Laughter in the Graveyard by Steve Emerson
David Seaford:
Robert Long:
David Seaford:
Lurker:
David Seaford:
Between the years 1971-1975, unexplained laughter erupted
from the local cemetery in Maryville, IN. People who
heard the laughter described it as having high volume and
power, as though it were produced by an electric sound
system. But no devices or equipment of any kind were
ever found. The volume was so high that people could here
it blocks away. The laughter only came on in the PM.
It was quickly discovered that anyone entering the graveyard
could shut off the noise, simply by their presence. For a brief
period the town experimented with the idea of permanently placing
someone in the cemetery just to shut off the laughter. But instead
the laughter only jumped to another part of town. If someone then tried
to investigate the laughter at the new source, again the
laughter would turn off and jump somewhere else. This has been called
the _runaway effect_. However, as long as the cemetery was vacant of
people, the laughter always chose this site first. For some reason the
graveyard was the laughter's favorite place. This has never been explained.
Since the town could not find the cause the laughter, and could
not stop it, it basically surrendered to the noise in the
graveyard. In April, 1975, five years later, the laughter abruptly
stopped.
Lurker:
David Seaford:
Robert Long:
Lurker:
Lurker:
David Seaford:
Robert Long:
Lurker:
David Seaford:
Lurker:
Robert Long:
Lurker:
Ann Simpson:
Lurker:
Lurker:
David Seaford:
Tom Martin:
Ann Simpson:
David Seaford:
Tom Martin:
Ann Simpson:
Tom Martin:
Lurker:
Lurker:
Ann Simpson:
Lurker:
Lurker:
Tom Martin:
David Seaford:
Lurker:
Lurker:
Lurker:
Lurker:
David Seaford:
Lurker:
Lurker:
Robert Long:
The idea that laughter can mysteriously spring out of a graveyard is
nonsense. It amazes me to no end how people can believe such drivel.
Here in this group The Twilight Zone takes the place of
science and rationality. Welcome to la la land.
Then you must explain to us why leading physicists could not
find the cause. Maryville was studied by many and no scientist
could find the cause. All the conclusions offered by them
are purely hypothetical.
Can you say "PRANK", as in a big joke played on you people?
That is hypothetical.
I am new to this group and I would like to learn more about
the laughing cemetery in Maryville, IN. Can someone point
me to the FAQ?
There is no FAQ at this time. Here is a short summary I have
written:
I visited Maryville during that time and it was really obnoxious. They
had these bleachers set up right outside the cemetery for everyone to sit
and hear. We had to buy some ticket like we were going to a concert. They
had these bright white lights running along the top of the cemetery fence,
like it was some carnival or circus or something. We thought it was a scam
then, and I still do now.
If it was a scam, then you would have to explain why
hundreds of thousands of people traveled across the country
to hear it.
Stupidity.
If it was truly a mystery and not a hoax, I would travel to see
it any time.
I am looking for any recordings of the laughter at Maryville
Cemetery. Please email me if you have any info.
You can get it for $11.95 from the Maryville Laughter Institute.
You can find them on the Web.
Another scam.
I understand the scientists used some kind of surveillance
gear to try to figure out how the laughter was being produced.
Does anyone have any info on this?
They used a technique called _synchronous triangulation_.
Two different teams of scientists actually tried it.
Three receivers were placed about the town, usually in
elevated positions. Both sound and infrared technology
were then integrated to precisely locate the source of the
sound. Unfortunately, for both teams, the laughter
stopped as soon as the equipment was set up. Both teams waited
for days for the laughter to sound out, but it was somehow
"disturbed" by their presence. Once they disassembled their
equipment and departed, the laughter resumed.
It was probably either God or Satan, depending on your religious
views.
I think it was aliens from outer space.
We don't need your troll-like commentary, Mr. Long. This
group is for serious discussion of the phenomenon.
My family lived in Maryville during this time, and we were
longtime residents. My father is buried in that cemetery.
People in this newsgroup are not aware of the amount of pain
and suffering that was endured by the community there. My father
was a kind and good man who unfortunately lost his life due
to a drowning accident. He was truly one of the best persons
one could know. His sudden death put my mother into
a deep depression. The laughter in the cemetery began
only a week after my father was buried there. My mother
was tormented endlessly by the sound of the laughter,
ridiculing my father's memory and his value to all of
us. My mother was never able to get over her grief,
as the laughter continually reminded her of the loss
of her love. My mother died 13 months later, and fortunately is
buried elsewhere. This is just to remind everyone that this
was about PEOPLE'S LIVES, not some fun carnival for
amusement. The laughter in that graveyard was the worst
thing that could have happened to Maryville.
Not for me. Your father's death may have been a tragedy,
but I lived near Maryville during that time and I must
say that I had some of the best years of my life in
that town. You must remember that, before the
laughter began, Maryville was a DEAD town, nothing going
on, nothing to do. All the small towns were like that.
There was nothing for a 17-year-old to do. After
the laughter began, everyone wanted to go there. It
was a happening! We called it "party town". Everyone
wanted to go to "party town" on weekends and hang out.
We cruised, drank, f**cked, sped in fast Mustangs
or Corvettes all over the place. It was a wild time.
It was the time of my life.
Hi everyone. I am a graduate student in sociology,
and am doing my PhD dissertation on community
change brought about by unexplained phenomena. I
would appreciate any info on this event.
You might do a Web search on "laughter" and
"Maryville" and see what you find.
I know that Maryville was largely a town of Christians before
the laughter started, but that they didn't look too keenly
on the tourism. The town was flooded with tourists who
wanted to hear the laughter.
Yes, Maryville had been a place where The Holy Spirit was
doing good things. This cruel prank which lasted for 5 years
destroyed the town. It became a town for worshiping the almighty
dollar and more.
Basically, the increased tourism brought more income to the
community, but also more growth. The original Christian community
became a minority after a few years, as more of the newcomers
were basically employed by the businesses catering to tourists.
The Christians were opposed to the "commercialization" of the
graveyard, but eventually lost out due to sheer numbers.
I know that the newly emerging small business community basically dumped
the old mayor. They elected someone of their own. That's when they spruced
up the cemetery with bright lights and installed a ticket booth.
And that was the beginning of the end, when the Church basically
packed up and left. Everyone I knew left during that time.
So did I.
Actually, the elderly left in the very beginning, during
that first year. I think they were afraid of dying and being
buried there.
I wouldn't want to be buried in no stinking laughing graveyard
either.
I don't see any problem with profiting from tourists who
want to see/hear a laughing graveyard. That's private
enterprise. It's the American way. Law of supply and
demand. There was a demand for a laughing graveyard and
people sold it to them.
My father's memory was not for sale. Isn't anything
sacred to you people?
What is sacred to me is individual freedom. I don't want
bible thumpers telling me what I can't buy. Freedom
from coercion and to engage in ANY private exchange must be
protected. Vote Libertarian in '96.
I heard some people think that the mayor and the business
community actually PRODUCED the laughter for economic reasons.
That doesn't explain why the laughter started in the first
place. The conspiracy theory is quite weak.
Actually, the new business-led town council passed an
ordinance which prohibited any efforts to uncover the cause.
I don't believe it was due to any conspiracy. They
just didn't want anyone to stop the flow of oil.
I for one believe that the laughter was created by some
higher power.
I don't believe God is laughing at us.
It's not God who was laughing, but the souls of those who
were buried there.
I went to Maryville a couple of years ago, and there was no one
there. Everything was boarded up.
When the laughter stopped, so did the tourism. Basically,
the local economy died. So everyone moved elsewhere. The
Christians had left a long time before. But they never
returned, for fear that the laughter might begin all over
again. It's an empty town now.
I am interested in any photographs of the Maryville Cemetery
during this time. I prefer JPG or GIF files. Please
email me.
I went there last year and the graveyard was ill tended.
None of the grass had been cut. You had to tear away
the grass just to see some of the tombstone plates. It was
definitely an abandoned place.
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