August 31, 2025 Breaking News, Latest News, and Videos

Santa Monica’s Basement Tavern and Other Westside Haunts

Three spooky places that pack a scare.

By Keldine Hull

By many accounts, the Westside is haunted year- round, but it’s the days leading up to Halloween that generate the most interest in the undead and the tales they carry with them. For those who believe in the supernatural (myself included), the Westside’s history and tryst with tragedy makes it the perfect stomping ground for ghosts too restless to leave. From the ruins of Murphy’s Ranch to the sands of Santa Monica Pier, the Westside is filled with old haunts that have just the right amount of spook for this creepy time of year. To get you started on your hair- raising, spine-tingling tour of some of California’s most haunted places, here are our top three favorite destinations. Disclaimer: you may see a ghost or two.

You’ve been warned.

Culver Studios

9336 West Washington Blvd.

Culver Studios is rumored to be haunted by the ghost of film producer Thomas Ince.

The year was 1919. Legendary silent film producer and “Father of the Western” Thomas Ince founded Culver Studios, where iconic films like “Gone With The Wind” and “Raging Bull” were filmed. Seven years later, at the height of his career, Ince mysteriously died following his 42nd birthday celebration aboard newspaper mogul William Randolph Hearst’s USS Oneida. Rumors circulated attributing Ince’s death to murder by the hands of Hearst himself in a classic case of mistaken identity. The intended target: Charlie Chaplin. Nearly a century after opening the doors of Culver Studios, Ince is rumored to haunt the hallways of his grand, old studio. Among the ghosts of Hollywood’s past and a beloved era gone by, some say they can still hear his echoes in the night.

Dead Man’s Curve

Sunset Blvd.

Dead Man’s Curve on Sunset Blvd. near UCLA.

Surf – music legends Jan & Dean wrote about Sunset Blvd.’s infamous Dead Man’s Curve in their appropriately titled 1963 hit “Dead Man’s Curve.” The chorus is still as haunting as it was over 50 years ago. “(Dead Man’s Curve) you’d best keep away. (Dead Man’s Curve) I can hear ‘em say ‘Won’t come back from Dead Man’s Curve.’” While there isn’t a sign that directly marks where Dead Man’s Curve begins and ends, locals recognize it as a tight corner of Sunset Blvd. just above Drake Stadium. Particularly popular among teenage street racers in the 1960’s, the curve is most dangerous traveling east, where numerous drivers met their fate failing to hug the difficult turn and careening out of control. It was where the legendary voice of Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, Mel Blanc, nearly met his fate after a head-on collision that landed him in the hospital with two broken legs, a broken pelvis, and head injuries. While it’s unclear exactly how many people have died at Dead Man’s Curve over the decades, it’s safe to say that they didn’t make it back.

The Basement Tavern

2640 Main St., Santa Monica

The Basement Tavern

The Basement Tavern is a modern-day speakeasy known for its renowned whiskey selection and themed music nights. Occupied by well- known and prominent Santa Monica family the Kytes, the Basement Tavern, located in the bowels of their classic Victorian home, was built in 1892 and moved to Ocean Park in 1973. It was where members of the family lived and rested eternally; Mary Kyte found her final resting place in a coffin in the very same house. The Kytes are rumored to haunt the rooms and hallways of the home they once inhabited over a century ago. Staff of the upstairs event venue have reported seeing a dark shadow of a man, rumored to be the original owner, Dr. George I. Kyte. Others have reported strange noises, closing doors, the sound of footsteps and flickering lights. It’s a challenge to find the Basement Tavern, but once you do, sit at the bar and order a Delia Elixir – you may get more than you pay for.

<>Related Posts

SMMUSD Board of Education Changes Start Time for September 4 Meeting

August 30, 2025

August 30, 2025

Residents Can Tune In via Livestream or Make Public Comments Remotely The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District announced a revised...

Pacific Park Ferris Wheel to Glow with 90-Foot American Flag for Labor Day

August 30, 2025

August 30, 2025

The tribute will feature the Ferris wheel’s 174,000 LED lights in a custom computer-generated show of red, white, and blue...

State Launches Task Force to Tackle Homeless Encampments

August 30, 2025

August 30, 2025

The task force, comprising multiple state agencies, will target encampments along state rights-of-way in California’s 10 largest cities Gov. Gavin...

Santa Monica Flea-Borne Typhus Cluster Under Investigation as L.A. Cases Rise

August 29, 2025

August 29, 2025

County Confirms 106 Cases So Far in 2025 After a Record 187 Last Year Health officials are warning Los Angeles...

CHP Launches Annual Statewide Labor Day Crackdown on Impaired Driving

August 29, 2025

August 29, 2025

All Available Officers Will Patrol California Roads August 29–September 1 The California Highway Patrol will deploy every available officer this...

Santa Monica Historic District Tour Showcases Early 20th Century Bungalows

August 29, 2025

August 29, 2025

The Third Street Walk, led by Conservancy board president Mario Fonda-Bonardi, will highlight the architectural and historical significance of the...

Newsom Signs Order to Protect Clean Energy Projects Amid Federal Rollbacks

August 29, 2025

August 29, 2025

The order aims to secure federal tax credits for clean energy projects before they expire due to HR 1, dubbed...

Muscle Beach Championship Returns to Venice on Labor Day

August 29, 2025

August 29, 2025

The event will feature competitions across categories including bodybuilding, bikini, men’s physique, classic physique, angel bikini, and couples The iconic...

Film Review: Relay

August 28, 2025

August 28, 2025

FILM REVIEWRELAYRated R112 MinutesReleased August 22nd This movie plays like a chess game, mentally and physically – on foot and...

Santa Monica’s E-Bike Voucher Program Marks One-Year Milestone

August 28, 2025

August 28, 2025

A city blog post highlighted personal impacts, with one family avoiding a second car purchase for a commute to Burbank,...

Westside Classics Car Show Set to Roll into Venice Beach

August 28, 2025

August 28, 2025

The show will feature a curated lineup of vintage sedans, low-slung cruisers, and unique custom builds The Westside Classics Car...

Westside Chefs Shine at the Manhattan Beach Food & Wine Festival in September

August 28, 2025

August 28, 2025

South Bay’s Culinary Festival Returns With Two Nights of Food, Wine, and Music Santa Monica, Westchester, Los Angeles, and West...

(Video) Public Transit Returns to Pacific Palisades

August 27, 2025

August 27, 2025

The Return is Part of a Broader Summer Overhaul, Aiming to Boost Connectivity Across the Westside Public Transit Returns to...

Raising Cane’s Plans New Location on 3rd Street Promenade

August 27, 2025

August 27, 2025

The move marks the chain’s latest expansion in California Louisiana-based fast-food chain Raising Cane’s confirmed to the Santa Monica Mirror...