Séances Begin: A Portal to the Paranormal Opens
47:18 Baroness Lotte von Strahl’s Exorcism, Featuring Phil Everly
49:54 Joe Hyams’ Article and Michael J. Anderson Senses Evil in the House
52:00 Cynic Harry Kanter’s Poltergeist Experience at His Goodbye Ghost Party
54:37 A Final Loving Night in the Haunted House Ends in a Cliffhanger
57:19 A Medium’s Prediction Comes True: A Fire Forces a Dramatic Escape
1:07:48 Ghostly Evidence: Photographers Capture Anomalies in Fire Damage
1:11:46 Subsequent Tenants: 17 Paranormal Experiences in 20 Years
1:14:16 Elke and Joe’s Divorce and Their Scariest Paranormal Encounter
1:14:41 Conclusion: Why Isn’t This Compelling Paranormal Case Better Known?
I’m Peter Laws, an author, podcaster and now YouTube creator. I’m a columnist for the acclaimed paranormal magazine, The Fortean Times, and I’ve been an ‘expert’ on the BBC Sounds show Uncanny. I’m also the creator of the Creepy Cove Community Church Podcast and the writer of five books.
There have been four books in the Matt Hunter horror-thriller series, as well as a non-fiction book called The Frighteners (which explains and defends morbid interest). I’ve now stepped away from being a minister to focus on my creative work, which I love.
Join me as we peel back the veil of the unknown, one story at a time. If you’re ready to walk the line between fear and the unexplained, subscribe and become part of our community of the curious.
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47 Comments
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As I said a day or 2 ago, I very much enjoy your ability to build a story. (Anansi is my Spirit Critter; what can I say? Lol). If I ever chose someone–aside from myself–to tell the adventurous tales of my long-ass life, it'd be you. I've been haunted by ghosts (to be fair, there was a materialistic attachment to me by the deceased), met aliens (the gray one are all plants; think 'I am Groot'), & ESPECIALLY the demons that certain uninformed idiots would invite into their safe spaces & families. I'm one of those whose paradigm simply modifies itself to fit the "Next New Thing." I've been thinking lately about how I should record all this info; with the 4/8/24 Eclipse & the ill advised recent inoculations, folks need to know WHY the upturn in Weirdness & how to deal. My problem is simple: IDC if disbelief happens, but focused attention doesn't do someone like me any good AT ALL. But people do need to know…and it appears that it might have to be me to explain what's happening. Maybe if I employ a Ghost Writer. [Couldn't help myself there. Sorry]
I remember her talking about this back in the day on a talkshow.
I remember this when I was a kid. It was featured in a Look or Life magazine article
That was the best storytelling I have heard in a long time! It kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time!
Love your stories ❤️ ♥️ 💕 tell them brilliantly 👏
I'm an avid listener of scary stories here on YT and podcasts and I gotta say, your videos are chilling. I have genuinely gotten scared at some point while listening to them. Keep up the amazing work! You really have a gift for story telling.
i actually met this lady about a year ago at the hospital where i work, even at her age now she looked naturally beautiful. as i was walking watching the video i kept thinking “why does that name sound so familiar”
This is one of the most intriguing cases ever…I wonder if the inspecters thought it might have been Elke or her husband who started the fire. very strange and frightening story.
Yikes! Well done!
I've always heard that remodeling irritated spirits and made "hauntings" worse.
The Human Agenda: how to be at home in the universe without magic. Dr.Roderic Gorney, MD, Ph.d. It sounds interesting. Perhaps it influenced Dr. Jacob Bronowski in his The Ascent of Man. Might have been influenced by The Hero with a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell.
I loved the movie "Lisa and the Devil" (a 1974 horror film) directed by Mario Bava which starred Elke Sommer.
Not to spoil it for anyone, but for those who need to know before he gets to it during the fire story…..
The puppers escapes the fire. Good ol' Hasi <3
Your voice is so soft and relaxing.
You outdid yourself this time Peter! Fantastic story, expertly and well told! Thank you! 🧡
(2024) As of this year Elke Sommer is still alive and painting in the style of Chagall.
A living stalker is much much scarier than a ghost.
Barbara Stanwyck is supposed to haunt the film locations she worked at.
I am so glad that the ghosts never physically abused the animals.
Wow! Thank you again for this enthralling story. 🙏🏻 You're such a great story teller too. What a gift! So glad I found your channel. I'm just wondering when you said in one video, you were studying to be a minister? Does that play some part in your life these days? ❤ (Australia)
Thank you for another amazing but scary tale
I love your story telling! i dropped by because everything else is too stressful right now 🥰🥰
Those wacky crazy zany demons.
As always awesome job telling a chilling tale thank you for your hard work Peter!!
This was genuinely terrifying to listen to 😰
Fantastic as always, Mr. Laws! ♥️
This is such a fascinating account! Thanks for all your work Peter! 👻
I listen to yt whenever I’m walking my 3 dogs. Your channel is amazing & thank you for all the hard work you must do to make these.. ❤
Yikes!
This vid happened to catch my eye because I remembered Elke Somer's name from when I was quite little and there were tabloid stories about her in the rag my dad used to bring home from the supermarket when he did the shopping (which he did all his life until he was incapacitated by Parkinson's and was no longer able to) and her name caught my attention then because it was unusual. I couldn't remember if she was Swedish or what but then I saw German here and was like oh yeah. Anyway, I was curious so I watched. What I want to know is – what the HELL had happened in that dining room?? I don't get how there was like, absolutely no known history of the house. Didn't anybody, say, look into who had lived there before? Surely +something+ had to have been known about the house's history. Maybe something could still be uncovered? Rev Pete, I'm surprised you didn't look into the house's previous history, which there must still be some record of somewhere. Maybe somebody should do some digging. I would do it myself if I knew how! Well, I'm curious.
That was wonderfully researched and detailed 😁 👏👏👏👏fab, many thanks 👍🌻
I remember hearing about this as a child. I think she spoke about this on a Talk Show. I've never heard of your website. Thankyou!
Peter! You may be interested in learning about "Pickfair" Mary Pickford of the Silent Era and her Hollywood Husband made the house famous with all of their extravagant parties. Pia Zadora and her wealthy Husband purchased this much later. Pia recently in the last 10 year's or so wrote about the demolition and why. Trust me! It's a good story that you could make much better!
This was publicized a long time ago. It was in magazines. (not tabloids.)
Fantastic video!
Love your content, the longer the video the better😉
🤍👻🤍
One of the creepiest stories I've ever heard. Great attention to detail.
Very Interesting Story- Glad I watched it- I would agree this story should be more publicized!
Thank You😊
Did anyone do a Background history on the house/land?
Firstly, the couple is not a believer in Jesus. 2ndly, there are more than one evil spirits in that house. 3rdly, in order to exorcise the malicious spirits, there should be prayer & fasting by pastor & fellow christians of a church before the exorcism so that it will be more effective & sometimes the Holy Spirit will reveal how many spirits there are & not just a brief 1-time prayer by that lady. 3rdly, they provoked & also lured more spirits into the house by celebrating Halloween & watching supernatural movies! It was only by divine intervention that Elke & hubby were saved by the loud knock at their bedroom door & not by any good spirit because evil spirits are EVIL & their mission is to steal, kill & destroy because they are satan's instruments!
These occurrences are not uncommon. They are seldom, even rarely, disclosed past trusted associates.
If you claim a religion and don’t believe in wandering spirits, re-read your Book.
Hopefully, it’s the spirit of Zsa Zsa Gabor That’s haunting Alcoholic Elki after what she did to her
This story was in Readers Digest many years ago.
New subscriber. l never knew there was a 'qualification' for becoming a paranormal investigator. l certainly never took a course to achieve one. l think that you and l could agree that there is far more to this subject that can be explained by skepticism or science. Many thanks for an interesting video.
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An interesting tale well told. I'd naught heard it before and it was somewhat chilling at times as I listened to it at night before bed.