Experience: I live in the house from the 80s horror movie Poltergeist

I was a fan of the film, so when it came on the market, I snapped it up. Now I allow other fans to come and stay in this piece of Hollywood history I first saw Poltergeist at the movie theatre with my mom and sisters, back when it came out in 1982. I remember being scared, especi

I was a fan of the film, so when it came on the market, I snapped it up. Now I allow other fans to come and stay in this piece of Hollywood history I first saw Poltergeist at the movie theatre with my mom and sisters, back when it came out in 1982. I remember being scared, especially during the part when the toy clown drags little Robbie Freeling under the bed.

At that age, the idea of a family experiencing something terrifying in the kind of everyday suburban house I was familiar with made a big impression. Later, it became a ritual of mine to put the movie on every Halloween. I grew up in the Chicago area, but moved to California in the early 90s to go to art college.

My sister moved there, too – to Simi Valley, not far from the house used as the Freeling family’s home in the movie. I’d drive past it when I visited her. A couple of years ago, I had a gut instinct that it would soon go up for sale.

Sure enough, just weeks later I was sitting with my sister in her back yard when she looked up from her phone and said, “Hey! The Poltergeist house went on the market!” Continue reading...