BLACKCRAFT – Détails, épisodes et analyse

What happens when you blend Salem's dark history with modern ghost hunting technology? A night of unexpected revelations at the historic Merchants National Bank, now home to Black Craft's Salem flagship store.

Salem's reputation extends far beyond the infamous witch trials of 1692-1693 that claimed 19 lives through a frenzy of religious fanaticism and unfounded accusations. The city carries centuries of spiritual energy, with Essex Street particularly known for paranormal activity following the devastating Great Salem Fire of 1914.

When we invited professional ghost hunters David and Alaura, with over 40 combined years of experience, to investigate our Salem location following a 666 Club murder mystery dinner, none of us anticipated the level of activity we'd encounter. Within minutes of setting up specialized equipment including a Jacob's Ladder to energize the space, unmistakable responses began coming through.

Most compelling was the direct connection to Salem's witch trial history when our equipment captured the name "Bishop" – significant because Bridget Bishop was the first person executed during the trials. The entity demonstrated intelligent interaction by counting in sequence when prompted and even identifying one team member by their uncommon last name. Near the bank vault, multiple witnesses have reported hearing whispered questions from unseen presences.

The investigation revealed distinct energy differences between the welcoming presence upstairs and the heavier, more oppressive feeling in the basement that caused physical sensations of chest pressure that immediately disappeared upon leaving the space. David and Alaura rated the location 9/10 for paranormal activity based on the quantity and quality of interactions during their relatively brief investigation.

Whether you're a believer or skeptic, the evidence gathered during our night at Black Craft Salem raises fascinating questions about what energies might linger in historic buildings. Join us as we explore the unexplained and decide for yourself what might be dwelling in Salem's shadows.

Ready to explore more haunted locations? Subscribe now and follow our paranormal journey as we uncover the stories behind America's most mysterious places. Next episode, we're sitting down with Josh Balz to discuss his haunted theater and extraordinary collection of the strange and unusual.

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Growing up in a small Pennsylvania town with fewer than 800 residents, Bobby and Jake never realized their sleepy hometown harbored dark secrets—until they started driving down a winding gravel lane called "Shades of Death Road." 

The narrow road earned its macabre name after a deadly 1922 coal miners' riot where 13 men were killed, including the local sheriff. Their bodies were unceremoniously dumped along the roadside and buried without headstones, creating fertile ground for local legends. Most famous among them: the Woman in White, a bride who was hanged from an overhanging tree by her husband after he caught her with another man.

What started as teenage thrill-seeking, driving down the haunted road late at night, turns into something entirely unexpected decades later when Bobby and Jake return to film during a lightning storm. The footage they capture on two separate phones shows what appears to be a mysterious white figure moving near the old cemetery—exactly where locals claim to see the Woman in White.

Paranormal experts David Childers (with 27 years of experience) and medium Alura join to analyze the compelling footage. Despite Jake's determined skepticism, the evidence challenges his rational explanations and opens the door to fascinating discussions about different types of spirit manifestations and how ghosts interact with our physical world.

This episode sets the stage for an incredible journey as childhood best friends—one a believer, one a skeptic—launch into exploring haunted locations across America. With plans to visit Salem's most haunted sites, abandoned prisons, and countless other paranormal hotspots, Bobby and Jake invite you to decide for yourself: Do You Believe in Ghosts?

Subscribe now and join our community at patreon.com/blackcraftcult to share your own ghost stories through our Ghost Hunter Hotline and gain access to exclusive paranormal content you won't find anywhere else.

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The boundaries between the living and the dead blur in this riveting conversation with death collector and entrepreneur Josh Balz, who shares the chilling history of his century-old Ritz Theater in Scranton, Pennsylvania. From the moment construction began in 1906, tragedy marked this historic venue when a worker was crushed by falling steel. Over decades, performers like Harry Houdini, Lucille Ball, and George Burns graced its stage—but some spirits never left the spotlight.

Josh recounts spine-tingling phenomena experienced by staff and visitors: the phantom projectionist who died of a heart attack and still operates his equipment, the mysterious little girl in white whose identity remains unknown, and the inexplicable sounds of metal stage rigging moving within solid brick walls. Most compelling is his theory that buildings choose their owners, not the other way around, as both his haunted home and theater came to him through strange twists of fate.

The conversation delves deeper into Josh's fascinating relationship with death. Despite owning human remains, vintage medical specimens, and a bed made from a casket, he maintains certain boundaries—refusing to mess with Ouija boards or attend séances out of respect for the dead. His philosophy reveals a delicate balance: honoring those who've passed while living among their artifacts and possibly their spirits.

Bobby and Jake explore the unseen energies that might attach to objects, buildings, and people, asking whether collecting pieces of death means inadvertently collecting pieces of restless souls as well. As the episode concludes, plans emerge for a special ghost hunting event at the Ritz, inviting listeners to experience its paranormal activity firsthand. Subscribe now and join us in uncovering the supernatural stories hiding in plain sight.

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Welcome to our 4th EPISODE of the DO YOU BELIEVE IN GHOST? Podcast with your hosts Bobby Blackcraft & Jake Simons.

We discuss our flagship store PENNHURST ASYLUM. We discuss the horrific history of this notorious Asylum and how it became known as one of the most devasating crimes against humanity against its attending patients. We also have David and Alaura on the episode telling us what their paranormal experience was like as they stayed at this location over night!

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COMMENT if you believe the happenings that took place in the Merchant National Bank may be connecting this very famous family???

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Dive into the underground with us as we uncover six criminally underrated unsigned bands from across the US and UK. This episode is a musical treasure hunt that will reward your ears with fresh sounds from artists who deserve far more than their triple-digit monthly listener counts.

From Chicago's Gina Marie with their nostalgic Hot Topic emo vibes to The Discussion's atmospheric post-punk soundscapes out of Los Angeles, we're spanning genres and geographies to bring you the best under-the-radar talent. Welsh metal duo C'est la vie brings an explosive blend of traditional metal with goth and electronic elements, while Maryland's Omen Sky delivers mid-2000s metalcore nostalgia that would feel right at home on Mayhem Festival stages.

Be sure to listen all the way through for NYC's Monolith Zero with their existential metal anthems and Tampa's Soul Fade, whose raw emotional heaviness hits like a punch to the gut (or as our hosts might say, "punches you in the nuts"). What makes this episode special is the stark contrast between these bands' incredible quality and their shockingly low streaming numbers – something we're hoping to help change.

These discoveries are part of our upcoming Battle of the Bands competition, where two fan-voted artists will compete live on Whatnot on May 29th for a $1,000 cash prize and a $1,000 Black Craft Cult gift card. Head to patreon.com/blackcraftcult to vote for your favorites and help determine which bands make it to the final showdown. The best part? Voting is absolutely free, so you can directly impact these deserving artists without spending a dime.

Hungry for more underground sounds? Follow Black Craft Coffee using promo code BANDS for 20% off, and join us next Monday for another round of unsigned talent that's too good to remain in obscurity.

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Bobby Blackcraft returns to his roots with the revival of his unsigned band showcase, bringing with him Producer Trey and a renewed mission to spotlight extraordinary underground talent that mainstream platforms overlook.

Drawing from his own experience touring in bands and sleeping in vans, Bobby crafts a sanctuary for unsigned artists who deserve recognition but struggle to find it. "I just felt like it was Black Craft's initiative to help unsigned artists," he explains, recounting how industry insiders once told him "no one cares about unsigned bands"—a claim he's spent years disproving.

Each episode features six meticulously curated bands spanning various rock subgenres, from Gloomchild's emotional screamo to Thirst's face-punching metalcore, Whoremones' Cobain-worthy grunge revival, Lil Used's polished emo resurgence, and Fall Off The Earth's raw energy. The inaugural lineup showcases the striking disparity in visibility among talented acts—from bands with under 1,000 monthly Spotify listeners to those approaching 50,000.

Beyond just playing music, The Black Craft Show creates tangible opportunities through a monthly Battle of the Bands competition offering a $2,000 prize package including cash and endorsement deals. "That could go towards photo shoots, recording... I don't know, go get some new instruments," Bobby offers, understanding exactly what emerging bands need to take their next step.

For listeners seeking their next favorite band before everyone else discovers them, and for musicians looking for a platform that truly understands the struggle, this podcast delivers authentic music discovery with the passionate enthusiasm only someone who's lived the unsigned life can provide. Join the movement supporting underground artists every Tuesday by downloading, subscribing, and voting for your favorites on

 Patreon.com/blackcraftcult.

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Venturing deeper into New Orleans' haunted landscape, we explore Le Petit Theater – a Spanish colonial revival structure that's witnessed over 300 years of the city's complex history. Built in 1916 and completed in 1922, this historic theater stands as one of America's oldest community venues, and according to countless witnesses, home to spirits whose passion for performance transcends death itself.

Unlike the darker hauntings we've previously explored, Le Petit's spectral residents seem driven by unfinished business, artistic longing, and a protective presence over current performers. From the graceful woman in white (believed to be an actress who died before her final curtain call) to the shadowy figure silently watching from the balcony, these apparitions reflect the theatrical world's deep emotional connections.

The paranormal reports are strikingly specific: phantom applause erupting in empty theaters, mysterious piano music playing without a musician, and whispers behind stage curtains that sometimes call out performers' names. Particularly fascinating is the phenomenon of the "ghost light" – a single bulb traditionally left burning overnight that sometimes lights itself during blackouts or is found mysteriously damaged by morning.

As we discuss these theatrical hauntings, we notice patterns emerging across the locations we've studied throughout our series. The recurring motifs – women in white, children's laughter, shadow figures, mirrors, and curtains – prompt deeper questions about what defines different types of spirits and why certain manifestations appear consistently across vastly different locations. 

Have you experienced unexplained events in a theater? Or felt like someone was watching during a rehearsal when the audience seats were empty? Share your stories and join us next episode as we leave Louisiana behind to explore our first ghost town in the mountains of Montana.

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The LaLaurie Mansion stands as an ominous monument to human cruelty in the heart of New Orleans. Built in 1832, this elegant townhouse became the site of unspeakable horrors perpetrated by socialite Delphine LaLaurie against enslaved individuals - atrocities so disturbing they leave us physically and emotionally drained just discussing them.

When a fire broke out in 1834, rescuers discovered LaLaurie's hidden torture chamber, revealing enslaved people chained to walls, mutilated, with broken bones reset at unnatural angles, mouths sewn shut, and surgical experiments performed on living victims. As we delve into these dark details, we confront not just historical wickedness but profound questions about the spiritual aftermath of such trauma.

The mansion's paranormal activity includes blood-curdling screams from the attic, a woman in chains who appears with twisted limbs and a burned face, shadow figures lurking behind curtains, and a mysterious mirror that supposedly traps spirits. We explore the fascinating connection to Nicolas Cage, who owned the property for just two years before selling it amid financial troubles and unexplained occurrences.

This episode takes us to uncomfortable places as we consider: Why would victims' spirits remain trapped in a location where they suffered so terribly? Are these conscious hauntings or residual energy imprinted on the building? With special insight from paranormal investigators David and Laura, we examine the differences between intelligent hauntings and residual energy, providing a framework for understanding how trauma might transcend death itself.

Whether you're a skeptic or believer, the LaLaurie Mansion confronts us with the darkest chapters of American history and challenges our understanding of what might linger when terrible deeds go unpunished. Join us for our most emotionally challenging exploration yet - one that will leave you questioning the boundaries between life, death, and the imprints we leave behind.

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