She is referred to these days as Effie. Although, according to a long gone security guard, the real name of the woman who took a dive out of the Skirvin Hotel in Oklahoma City decades ago was Julia.
There are a couple of versions of this urban legend. The one most often repeated is Effie was a maid at the Skirvin who became pregnant by the hotel's builder and owner, W.B. Skirvin. Skirvin initially made his money in oil and, if the story is true, apparently he was one serious asshole. The tale goes, in order to protect himself from what would have certainly become a nightmare scandal, he locked Effie in a room on the 10th floor of his luxurious inn. He was so intent on keeping his sexual indiscretion secret he kept her there even after the child was born. The confinement drove Effie nuts, so one day she grabbed her baby and took a long step out of the room's window.
The Julia version is far less fleshed out, so to speak. The guard claimed she and her baby fell out of the window of room 824. He never mentioned whether she had a relationship with Skirvin, or if her death was an act of suicide, or simply a terrible accident.
The legend of Effie was a minor one. In fact, 10, or 11 years ago, if you had asked around, most locals would have shrugged and said they'd never heard of it. Then in 2008 the NBA came to town when the Seattle Super Sonics became the Oklahoma City Thunder. Because of its proximity to the home team's venue many of the visiting opponents chose to stay at the Skirvin.
Cue apparitions of Effie,or Julia, and the sounds of a crying baby. Not to mention maid carts rolling down halls without someone pushing them, bathroom doors shutting on their own, and the tubs inside inexplicably filling with water.
In January 2010, after the New York Knicks dropped a game in OKC, a couple of them publicly said part of the reason they lost was that Effie and her crying baby, kept them up the night before. Word began to spread. By 2014 John Branch wrote an article in the New York Times titled, "Fright Nights in the NBA."
Branch not only retold the story of Effie, he detailed--tongue in cheek--the paranormal experiences of NBA players from the Knicks and other teams, including the Bulls, Suns, and Nuggets.
Yes, as Branch pointed out nearly five years ago, it would seem the Thunder has an unseen sixth man of sorts--one who can't block a shot, but will certainly keep the opposition up all night dwelling on things other than the impending game.
Now we learn Imagine Entertainment, headed by Brian Grazer and Bobby Cohen has decided to make a movie about all the ghostly goings on at the Skirvin. Boston Celtic point guard , Kyrie Irving has been signed to star. According to Cohen the aim is to make a mash up comedy, horror film filled with social satire, wit, and genuine frights. Cohen cites the film, "Poltergeist," as an example of what Imagine Entertainment wants to accomplish.
It is unknown at this time whether part of the social satire will include referencing the Skirvin's 50 plus year practice of not allowing African Americans to spend the night there. Indeed, it might not be Effie making things go bump in the night, but the spirit of W.B. Skirvin who is enraged by the periodic presence of really tall, not to mention rich, black men in his former establishment.
Hey, why not? If you believe Skirvin historian and reporter for The Oklahoman, Steve Lackmeyer, Effie and her baby never existed. Neither did Julia. That's not to say Lackmeyer believes the place isn't haunted. Despite being convinced Effie is pure fiction he writes he's had his own eerie experiences in the hotel. One involves a moment when he entered a room on a floor closed for remodeling and saw the TV mysteriously airing, "a soft core porn movie."
Mr. Lackmeyer also claims the Skirvin's first general manager may have been murdered--his death was never proven to be a homicide, or completely explained. And, W.B. Skirvin may have hired the hit, or committed the crime himself. And, the old man may have been having an affair with a secretary who provided an alibi for him.
Obviously someone needs to contact psychic Amy Allan and her partner, Steve Di Schiavi of the Travel Channel's "Dead Files." Let's face it, we need some real pros in here, other than NBA players, to figure all this ghostly shit out.
Whatever happens, Lackmeyer's assessment in today's, The Oklahoman is the still untitled film will probably have to find someplace else to stand in for the Skirvin. He tells us the hotel's management is adamant their establishment isn't haunted. Who can blame them? If you do admit some famous guests are having night terrors it might cost you some business.
And, all these stories might be causing just that. In his article, Steve Lackmeyer notes some NBA teams are now booking three other hotels in the downtown area when they play the Thunder in Oklahoma City.
Well, team owners and GM's have to do something to keep their players relaxed and focused. I mean it is one thing to face Russell Westbrook, Paul George, and Steven Adams on their home court, but another entirely to have the shade of Effie fucking with your game.
1-29-19
I never discount things I do not understand. I have heard it said that the emotion level in offered prayer has much to do with what and when the answer will be. Perhaps the emotion of stressful and bizarre situations does indeed haunt buildings and other places.
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