New Orleans Ghosts: The History Behind the Legends

You are cordially invited to an evening of ghosts in the historic parlors of the Olivier House Hotel. 

New Orleans, hailed as America’s most haunted city, draws countless visitors seeking tales of vampires, ghosts, and the occult. But what does the historic record say? To what degree can these legends be substantiated? Join us for an intimate, salon-style conversation at the historic Olivier House, in rooms which once hosted a funeral parlor, but now welcome guests from around the world to one of the French Quarter's iconic hotels. Moderated by Andrew Farrier, a distinguished panel of experts will delve into New Orleans’s haunted landscape, distinguishing fact from fiction and myth from history. Following the panel, guests will enjoy a reception and rare glimpse inside the hotel’s adjacent sister property, which boasts its own intriguing and macabre past.

Space is limited. Reservation required.

Andrew Farrier, Moderator:

Andrew is a writer and performer who has gained acclaim as “New Orleans Andrew” for his collaborations with Tours by Foot New Orleans on YouTube, where he showcases the city's history and culture for an audience of locals and travelers alike. He also offers guided tours and creates self-guided audio tours through Tours by Foot New Orleans. Andrew is an appreciator of the kinds of fiction that the French Quarter has birthed so much of, and you can find him and a team of collaborators (including your host, Lady Delaney) sharing genre-bending comedy fiction on the podcast The Snake’s Paw. And his forthcoming podcast, Makeshift Mythology, teases semi-fictional stories from the fragmentary traces of very old queer history.

Andrew does occasional stints in film and television, including The Big Short and American Horror Story. His artistic journey began in the small town of St. Francisville, Louisiana, where he co-founded the St. Francisville Transitory Theater, laying the groundwork for future collaborations in New Orleans. New Orleans theatergoers may have seen his original plays Magnum Opus at Southern Rep Theater in 2020 and La Concierge Solitaire in 2012 and 2015, both co-written with Matthew Morris.

A passion for storytelling remains central to Andrew’s diverse career — combining serious thoughtfulness with a playful touch that ensures his stories hit their mark.

Marita Woywod-Crandle, Panelist:

Marita is an author and historian, whose history books include New Orleans Vampires – History and Legend and Josie Arlington’s Storyville – The Life and Times of a Storyville Madame. As a longtime French Quarter resident, she has immersed herself in the rich history of New Orleans, spending countless hours in its archives unearthing forgotten history. In addition to her writing, Marita owns several iconic vampire-themed businesses in the heart of the French Quarter, including Boutique du Vampyre, The New Orleans Vampire Café, and The Vampire Apothecary. Her deep connection to New Orleans’ history and folklore fuels both her fiction and nonfiction, blending historical seriousness with the city’s aura of enchantment. Marita's most recent book, Mosquito – Southern Vampires, was released in September 2024 and features the Casket Girls legend told in the tradition of a serialized Penny Dreadful format.

Alys Arden, Panelist:

Alys was raised by street performers, tea leaf-readers, and glittering drag queens of the New Orleans French Quarter, a backdrop that has infused her storytelling with the kind of magic only to be found here. She cut her teeth on the streets of New York and has worked around the world since, obsessively documenting things and dabbling in hair colors from eggplant to cotton-candy. One dreary day in London, she missed home and started writing The Casquette Girls, a debut novel that amassed over one million online reads before being published. It has since grown into a series which spins a "Southern Gothic love letter to the spookier side of New Orleans's storied past." Her first graphic novel, Zatanna: The Jewel of Gravesend (DC Comics), illustrated by Jacquelin de Leon, was released in 2022. Though she dreams of one day running away with the circus, Alys remains one of the city’s foremost contemporary novelists, bringing a fresh perspective to the city’s old legends & lore.

Bobby Danner, Hotelier & Historic Preservationist:

For over three decades, Bobby has been passionately dedicated to historic preservation and interpretation, from the French Quarter to his hometown of Blackwater, Missouri, where he founded the Blackwater Preservation Society to safeguard its historic downtown from destruction. Bobby's recent projects include a full-scale renovation of the Xiques Mansion and the creation of a series of "micromuseums" in Blackwater. These unique installations breathe new life into overlooked historic sites, with a particular focus on American railroading culture. As a lifelong resident of the French Quarter, Bobby has spent countless hours in its archives, uncovering the lost stories of New Orleans. His joy in discovering historical records is matched by his fascination with the secrets hidden behind plaster walls, where the traces of history linger in old beams and joints.

For this event, Bobby will conduct guests on a tour of his properties, sharing stories of their history and ongoing preservation work.

The Olivier House Hotel:

 Built in 1839 for Madame Marieanne Bienvenu Olivier de Vezin, the Olivier House Hotel retains the legacy of its namesake. Over its 185-year history, the Olivier House has been witness to New Orleans dramatic—and sometimes violent—past. In the 1920s, it briefly served as a funeral parlor under the tenancy of Salvatore Valenti, with wakes and funerals held in the very parlor that will host our panel. The hotel is reputed to be haunted by ghostly cats, Civil War soldiers, and mysterious miniaturists. The Olivier House comprises three historic buildings, including a Creole cottage dating back to 1812. Discover more about the hotel’s storied past HERE.