The Belsnickel is an old world Christmastime legend, but unlike Santa, in addition to rewarding the good children, he punishes the bad ones. Once relegated to history, the Belsnickel is making a comeback, and Legend Hunter Jeff Belanger visited him at the historic Smith-Harris House in East Lyme, Connecticut, for a very different kind of “Christmas in Connecticut”!
Pulitzer Prize-winning author Edith Wharton’s home, The Mount, in Lenox, Massachusetts is renowned for its beauty and majesty – but there’s also a sinister side to it. Marital infidelities, madness, and death are also a part of this gilded age mansion’s tale, and ghosts of the past are said to haunt it today. Legend Hunter Jeff Belanger turns a page in Wharton’s story to uncover some of The Mount’s deepest, darkest secrets.
Author and adventurer Jeff Belanger explores the folklore of New England. SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – October 20, 2014 – New England is full of ghosts, monsters, and other mysteries that are more than just campfire tales. These legends and lore are as much a part of New England History as are the famous ancestors whose names grace our towns and schools today. Just in time for Halloween, WGBY in Springfield, Massachusetts, Rhode Island PBS, and Vermont PBS will be broadcasting the series including “Miracles and the Missing”—the latest episode of New England Legends. In 2015, the “Maritime Mysteries” episode of New England Legends was nominated for an Emmy under the “Magazine Program/Special” category. This was the second Emmy nomination for the series in as many years. “Miracles and the Missing” explores some of the greatest haunts and mysteries New England has to offer. The episode opens with the legend of Lucy Keyes, the story of a young Colonial girl who went missing in the vicinity of Mt. Wachusett in 1755. Her mother’s spirit has been looking for her ever since. Next, viewers see a nineteenth-century advertisement for Shaker Medicinal Spring Water. “This water smites disease and death,” the ad claims. Could the fountain of youth be right here in New England? A trip to the local cemetery reveals some startling findings. Finally, we travel to the Berkshires of Western Massachusetts to hear about a 1969 UFO encounter that just made history as the first UFO experience to be incorporated into an Historical Society’s official records. “We tell stories of miracles and profound human experiences because we’re still finding our place in the universe,” said Host and Executive Producer Jeff Belanger. “From missing children to out-of-this world accounts from first-hand UFO witnesses, our region is full of legends that are more than just stories. Something significant is happening here in New England, and we’re thrilled to document as much of it as we can.” New England Legends is a joint venture between Jeff Belanger and Tony Dunne. The two have been working together since 2009 when Dunne wrote and produced the documentary Things That Go Bump in the Night: Tales of Haunted New England for PBS. Belanger was featured prominently in that first documentary, which went on to national acclaim. “To earn an Emmy nomination two years in a row is a huge honor,” said Director and Executive Producer Tony Dunne. “With ‘Miracles and the Missing,’ we’re taking this series to a higher level with better story-telling, camera work, and editing. We want to show New Englanders the mysteries that many walk by every day without noticing.” Belanger and Dunne are currently working on future episodes of New England Legends and are actively seeking sponsorship to turn the program into a regular feature across more New England PBS affiliates. About Jeff Belanger Jeff Belanger (www.jeffbelanger.com) is a New England native, author, adventurer, and one of the most visible and prolific explorers of the unknown out there today. Since 1997, the journalist has interviewed thousands of eyewitnesses to unusual occurrences. He’s the author of more than a dozen books on the paranormal (published in six languages) including the best sellers: The World’s Most Haunted Places, Weird Massachusetts, Our Haunted Lives, and Who’s Haunting the White House? (for children). He’s the founder of Ghostvillage.com, the Web’s most popular paranormal destination according to Google.com, and a noted speaker and media personality. He’s also the host of the cable/Web talk show, 30 Odd Minutes which is available in over 9 million homes in the United States. Belanger has written for newspapers like The Boston Globe and is the series writer and researcher for Ghost Adventures on the Travel Channel. He’s been a guest on hundreds of radio and television programs including: The History Channel, The Travel Channel, Biography Channel, PBS, NECN, Living TV (UK), The Maury Show, The CBS News Early Show, FOX, NBC, ABC, and CBS affiliates, National Public Radio, The BBC, Australian Radio Network, and Coast to Coast AM. About Tony Dunne Award-winning television producer Tony Dunne has called New England home his entire life. After studying film and television production at Emerson College and the University of Massachusetts, Dunne has spent the past 15 years working as a producer in news, commercial, independent, and most recently public television at PBS honing his storytelling skills. He has produced magazine programs, nightly newscasts, quiz shows, lifestyle and health programming, as well as the nationally-distributed documentary Things That Go Bump in the Night: Tales of Haunted New England for PBS. About New England Legends New England Legends is a partnership between Tony Dunne and Jeff Belanger. The series premiered in 2013 on PBS affiliate WGBY in Springfield, Massachusetts. In 2014, the initial episode was nominated for an Emmy under the “Magazine Program/Special” category. “Miracles and the Missing” will air on WGBY Thursday, October 29 at 10PM, on Vermont PBS, Thursday, October 29 at 7:30 PM, and on Rhode Island PBS, Saturday, October 31 at 12:00 PM. For more information, visit: www.ournewenglandlegends.com
First-of-its-kind performance offers true ghost stories told by some of the region’s leading authorities on the subject set in front of haunting photography of New England’s most infamous legends. APRIL 15, 2015 – Cumberland, Rhode Island – New England is full of tales of ghosts, monsters, and other strange mysteries. Our folklore is intertwined with our past and our culture, and our historic buildings are both beautiful and haunting. This stage performance set for Friday, May 22, 2015 at 8:00 PM at the Blackstone River Theatre in Cumberland, Rhode Island, is a first of its kind, combining the true history and ghost stories with the eerie photography of Frank Grace. The performers include some of the most accomplished experts and authors in the region: Jeff Belanger, Carl Johnson, Tim Weisberg, and Andrew Lake. “We’re bringing the ghost tour and the campfire tales to the audience,” said Jeff Belanger, producer of An Evening of Ghost Stories and New England Legends. “This isn’t a lecture on the paranormal, this is a celebration of ghost stories. We’re going to create a spooky atmosphere with the history and legends as the audience experiences the locations through the eerie eye of photographer Frank Grace. Frank can tell an entire ghost story with a single image.” The performance will feature stories and photographs from more than a dozen historic locations from around southern New England including: The Lizzie Borden House, Slater Mill, The White Lady of Easton, The Houghton Mansion, The Red Headed Hitchhiker of Route 44, the Grainge Hall Ghost, and many more! “This is the biggest photography project I’ve ever taken on,” said photographer Frank Grace. “I’ve been reading the books these guys wrote and watching them on television shows for years. To work with them on this stage show is an amazing opportunity. This is like taking one of my gallery shows to Broadway levels!” About An Evening of Ghost Stories and New England Legends An Evening of Ghost Stories and New England Legends featuring the photography of Frank Grace will be performed Friday, May 22, 2015, at 8:00 PM at the Blackstone River Theatre, 549 Broad Street, Cumberland, Rhode Island. Tickets are $15 if purchased before the show online at: www.legendtrips.com or $20 at the door. About the Performers: Jeff Belanger is the author of more than a dozen books on ghosts and legends, he’s the Emmy-nominated host and producer of New England Legends on PBS, the writer and researcher for the Ghost Adventures series on the Travel Channel, and a noted public speaker and media personality who has appeared on the History Channel, Travel Channel, Bio., PBS, and Destination America. Carl L. Johnson has been investigating strange phenomena for over 30 years. He’s an interpreter at the renowned haunt Slater Mill, and he’s been featured on Syfy’s Ghost Hunters, A&E’s Paranormal State: The New Class, Animal Planet’s Finding Bigfoot and The Haunted. Tim Weisberg has been the host of the Spooky Southcoast radio show on WBSM since 2005, he’s the author of Ghosts of the Southcoast and Haunted Objects, and is the writer and researcher of the Ghost Stalkers series on Destination America. He’s appeared on the Discovery Channel, Living TV, the Travel Channel, and the History Channel. Andrew Lake is the founder of Greenville Paranormal, and is the author of Ghosthunting Southern New England, he’s a regular cast member on the 30 Odd Minutes show, a voice-over artist, and has been featured in documentaries and television shows about New England ghost stories. Frank Grace has been photographing eerie New England sites for the past 12 years. In 2014 he published his first wall calendar, Haunted New England, and he’s a two-time finalist for Ron Howard’s “Project Imagination.” His work has been shown at Gallery X, Artworks, New Bedford Art Museum, and Hunakai Studio.
In 2012, I took the New England Legends audience to October Mountain in the Berkshires of Western Massachusetts. We were in search of the ghost of a little girl said to haunt an abandoned cemetery near the top. Through exploring that legend, we were able to find the cemetery and give that girl a name once again: Anna Pease. By telling that story, we were able to reunite a family. This was the most profound and touching legend I have ever chased.
It’s that time of year again, when ghosts and goblins walk the earth and the veil between our world and the spirit world is said to be at its thinnest… A perfect time for legend chaser Jeff Belanger to examine the origins of Halloween, find out why we like being scared, and seek out some frights at DementedFX’s haunted funhouse attraction in Easthampton, Massachusetts!
Author and adventurer Jeff Belanger explores the folklore of New England’s southeastern coast. Airdates set for Wednesday, October 29th at 8:00 PM on WSBE, and Thursday, October 30th at 10:00 PM on WGBY. PROVIDENCE, RI. – October 21, 2014 – New England is full of ghosts, monsters, and other mysteries that are more than just campfire tales. These legends and lore are as much a part of New England history as are the famous ancestors whose names grace our towns and schools today. On Wednesday, October 29, at 8:00 PM, Rhode Island PBS will be broadcasting the New England Legends series along with the latest episode “Maritime Mysteries.” This will be the first broadcast of the new episode as part of the fall pledge-drive for the station. New England Legends host Jeff Belanger will be live in the studio for the event. In 2014, “The Spooky Berkshires,” the premiere episode of New England Legends was nominated for an Emmy under the “Magazine Program/Special” category. This year the series returns and takes to the water. “Maritime Mysteries” dives into the ocean waters of southeastern New England to explore the lonely and haunted Rose Island Lighthouse off the coast of Newport, Rhode Island. Then viewers head to shore to ponder an ancient and mysterious stone tower with possible connections to the Knights Templar. Finally, the crew trek up to New Bedford, Massachusetts, to investigate the haunts of abandoned Fort Taber / Fort Rodman. “New England is almost synonymous with the ocean,” said Host and Executive Producer Jeff Belanger. “The water means everything to us: food, recreation, and commerce. Our shores must be protected and defended… which may explain why so many legends pop up along our coast. We’re thrilled to share these important stories with viewers of Rhode Island PBS.” New England Legends is a joint venture between Jeff Belanger and Tony Dunne. The two have been working together since 2009 when Dunne wrote and produced the documentary Things That Go Bump in the Night: Tales of Haunted New England for PBS. Belanger was featured prominently in that first documentary, which went on to national acclaim. “To earn an Emmy nomination on our very first episode was a huge honor,” said Director and Executive Producer Tony Dunne. “But we knew we could do better. ‘Maritime Mysteries’ takes this series to a higher level with better story-telling, camera work, and editing. We want to show New Englanders the mysteries that many walk by every day without noticing.” Belanger and Dunne are currently working on future episodes of New England Legends and are actively seeking sponsorship to turn the program into a regular feature across more New England PBS affiliates. About Jeff Belanger Jeff Belanger (www.jeffbelanger.com) is a New England native, author, adventurer, and one of the most visible and prolific paranormal researchers today. Since 1997, the journalist has interviewed thousands of eyewitnesses to paranormal occurrences. He’s the author of more than a dozen books on the paranormal (published in six languages) including the best sellers: The World’s Most Haunted Places, Weird Massachusetts, Our Haunted Lives, and Who’s Haunting the White House? (for children). He’s the founder of Ghostvillage.com, the Web’s most popular paranormal destination according to Google.com, and a noted speaker and media personality. He’s also the host of the cable/Web talk show, 30 Odd Minutes which is available in over 9 million homes in the United States. Belanger has written for newspapers like The Boston Globe and is the series writer and researcher for Ghost Adventures on the Travel Channel. He’s been a guest on hundreds of radio and television programs including: The History Channel, The Travel Channel, Biography Channel, PBS, NECN, Living TV (UK), The Maury Show, The CBS News Early Show, FOX, NBC, ABC, and CBS affiliates, National Public Radio, The BBC, Australian Radio Network, and Coast to Coast AM. About Tony Dunne Award-winning television producer Tony Dunne has called New England home his entire life. After studying film and television production at Emerson College and the University of Massachusetts, Dunne has spent the past 15 years working as a producer in news, commercial, independent, and most recently public television at PBS honing his storytelling skills. He has produced magazine programs, nightly newscasts, quiz shows, lifestyle and health programming, as well as the nationally-distributed documentary Things That Go Bump in the Night: Tales of Haunted New England for PBS. About New England Legends New England Legends is a partnership between Tony Dunne and Jeff Belanger. The series premiered in 2013 on PBS affiliate WGBY in Springfield, Massachusetts. In 2014, the initial episode was nominated for an Emmy under the “Magazine Program/Special” category. “Maritime Mysteries” will air on WGBY Thursday, October 30th at 10:00 PM, and on Rhode Island PBS, Wednesday, October 29 at 8:00 PM. For more information, visit: www.ournewenglandlegends.com
The site of a ghost town which was lost at the turn of the century, mysterious Glastenbury Mountain is located just outside of Bennington, Vermont. The vast wilderness is host to many legends, among them tales of a “man-eating” rock and several Bigfoot sightings. The area is also the location of several unexplained disappearances over the years, one of which lead directly to the formation of the Vermont State Police. Legend Hunter Jeff Belanger explored the ruins of the ghost town Fayville to find out more.
Recent Emmy nominees Jeff Belanger and Tony Dunne sit down with each other to discuss their New England Legends project for PBS. See clips from the show, and what it took to turn their idea into an Emmy nomination.
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – April 29, 2014 – The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for Boston/New England has announced that New England Legends: The Spooky Berkshires, independently created and produced by Jeff Belanger and Tony Dunne for PBS, has been nominated for an Emmy award under the category of “Magazine Program/Special.” New England Legends: The Spooky Berkshires was produced in 2013 and is the brainchild of paranormal author and legend hunter Jeff Belanger, and PBS producer and director Tony Dunne. Belanger and Dunne first met in 2009 when Dunne was producing his critically-acclaimed documentary Things That Go Bump in the Night: Tales of Haunted New England for PBS affiliate WGBY. Through working together on that project, the two discovered they share a passion for these types of stories… and they learned they were both born at the same hospital in Southbridge, Massachusetts, about a year apart. Not one to question destiny, the two began collaborating. “Our single focus from the beginning of this project was to let story be our master,” said New England Legends executive producer, director, and editor Tony Dunne. “We pooled our money, begged our industry friends for help, borrowed gear, and shot this entire project on our own time and money. This Emmy nomination is a huge honor, and is such a sweet reward for all of our hard work and sacrifice.” “We’re so fortunate to have some really talented friends,” added New England Legends host, writer, and executive producer Jeff Belanger. “Nate Buynicki was our director of photography and gave New England Legends the look we needed, and John Judd composed some incredible music that set a mysterious and often spooky mood for this project. We’re just four guys who brought our talents together, and now we’re Emmy-nominated alongside some of the very best shows in New England. We know we’re clearly the underdog, considering the other guys have networks and production companies behind them, so we’re soaking in this moment all we can!” The Boston/New England Emmy Awards recognize outstanding achievements in broadcasting by conferring annual awards of merit in the chapter’s designated award region. This is Dunne’s fourth Emmy nomination and Belanger’s first. Winners will be announced at the 37th Emmy Awards on Saturday, June 7th in Boston. For more information on the award, see www.newenglandemmy.org About New England Legends The New England Legends series is created and produced by Jeff Belanger and Tony Dunne. The series premiered October 31, 2013 on PBS affiliate WGBY. Since then, other New England PBS stations have committed to broadcast the series, though air dates have not been set. For more information, see ournewenglandlegends.com About Jeff Belanger Jeff Belanger is a New England native, author, and adventurer. He’s the author of more than a dozen books on the paranormal (published in six languages) including the best sellers: The World’s Most Haunted Places, Weird Massachusetts, Our Haunted Lives, and Who’s Haunting the White House? (for children). He’s a noted speaker and media personality on the subject of the unexplained. He’s also the host of the cable/Web talk show, 30 Odd Minutes, which is available in over 9 million homes in the United States and Europe. Belanger has written for newspapers like The Boston Globe and is the series writer and researcher for Ghost Adventures on the Travel Channel. He’s been a guest on hundreds of radio and television programs including: The History Channel, The Travel Channel, Biography Channel, PBS, NECN, Living TV (UK), The Maury Show, The CBS News Early Show, CBS News Sunday Morning, FOX, NBC, ABC, and CBS affiliates, National Public Radio, The BBC, Australian Radio Network, and Coast to Coast AM. About Tony Dunne Award-winning television producer Tony Dunne grew up in central Massachusetts, but has called Western Massachusetts home for well over a decade now. After studying film and television production at Emerson College and the University of Massachusetts, Tony has spent the past 15 years working as a producer in news, commercial, independent, and most recently public television at PBS honing his storytelling skills. Tony has produced magazine programs, nightly newscasts, quiz shows, lifestyle and health programming, as well as the nationally-distributed documentary Things That Go Bump in the Night: Tales of Haunted New England for PBS.
