Arrival

The group arrived on location at 10:15 pm and began unloading their equipment. Base camp was set up in the Lobby by the front doors. Since there was a movie in progress, the group began setting up equipment and taking baseline readings in the areas other than the House itself (see table below). Baseline EMF (electromagnetic field) readings were taken with a Tri-field DSP-523. Indoor temperature was taken by Mary with a single axis EMF Mel-8704R-Vibe. Mary used a Kestrel 3500 Weather Station to obtain outdoor weather condition readings.

View Environmental Data

The movie ended at 11:55 pm. As patrons left the Rosebud Cinema, the employees began cleaning and PIM members began to set their equipment in pre-determined locations.

A Spectorcamcorder full spectrum, high definition video camera was placed on the West side of the Lobby, facing the concession stand. A Zoom H1 digital audio recorder was placed on the concession stand, along with several trigger objects. Trigger objects are miscellaneous items that are strategically chosen in hopes to invoke a response. These trigger objects consisted of a bullet, a pair of dice, a bottle of whiskey and playing cards.

A touch flashlight, which is activated by two contacts being touched, thus, closing a circuit and turning the light on, was also placed with the trigger objects. The touch flashlight is used in lieu of a flashlight that has had the battery compartment or on/off switch manipulated to function in a way that is not intended and as a result, can create false positives. An Extech RHT50 data logger, which measures humidity, temperature and barometric pressure at one minute intervals, was also placed with the trigger objects.

An EMF pump was placed next to the trigger objects. The EMF pump emits different frequencies of electromagnetic fields into the surrounding area. The use of an EMF pump is based on the theory that spirits need energy to manifest or manipulate objects.

Three Sony HDR-CX160 full spectrum, high definition video cameras were placed in the House. A video camera was placed in each of the back corners of the House facing the Stage and one was aimed at a table, front and center, where several trigger objects were placed. A toy car, ball and jacks, Slinky, toy horse, baseball and the spirit board that was also used in an investigation at the Times Cinema, were placed on the table in front of the movie screen. An EMF Vortex (another type of EMF pump which emits an electromagnetic field in a clockwise or counter-clockwise pattern), a touch flashlight and a Dark Matter DM-X930 data logger were placed with the trigger objects on the table. The DM-X930 data logger measures and records several environmental factors, including: temperature, EMF, humidity, battery drainage rate, barometric pressure and is also a digital audio recorder.

A Zoom H1 digital audio recorder was placed in the back of the House and a Sony HDR-SR7 high definition video camera was placed under the stage in a crawl space, where it is alleged that the young boy died. This claim has yet to be proven by any news article or public documentation and is only speculation at this point.

A Sony HDR-XR200V high definition video camera was placed in the Private Viewing Room, facing the couch.

Every member of PIM is equipped with a Zoom H1 digital audio recorder, as a control recorder, an Extech RHT50 data logger and a UV flashlight, which they carry on their person. Control recorders are not only used as another recording device but also to discriminate the sound contamination that an investigator might create during an investigation. Control recorders are started and time stamped prior to all other equipment being started and time stamped. Time stamps, from a designated atomic watch, are used as a point of reference and make cross referencing easier during evidence review.

All lights that could not be turned off were covered using dark plastic sheets. Any windows or doors in areas of interest were also covered to avoid light contamination from outside sources.

The group finished setting up and started all equipment. The group took a short break before beginning the investigation.

Claims of Activity

  • Sound of a small child or woman crying near the bathroom area of the theater when there was no one present
  • Story of a child’s death under the Stage

Investigation

House – 1:20 am

After taking different positions in the House, the group started with a few minutes of controlled silence. Controlled silence is a common practice to get acclimated to and tag or document the normal sounds of the buildings and its surrounding environmental noises. It was noted that the House was very quiet, as it should be, due to its design.

After silence was observed, the group began an EVP (electronic voice phenomenon) session. An EVP session is conducted by asking several questions but leaving a minimum of ten seconds in between each question in the event a response is captured on a nearby device. Investigators speak in full voice and tag any abnormal noises they might make during an investigation. Common noises that investigators tag are stomach growls, accidental whispering and shifting or moving noises they might create that could be mistaken as something paranormal during evidence review.

At 1:26 am, Aaron went to turn of the fans in the House.

At approximately 1:30 am, Mary heard a crash sound, which seemed to have originated from the Lobby. Noah and Mary went to the Lobby to investigate the source and determined the sound came from an ice machine.

At 1:56 am, Noah heard a knocking sound. The sound was described as if someone had knocked on stone and was hollow in nature. No other activity occurred during this time and the group concluded the EVP session.

END TIME: 2:00 am

Basement -2:05 am

The group went to the Basement. Upon entering the Basement, a compressor started up, making it very difficult to conduct an EVP session, due to the noise level. At 2:13 am, the compressor turned off and the group began an EVP session, foregoing the controlled silence, not knowing when the compressor would turn back on.

At 2:15 am, the group heard a sound that some members described as a stone hitting a piece of metal. Others described it as an electrical, sparking sound. The sound came from a small storage room John was sitting in. Upon further investigation, it was noted the wall was crumbling slightly but no metal objects were below the wall area. The sound could not be re-created and there were no known electronic devices in that room that were thought to be a source. This noise was captured on several control recorders but since no noise was asked for and it does not appear to be an intelligent communication, PIM has decided to dismiss the strange noise as anything paranormal.

At 2:19 am, the compressor started up again and the group ended the EVP session and went back to the Lobby for a short break.

END TIME: 2:19 am

2nd Floor – 2:30 am

The group spread out on the 2nd Floor, east of the projector. Since the group did not have permission to investigate or record in the office area, space was limited. Noah sat in the Private Viewing Room. Gravy sat at the entrance between the Private Viewing Room and Hallway. Mary sat at the entrance to the Hallway and the projector room. John and Aaron sat near the office door and projector.

The group observed a few minutes of silence before beginning an EVP session. It was noted that it started raining creating a sound like a bowl of Rice Krispies in milk. At 2:54 am, Gravy and Noah both heard a “thump” noise. Due to the manner of Gravy’s seated position, he felt the thump through the floor. Even though other members were sitting on the floor, no one else felt or heard the thump. No source of the thump was discovered and the EVP session was concluded shortly thereafter.

END TIME: 2:56 am

The group took another short break to discuss the game plan for the remainder of the night. During this time, the group also wanted to investigate the claim of the crying child and where the sound might have originated. An employee claimed she heard a crying child, which seemed to have originated from the north east side of the House; the area below the Private Viewing Room. It was determined that the bathrooms are located in that area. The group discussed different scenarios that might explain why a crying child might have been heard, but were unable to definitively determine the cause of the sounds heard.It was then decided to continue the investigation by revisiting the House.

House – 3:10 am

The group situated themselves throughout the House. Mary sat in the small space below the Stage. An EVP session was started immediately. No activity occurred during this time and the EVP session was ended.

END TIME: 3:30 am

Basement – 3:32 am

The group situated themselves throughout the Basement. At 3:34 am, the sound that was heard earlier, possibly of a small rock hitting metal or being electrical in nature, was heard again. No source of the sound could be determined.

At 3:37 am, the compressor turned back on and the EVP session ended. This was also the conclusion of the investigation.

END TIME: 3:37 am

The group broke down all their gear, stopped their control recorders and packed their equipment up. Aaron let the group out the front door and locked up behind them.

Conclusion

The investigation of this historic building was very interesting to PIM. Although the claims were not substantial, the Rosebud is an interesting building that has been in the community for some time. Even though the investigation did not produce any evidence of the paranormal, PIM would like to further their research at this location. PIM would suggest that employees document any potentially paranormal activity. This will help PIM and other groups that may investigate the location to determine whether the claims are explainable or not.

PIM would like to thank Aaron, the employees and the owner of the Rosebud Cinema for allowing PIM to investigate this historical location. PIM looks forward to investigating the Rosebud Cinema in the future.

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