Scary Stories, San Pedro Knows Them Well

Telling stories around a fire is one of the most ancient forms of entertainment.

So says producer and director Melanie Jones, the host and resident witch of Scary Stories at Angels Gate Cultural Center. Jones describes eerie tales as a release valve for people’s genuine fears. 

For 19 years, actors have performed almost 200 individual stories, offering a unique program each October for one night only — the Saturday before Halloween. The performance takes place outside in the amphitheater at Angels Gate Cultural Center around the bonfire.

Stories can connect humans, consciously and subconsciously. When it comes to scary stories, Jones said they’re also important because most stories have resolutions — generally somebody triumphs. In scary stories, oftentimes, the main character doesn’t triumph but they give latitude to what you can imagine is possible, so … the things that are bothering you seem more local and accessible.

“They’re not zombies or ghosts or demons, you know?” Jones said. “People like to be scared as long as they know that they’re safe. They like the adrenaline rush and the contemplation of the unknown is something we all do. The Scary Stories also give a nice metiér [environment] for that.” 

Jones equated that rush to the experience of seeing something scary in a film, then later, you can’t get that image out of your mind. But when you’re having an auditory experience and you are creating your own images, she said what might last in your mind are certain repetitive sound effects that are stand-ins for characters or emotions for stories. The listener is much more in control of how much they want to react. 

San Pedro has an affinity for scary stories and mysteries. Because of the town’s long history, tales tell of haunted houses [The San Pedro Haunting] and buried treasures [#rudecindas_buried_treasure] from residents past.

“This is old land as far as human beings go,” Jones said. “Native cultures have roots here and it’s a natural harbor. I think as long as humans have lived in this [wider region], humans have lived here because it would be a logical place to be.”

And of course, Jones noted, the light-hearted fixation with pirates — including the San Pedro High School Pirates. There were probably some pirates here, Jones posited while noting the “crazy sailor town vibe” that San Pedro had through the two world wars. Even the site where Scary Stories takes place, at Angels Gate, Jones said, is pretty spooky.

She mentioned the gun emplacements at Angels Gate where massive offshore guns were located.  

“It’s a place of ancient violence,” Jones noted. “Scary stories are often stories of violence of some kind. And those bunkers … There’s a mythology about those bunkers under the hill, that are right next to where we do our Scary Stories.”

Jones has walked through there, where guns were stored and she said they’re pretty creepy. 

She even mentioned a mythology about a very sick criminal individual who set up house there for a while.

“Any place that has had human beings living on it for a long time has its share of scary stories that happened,” Jones said. “Murders, treacheries of various kinds, scary criminals, people going crazy, we’re human beings … that’s what we do. I’m sure San Pedro has had its fair share of all of that.”

Acting is in her story

The Scary Story producer and director got interested in acting very young, doing her first professional show at 16. Jones worked in repertoire in different places around the country. She also worked in Hollywood and has continued her associations with the theater. Although she’s stepped away from stage acting right now, Scary Stories is her focus in terms of performing.

“And it’s definitely performing,”  Jones said. “Of course you don’t get to use your body. It’s not visual so a lot of things like that are not available but it’s all in the ear, there’s a lot you can do with … voice and sound, like taking on different characters and voices. People’s imaginations will fill in the rest.”

Like the tale of Dead Aaron, in the virtual version of Scary Stories in which “the corpse refuses to lie down and be dead” storytellers use humor to mix it up a little. Jones designed the program to be friendly to families, so the stories tend to be shorter. The narrators get people accustomed to trusting their ears, relaxing in the environment and allowing themselves to listen. Jones said she tries not to scare you too much — although she revealed the last story in this year’s program is pretty unsettling.

The live program includes the campfire, different actors/storytellers and sound effects. Last year they couldn’t meet live because of COVID-19, so Jones created a virtual show.

 This will be the first year Scary Stories is having two different programs and two different venues. Jones decided this year to keep both the virtual and live shows going. Each program is distinct from the other but the essence of it is very similar to its original setting.

Scary Stories are suitable for all ages. Complete with sound effects, the virtual version is similar to the live shows including the visual of burning fire. And if you listen at home, Jones encourages you to turn the lights off, light some candles and listen.

Jones is excited to perform live again. Performing virtually was a good challenge she said, which she enjoys, too because she also does all the technology — the sound effects and mixing. 

“I think that we have sorely missed being able to gather together in groups,” Jones said. “There’s plenty of space up there and we’re going to make sure people have plenty of distance and wear their masks, so that it will be safe for everybody. I’m really excited to be in a group of people and to share scary stories.

“The witch is definitely my alter ego now. People ask me, what are you going as? I’m like, are you kidding me? I’m a witch.”

Scary Stories, Live and Online

Produced and directed by Melanie Jones. With Heather Handwerk, John Charles Meyer, Cathy Skubik and Bill Wolski reading works by Gahan Wilson, Susan Price, Ruskin Bond, Libba Bray and Charles Dickens, among others. Donations gratefully accepted. Distanced seating and masks are required. Or, gather around the virtual fire at home for a unique online program.

Time: Live, 6:30 p.m. Oct. 30 /Online, Oct. 22 to Nov. 2  

Cost: Scary Stories 19, live performance; $5; free online 

Details: www.MelanieJonesStoryteller.com

Venue: Angels Gate Cultural Center, 3601 S. Gaffey St., San Pedro