New Orleans Ghosts, Voodoo, and Vampires: Journey into Darkness

by Kalila Smith

Long regarded by many as America's most haunted city, New Orleans, Louisiana possesses an uncanny amount of ghost tales.
However, more than just "tales," this city of mystery has spawned numerous paranormal investigations and drawn countless ghost hunters to its ancient streets. Additionally, New Orleans also has the reputation of being the most vampirically active city in the country.
In 1994, native New Orleanian Sidney Smith created HAUNTED HISTORY TOURS, a company dedicated to studying and touring properties alleged to be haunted. The results of many years of research have led to the creation of this body of work. First printed in 1997, the book is the most definitive to date on hauntings and vampire activity in New Orleans.
Kalila Smith is the author and principal researcher of the material within these pages and is the founder of the New Orleans Paranormal and Occult Research Society. Kalila has been interviewed many times by the History Channel, Travel Channel, Discovery, Fox News, Sci Fi, MTV, CNN and more. Additionally, Haunted History Tours has been recommended by the Travel Channel as "The #1 Tour in New Orleans!" In addition, MTV called the tour... "a must do...an event not to miss!"

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Paranormal, Vampires, Occult, Supernatural

167 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

Kalila was born and raised in New Orleans. She personally researched and wrote the material featured on Haunted History Tours of New Orleans' Ghost, Vampire and Spellbound tours. She is the author of New Orleans Ghosts, Voodoo, & Vampires, and Tales From The French Quarter, and Miami's Dark Tales. Her newest book is Afterlife Mysteries Revealed.



She has been featured on and worked behind the scenes on television productions including Travel Daily, Places of Mystery, Secret New Orleans, Unsolved Mysteries, FEAR!, MTV's On The Road, Blind Date, Hidden New Orleans, Urban Legends, America's Most Haunted Places, In Search of..., and Supernatural Destinations. She appeared in the motion picture, "The St. Francisville Experience." She wrote and directed "Journey Into Darkness... The Trilogy", a video documentary, featured in segment in television broadcast in the US & UK. And worked on and appeared in the documentary for Sony's Playstation II game, Ghosthunter. She conducted all of the paranormal investigations for the local television show, "Haunted New Orleans." She was a producer in the PBS documentary "Southern Haunts" New Orleans episode produced by Sky Dive Films.



Several of her true crime stories were featured in articles in Examiner.com and the National Crime and Punishment Museum Blog page.



Check out her short story "The Bequest" in Southern Haunts; Spirits That Walk Among Us. Another short story, "The Devil's Doorway" will be featured in the second Southern Haunts Anthology, and "Bayou Loup," a werewolf story featured in "Luna's Children," a werewolf anthology.

Reviews

[Maki ⌒☆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

That's about what I expected from a ghost tour companion book.

There are so many typos - misspelled words, spacing errors, missing punctuation. Naturally, it's all because of the ghosts. They're the ones to blame.

During the last few weeks of writing, when I was working as long as twenty hours a day, I began to notice that everything that could possibly go wrong did. We would spend hours editing and correcting errors in the manuscript, only to print the finished work without any of those corrections being saved. Yes, when one is working twenty hours a day it is conceivable mistakes will be made and errors overlooked, but we re-edited and corrected the same things over and over. Additionally, the first 2,500 copies that were printed contained errors that did not appear in the original manuscript.

The first section of the book covers New Orleans ghost stories. Most of that section are stories that were collected before, in Ghost Stories of Old New Orleans by Jean deLavigne. There are a few newer additions sprinkled throughout that section, but not many.

The section on haunted hotels was the longest. It seems like pretty much every hotel down here has some sort of ghost story attached to it. I had fun reading about the Ashley House, at least - a friend of mine works at the hotel that owns the House, and used to have to give tours. She told me that she refused to give any more tours there after a special Halloween tour, where they brought in a ghost hunter and a medium. I still get the occasional ghost story from her, though.

It makes me want to proudly note that, despite the fact that both the hotel I work at, and our sister location were built in the 1800's - one originally being a bordello - neither is haunted. (Not that that stops the guests from trying to claim that they are. We seriously had a woman whose friend had to come tell us they were getting their exchange company to move them to another hotel because the woman felt "oppressive spirits" in their room.)

The second section of the book is about New Orleans Voodoo, which is not to be confused with traditional Voodoo. It was a well done section, and stayed away from taking a dismissive approach to looking at the religion. They also attempt to clear up the belief that Voodoo is inherently evil. Really, it's only the stories of Voodoo being used for revenge or death that get any attention in the media. Nobody gets as excited about Voodoo being used to heal or help people.

The third part of the book covered New Orleans' obsession with vampires. I spent most of this section laughing so hard that breathing became difficult. It's very hard to take any of it seriously. I mean, vampire lore in general is pretty ridiculous, but this book brought it all to whole new levels.

For instance, here, according to the book, is a list of things that could lead to vampirism:

- being born at certain times of the year (new moon, holy days)
- being born with a red caul
- being born with teeth (though the way it's written in the book, it makes it sound like you could be born with a red caul that has teeth)
- being born with an extra nipple
- being born with excess hair
- being born with white hair
- being born with red hair
- being born with a red birthmark
- being born with two hearts
- being born the seventh son of a seventh son
- if a child died and was weaned too early
- if a child died and suckled after being weaned
- if a child died without being baptized
- if a pregnant woman was cursed by a vampire
- if a pregnant woman was stared at by a vampire
- being fed on seven or more times by a vampire
- practicing sorcery or witchcraft
- eating sheep killed by a wolf
- leading an immoral life (prostitutes, murderers, alcoholics, rapists)
- committing suicide
- death by violence or drowning
- dying without benefits of Last Rites
- dying and not getting a burial or improper burial rites
- a cat jumping over the corpse's coffin
- a shadow falling over the corpse and/or coffin

Really, it's a miracle that everybody isn't a vampire already.

And then, there are the "psychic vampires" that drink life force instead of blood. They can do serious damage to your energetic system! Which I'm guessing is supposed to be like your nervous system, except with energy? I don't know. They didn't teach me a damn thing in health class.

Repetitive psychic attacks can cause extensive damage to the energetic system leaving the victim weak and immune deficient.

You also have descriptions of the "vampire lifestyle", which sadly, is an actual thing down here. I blame the Interview with the Vampire movie - we get a lot of wanna-be Lestats in the French Quarter.

And "vampirology" is totally the scientific term for the study of vampires.

There are pictures in the book, as well, of Haunted History tour guides posing at various locations - occasionally with famous people who have been on the tour (and Nicholas Cage, who may actually be a vampire), bad quality images of supposed ghosts, and lots and lots of ectoplasm.

The images are all black and white, and terrible quality. It's hard to make out background details, let alone anything that's supposed to be a ghost. And the horrible quality of the images wouldn't be as bad if the running narration didn't keep raving about what *AMAZING* pictures the company has. It's a shame none of these "amazing" pictures made it into the book.

If you're just looking for something spooky and light to pass the time, this book is okay. But there are much better options available on any of the topics covered.

[Rhonda Fonicello · Rating 3 out of 5]

Picked this up while visiting NOLA. Looked interesting. The stories were fine, and I learned a lot about the dark side of NOLA. Would have rated this book higher had it not been plagued with grammatical errors on every page. Probably self-published, which would explain the apparent lack of an editor/proofreader. 2.75 rounded up.

[Louise Carlson Stowell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having a love for anything New Orleans, I picked this one up the other day and could not put it down. The stories and legends are fascinating. All of the chapters were presented in a way that was down to earth and had either historical references or eye witness documentation. It was not presented as a book to scare and titillate the casual reader.

The stories about the haunting of the Myrtles and Madam Lalaurie I had heard before. But it was refreshing to find there were a couple of new things I hadn't read before about Marie Laveau, which I found intriguing since I've been studying her for about 40 years, and that I want to check further into.

There is interesting information on some of the historical and background checks that were done when phenomena took place during a guided tour that the author conducts. Katherine Ramsland was one of the investigators that was mentioned in several cases. Ms. Ramsland has a vast background in investigating the vampire culture that was at its height back in the 1990's in the New Orleans area and has several books and articles to her credit regarding the topic. From that standpoint alone, I was impressed that someone outside of the realm of the vampire culture (i.e. self proclaimed "vampires" of the blood sucking or psychic type) was being used as an investigator.

The information on Voodoo was not sensationalized and was presented in a respectful manner instead of the usual tabloid fodder. A brief mention was made of Zora Neale Hurston and her books on the subject (which are excellent from a first hand eye witness standpoint as well as part of the Vodou community). The investigations were credible and not there weren't boogies and bloodsuckers lurking during each investigation every time you turned around, which makes sense in a legitimate investigation. You get tired of the "Oh! Did you see that! It had to be..." routine.

There was a neat little section on the New Orleans version of werewolf, the Loup Garou that was interesting from a historical take. Background information into historical documentation from France and Europe was discussed, as well as the different variations of the term, and how one would become a Loup Garou.

Mysterious unsolved murders and disappearances from New Orleans past were discussed and theorized. Was it revenge, madness, or something more sinister that caused these incidents?

A handy index of terms is in the back of the book for those who are not familiar with paranormal/occult terms. There are some interesting pictures that are included, a map generalized map of the French Quarter, and a bibliography that has some very informative references listed which included Raymond L. Moody, J. Gordon Melton, Colin Wilson, Paul Barber, Maya Duren) that I would recommend as well for anyone that is interested in further research of Voodoo (correct spelling is Vodou), New Orleans Legends, Vampires and other paranormal phenomena.

Altogether a thoroughly enjoyable read with food for thought. Good job. I definitely want to take your tour when I visit the Crescent City!

[Chad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having been to New Orleans and on one of their tours, I thought it would be fun to have a book of the collected stories they told, plus others that were not on our tour.

The book has a lot of stories from all over the New Orleans area, mostly focused on the ghost stories of the area. Several of the stories go into the details of the individuals that lived in the city and some of their crimes they committed. Some of those people are just sick individuals, who did horrible things to others, it is no wonder that people would suspect the building would be haunted by the victims. One of the stories inspired the season of American Horror Story Coven. Plus all the death from various diseases, really adds up to a lot of suffering that could cause spirits to linger on.

The section on the vampires of New Orleans was interesting as well. Reading about the different types of vampires that have been in the city, as well as some of the disturbed individuals that have been linked to various attacks and murders was entertaining.

I would have given the book a higher rating, but the pictures included were all black and white and such low quality and small for the most part, that the details in them are lost. They really should have gone for colour photos, maybe as an insert in the middle of the book.

But the stories/history/events detailed within are entertaining. They put an effort into looking up the history of the building/location/people to get as much information as possible to make their tours (and this book) as accurate as they can.

[Courtney Gores · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very entertaining, I wish I would have read this before going on the actual Haunted History tour. I bought this book because I heard great things about this tour company, yet my tour guide was quite the energy vampire. I’m still upset thinking about it. Reading through these stories was very entertaining and I wish I had read the book prior to the tour because I’m learning we skipped over so much (and when I say skipped over, our tour guide didn’t even tell us any history, and what he did was completely different than what’s in this book). 3 stars mainly because some stories felt rushed.

[Erika · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was interesting to read about the history of New Orleans.

[Melvin Marsh · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a pretty straightforward book that doesn't go into huge depth about the many stories in the book. I would have liked maybe vampires to be split off and each book be the size of this one.

[Monique Baca · Rating 3 out of 5]

The basics in New Orleans with a lot of details of all the haunted hotels. Informational but not necessarily interesting.

[Maria Martha Espinoza · Rating 3 out of 5]

The stories are short and easy to read. It’s the perfect souvenir if you’re into ghosts and legends . I recommend buying it before you visit NOLA, to know which places to visit.

[Samantha · Rating 2 out of 5]

Before I review this book let me give some background as to how I came to read it. My dad's girlfriend recently went on a trip to New Orleans and did the haunted ghost tour. As we both love to read she purchased this book and lent it to me. Being casually interested in all things paranormal I thought it would be an interesting read.....

My thoughts on this book...
1) The section about the various ghost hauntings throughout New Orleans was interesting. The facts of documented death as well as highly emotional events were very well presented. These were supported with eye-witness and personal accounts from the author.
2) The section about voodoo was also rather interesting because once again it was well documented. I had some previous introduction to the history of voodoo in my Introduction to Anthropology course a few years ago. I think the author did a great job not only describing the misconceptions about voodoo but also in giving the facts of voodoo.

However, that's where the things I like ended. Now for the things I could not stand....
1) The final section in the book deals with vampirism in New Orleans. The book takes a rather interesting approach to this topic. Instead of taking it lightly and approaching it as nothing more than urban legend, she presents it as fact stating it is a well documented occurrence. Vampires are a thing of fiction until one bites me I cannot take someone seriously who believes that they exist. I do believe there are people who think themselves vampires.....they should be receiving mental health attention.

2) This book is in its sixth freaking edition. You would think by now the major grammatical and spelling errors would be worked out by now. But wait....the author blames it on the ghosts haunting her home office. All is forgiven.....*sigh* the errors were so blindingly obvious they cannot be forgiven.

3) The pictures in this book were completely worthless. They were in black and white which is okay, but the quality was god awful. The reader could not (without squinting and a great imagination) make out the things that were identified in the caption. Also, the placement of the pictures rarely coincided with the event or topic being discussed.

4) There was a heavy reliance on psychics throughout the novel as the author claims to be some sort of medium. I believe that there are mediums out there but the author as well as the other psychics/mediums in the book were so vague that I could not believe in them. I'm open to being proven wrong but until then I will just say it ruined the book for me.

I always say I will read anything once. this book has me rethinking that philosophy. There are actually books out there that are not worth reading, and this is one of them.

[Christine Whittington · Rating 3 out of 5]

The print version of Sidney Smith's New Orleans Haunted History Tours (and sold on the tours, of course). The primary value of this book is the locations and basic facts of hauntings, vampire activity, etc. that will enable the reader to investigate other sources--or carry around on a stroll through the French Quarter in order to spook him or herself. I have to say that I learned a lot about New Orleans history as a result of reading the book, although not necessarily from the book itself--the book prompted me to visit or read further. The writing moves along at a quick pace, but the editing leaves quite a bit to be desired, especially toward the end. Did someone run out of steam (or time)? The photos with "ecto" and ghostly images are a hoot.

[Sabrina Marie · Rating 2 out of 5]

There is some good information, but I have gotten much more in-depth and credible information from other tours in the French Quarter.

The editing is completely shabby, with plenty of errors throughout. The paragraphs are often arranged in a strange sense, sometimes putting together one sentence stories that don’t relate while breaking up other stories when they don’t need to be. It makes reading the text a bit jarring and confusing, like reading a high school student’s paper that received a C.

Beyond that, much of the book is spent talking about the author’s own experiences and methods without any sources to make her work seem more credible. It comes across as a shoddy attempt at advertising, and it ruins the few historical legends and accounts that grace the pages.

[Kavita Jain · Rating 2 out of 5]

I took the haunted history tour and enjoyed it so much, I purchased the books in the hopes of learning even more. While there are definitely more stories, they feel somewhat incomplete or rushed. The book in written in almost theatrical style that works well for the tour, but doesn't translate well into print. Overall, it was just okay

[Emily]

This was a quick read. I took the Haunted History tour in New Orleans 2 weeks ago and had a blast. The book shared even more awesome stories. I'd recommend the tour to anyone...the book got kind of repetitive, but was still enjoyable.

[Marilyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was interesting and I would like to take the tour. But its hard to believe that vampires even exist. Ghostly stories seem to be a part of our lives and voodoo is practiced. Those were interesting. But people trying to be vampires is just too much.

[Sara Deal · Rating 3 out of 5]

I always enjoy reading the ghost stories and legends from places we visit. This one was not very well written but an enjoyable read. Provided some really interesting insight to the history and culture of New Orleans.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read an updated version of this book. Interesting read with lots of juicy, ghostly, stories.

[Stephanie]

This is his book.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Journey Into Darkness...Ghosts & Vampires of New Orleans by Kalila Katherine Smith (1998)

[Rhonda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Intriguing & entertaining. Not as much as going on the actual tour though! :)

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this awhile ago, and bought it after taking the walking ghost tour with my husband. (Would have been in 2009). Brings back good memories of New Orleans.

[Heidi Hackler · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved loved loved this book!

[Karyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting & Informative...Pretty much a walking tour BUT with way more inside details.

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you would like to know the history of all the hauntings in New Orleans this is a great book that gives you details on how it all came to be

[Tracy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy read and interesting stories but filled with spelling and grammatical errors which drives me nuts. If you write a book, proofread, proofread, proofread.

[Jessica Bailey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting, and informative. I enjoyed it, but would have liked more detail and less pictures that you couldn't really make out anyway.

[Cindy Key · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read I my way home from New Orleans
Good book!