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Central Park is a public park in the middle of Manhattan in New York City.

History[]

Primary Canon History[]

In the early 20th century, the Cult of Gozer secretly constructed a Cult Cemetery somewhere in Central Park, was built and it lay hidden for decades. In 1984, Vinz Clortho chased after Louis Tully to use him as his host, Louis ran away after an unsuccessful attempt at his apartment. Vinz cornered Louis outside the Tavern on the Green where it was finally able to possess him. Louis/Vinz emerged from the southern part of Central Park at the Merchant's Gate and entered Columbus Circle. Five years later, in 1989, Peter Venkman and Ray Stantz went on a bust in Central Park involving a Jogger Ghost and trapped it on the jogging path that goes around the Jacqueline Kennedy Onasis Reservoir in the northern part of the park. Ray, with his Ecto Goggles on, gave Peter the signal. Peter, who sat on a bench reading the newspaper, stomped the pedal. A Trap was buried in the ground just barely visible for it to open. The ghost ran right over it and was trapped. Peter bid the ghost goodbye. Ray and Peter broke out into some impromptu dancing.

Secondary Canon History[]

Ghostbusters: The Video Game[]

On the Thanksgiving 1991 weekend, the park was infringed on by a Gozerian dimension. After the Ghostbusters destroyed Ivo Shandor, the dimension collapsed and the park reverted to normal.

IDW Comics[]

In late 1984, Rebecca Morales met with Peter at Columbus Circle for his interview for her book about the Ghostbusters. They walked into Central Park. Rebecca asked about Egon. Peter told her he ran on junk food. He remembered his old prank and told her to ask him about HG Huges. Peter was curious what everyone said about him so far. Rebecca remembered it wasn't very nice things and told him she was interested in how he thought of himself or better, how he viewed his role as a Ghostbuster. Peter waved at two women jogging then told Rebecca ghostbusting was just what he did and just a man who saved the world. They sat on a bench. Rebecca remembered Ray told her he also felt a calling. She asked Peter why Parapsychology interested him. Peter replied nothing was ever really wrong and it depended on the state of mind. He focused on the leeway the field allowed for then asked her if she was hungry because he was. He took her to the Tavern on the Green for lunch and continued the interview there.

Koza'Rai had Central Park infused with a myriad of demonic energies in a plan to turn Earth into a Netherworld. Humans were taken as slaves and forced to reassemble Stonehenge in order to open a Devil's Shoe Horn. Winston Zeddemore extracted Peter Venkman, Ray Stantz, Egon Spengler, and Rachel Unglighter from imprisonment. After they regrouped, the team formed a last ditch plan to take out Stonehenge or die trying. Peter and Rachel managed to reverse the stone's configuration and pull all demons and ghosts into the Netherworld. Central Park and New York was restored to normal as a result.

After Idulnas failed to aid Gozer in the re-selection of a new Destructor Form, the Ghostbusters trapped most of Gozer's essence. As a result, the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man exploded. Some of the residue covered up Central Park. Months later, in the fall, the Goast manifested near the Strawberry Fields Memorial and attacked bystanders. The Ghost Smashers engaged the entity pro bono but failed to atomize it. Peter and Ray were nearby and intervened, trapping the Goast.

In February, Peter and Special Agent Melanie Ortiz were walking to the Ritz Cafe in Central Park when a green demon manifested and kidnapped the former. On the 15th anniversary of his 12 person murder spree, Gareth Dibello manifested as a ghost. He attempted to ambush a male jogger off the path around the Jacqueline Kennedy Onasis Reservoir. The jogger escaped and tipped off the New Ghostbusters. After over one hour, they stopped him from killing a woman and trapped him on Bridge #24. Later in the summer, Winston Zeddemore and Tiyah Clarke went on a picnic in Central Park near the Jagiello Grunwald Monument. During Halloween, Stingy Jack was isolated in Central Park by The Devil with a Ghost Fire Wall around the park. The Ghostbusters were called in by the Fire Department City of New York when normal conventions failed to take care of the fire. Some hours later, the Ghostbusters arrived at Glen Span Arch on West Drive, in the North Woods section. Ray Stantz used a Slime Blower to punch a hole through the wall. The Ghostbusters walked around the park and split up to go after Stingy Jack. Surprisingly, Jack jumped Winston and trapped himself. Ray stayed behind to dissipate the entire wall.

In the springtime, Winston and Tiyah were married at the Loeb Boathouse. The following year, in May, at 5:48 pm, Loftur Þorsteinsson called the Firehouse and spoke with Ray. He told Ray he wanted the Ghostbusters to meet with him at midnight in Central Park near Umpire Rock. A little while later, Loftur sat on a bench in the park. A young girl dressed like Thor noticed Loftur's book. Loftur told her it was about magic and asked her if she believed in it. The girl's mother informed her it was time for dinner and they should leave him alone. Loftur lamented there was no belief in magic anymore but that would change soon. Police officers were contracted for security detail at Central Park. They emptied the park of all citizens and sealed it off. At 11:55 pm, Jenny Moran did a final check with Officer Mike to confirm everyone but Loftur was cleared out of the park. Mike wished her luck as she headed into the park. At 11:59 pm, Jenny caught up to the Ghostbusters and their support staff at Umpire Rock. Ray held a lighter to the Rauoskinna and demanded him to restore Egon. Loftur didn't care and cast a spell at Ray. Special Agent Melanie Ortiz opened fire but he easily blocked her Proton Stream with a spell. Jenny panicked and read a spell extracted from the Rauoskinna. Everyone was cast into Hell except for Winston. While hours passed for them, only a minute passed in the park. Aibell teleported them back to Umpire Rock after Jenny destroyed the Rauoskinna. Winston hugged Egon but Ray was unaware Jenny was vaporized by Aibell. Suddenly, Jenny manifested as a ghost and promised she wasn't going anywhere. She kissed and hugged Ray.

Patty Tolan oversaw one of three groups of 101 Cadets deputized to help with neutralizing Manhattan's network of Ley Lines in order to capture the Bronx Spook and split the two merged dimensions. She addressed the 24 cadets outside of Central Park and briefed them about using the Ecto Goggles to see the Ley Lines then douse all of them with the slime. Egon calculated the odds were The Collectors would manifest in Central Park near W 63rd Street. Darius Dun, now in control of the Collectors, sensed the Turtles in the Ghostbusters' dimension and teleported there. He manifested in Central Park and was greeted by Peter, who served as a distraction. Peter gave them the option of surrendering first but was met with laughter. The Turtles sneaked into position and attacked the Collectors. Peter and Winston joined in and opened fire. Ray and Egon used the time to adjust their Trap-Gate to match the Collectors' P.K.E. signature then sent them into the Containment Unit. Once Michelangelo realized they won, he tried to yell "Cowabunga" but Raphael stopped him. Donatello pointed it out it was more than past due for them to return to their own dimension.

Ghostbusters: The Board Game[]

Idulnas triggered an incursion of the Spirit World on the physical plane. A sizable chunk of paranormal sightings were reported at Central Park. [1] The Ghostbusters stopped on Fifth Avenue and investigated. Idulnas possessed the Alice of the Alice in Wonderland statue and taunted them. They opened fire on the statue but Idulnas quickly vacated it. A Spirit World Gate tore open before them and revealed an army of silhouettes and the overwhelming stench of death. They battled throughout sections of the park closing gates and banishing ghosts back to the Spirit World, culminating in a battle against Idulnas and the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man.

See Also[]

Trivia[]

Ghostbusters Trivia[]

  • The first appearance of the Shandor Building, seen in Chapter 05: Fixer-Upper and also towards the end of Chapter 24: Biblical, is seen from the Sheep Meadow in the southwestern section of Central Park.
  • The lightning strike scene near the start of Chapter 16: Dogs Drag Dana takes place where Terrace Drive and West Drive intersect near the top of Sheep Meadow and the bottom Strawberry Field.
  • The scene in Central Park where possessed Louis talks to the horse is near 6th Avenue and was really done in the middle of the night.[2]
  • Most of Vinz' pursuit of Louis to Central Park was filmed before principal photography.[3][4]
  • Dana Barrett's balcony at the Shandor Building had a view of the Central Park Loop area of Central Park. It is prominent when the freed ghosts fly up the side of the building and the balcony explodes.
    • The view of Central Park Loop was one of the photo backdrops done by the crew but is correct in what would be seen standing in Dana's apartment in New York. It was photographed from the roof of 55 Central Park West all the way around the building. The photographs were then enlarged into backlit backdrops.[5]
  • Ecto-1 broke down in Central Park during filming of the first movie. They were blocking the crosstown traffic so the cast and crew pushed it out of the way.[6]
  • One night, Dan Aykroyd and Bill Murray borrowed police motorcycles and rode around Central Park with the lights and sirens on, pulling over pedestrians.[7]

Ghostbusters II Trivia[]

  • In September 29, 1988 draft:
  • In the November 27, 1988 draft of Ghostbusters II:
    • On page 59, Ray sits on a bench across from Peter in Central Park. After the trapping, Peter notes the Jogger Ghost ran his last lap in under six minutes. Ray thinks he could have been an Olympic prospect.
    • On page 100, in the Central Park Zoo, a zookeeper hoses a concrete floor and slime starts coming out the hose. The zookeeper later sees a pterodactyl. It screams at him and flies off.
    • On page 128, the Statue of Liberty is sprawled inert on her back in Central Park behind the museum. The Mayor quibbles they just had the statue restored. Ray gives him an invoice. He refuses to pay. Peter muses she will look nice in the park. The Mayor relents on the next page.
  • Initially, the Jogger Ghost was photographed to look very white and extremely bright. But it was decided he would be toned down and more contrast would be added. The jogger became a study in how to use contrast mattes and how to extract contrast from the negative when it wasn't there. The crew had to figure out by themselves how to balance the background plate and the action in the scene just right.[8][9] Jim Fye also portrayed the Jogger Ghost in Central Park. He was covered in white makeup and photographed against a bluescreen for subsequent compositing into a live action plate.[10]
  • Jim Fye also filmed his Jogger Ghost scene in front of blue screen at ILM, not Central Park, in January 1989.[11]
  • The scene in Central Park was shot on a dolly with a gearhead and an 85 mm lens.[12]
  • Best seen in the 30th anniversary 4k Blu-Ray edition of the movie, when the Mayor and his staff look out the window, the building on the far right during the eclipse shot is the Essex House at 160 Central Park South.

IDW Comics Trivia[]

  • On page 19 of Ghostbusters International #10, Loftur mentions Umpire Rock, a protrusion of exposed bedrock located on the West Side at 63rd Street just south of the Hecksher Ballfields.
  • On page 1 of Ghostbusters International #11, the issue opens at the Central Park entrance at Warner LeRoy Place and Central Park West near W 67th Street.
  • On page 1 of Ghostbusters International #11, panel 3, Luis Antonio Delgado's 15 easter egg appears on the speed limit sign as 15 miles per hour.
    • The speed limit in reality is 20 miles per hour.
  • On page 2 of Ghostbusters International #11, panel 5, in the background behind Loftur is the Hampshire House at 150 Central Park South.
  • On page 4 of Ghostbusters International #11, Loftur remarks the veil to beyond is thinnest in Central Park.[13]
  • The section of map on the Regular Cover of Ghostbusters 101 #4 references several parts of Central Park: Cleopatra's Needle Obelisk, Tavern on the Green, Strawberry Fields, and the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir.
  • On the Regular Cover of Ghostbusters 101 #5 is the rest of Central Park continued from last issue's regular cover.
  • On page 12 of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles/Ghostbusters Volume 2 Issue #5, in panel 4, in the background is the Hotel Empire sign from the Empire Hotel on W 63rd Street in the Upper West Side near the Natural History Museum and Loeb Boathouse.

Appearances[]

Primary Canon Appearances[]


Expanded Universe

Secondary Canon Appearances[]



References[]

  1. Narrator (2015). Cryptozoic Entertainment- "Ghostbusters: The Board Game" (2015) (Comic p.4). Narrator says: "Ecto-1 pulled to a stop on 5th Avenue. The Ghostbusters exited cautiously, looking about in case of an ambush and then walked into Central Park, where a sizable chunk of sightings had been reported."
  2. Joe Medjuck (2005). Ghostbusters- Commentary (2005) (DVD ts. 59:15-59:17). Columbia TriStar Home Video. Joe Medjuck says: "This is uh 6th Avenue I think. This is the middle of the night near Central Park I remember. "
  3. Ivan Reitman (2005). Ghostbusters- Commentary (2005) (DVD ts. 54:01-54:02). Columbia TriStar Home Video. Ivan Reitman says: "Yeah, this was in October when... "
  4. Joe Medjuck (2005). Ghostbusters- Commentary (2005) (DVD ts. 54:02-54:06). Columbia TriStar Home Video. Joe Medjuck says: "This was when we went a week early. Shot for five days. Most of this. "
  5. Shay, Don (November 1985). Making Ghostbusters, p. 61 annotation. New York Zoetrope, New York NY USA, ISBN 0918432685. Michael Gross says: "So when you're in Dana's apartment and you're looking out the window at the photo backdrops positioned outside, that's an exact point of view from that floor of that address, as it would be looking out of that particular window. He even went to the extent of going up on the roof and shooting still photographs all the way around the building -- both day and night -- so that we could have them enlarged into just the right backlit backdrops."
  6. Ernie Hudson (2009). Ghostbusters- Slimer Mode (2009) (Blu-Ray ts. 29:21-29:33). Columbia TriStar Home Video. Ernie Hudson says: "I mean, I remember we were in Central Park, you know, the little crosstown traffic that goes through and we held traffic up when the car broke down. And we had to get out and try to push the thing."
  7. The Tonight Show with Jmmy Fallon YouTube "Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd & Ernie Hudson Look Back on the Original Ghostbusters Film | Tonight Show" 11/15/2021 Dan Aykroyd says: "We had a wonderful night, I remember, where we had available to us some New York police motorcycles because we were shooting in Uptown. And so Billy and I decided we'd like to take a little ride around Central Park. And we grabbed those bikes and screamed all over the park. It was closed for some reason. And we were just - you know, lights and sirens and, you know, and pulling over pedestrians."
  8. Eisenberg, Adam (November 1989). Ghostbusters Revisited, Cinefex magazine #40, page 21. Cinefex, USA. Line reads: "Among the entities they encounter in a rapid-fire montage is a ghostly jogger checking his pulse as he runs around a track in Central Park. In reality, the jogger was another incarnation of actor Jim Fye, who was covered in white makeup and then photographed against a bluescreen and matted into the live-action plates ."
  9. Eisenberg, Adam (November 1989). Ghostbusters Revisited, Cinefex magazine #40, page 20-21. Cinefex, USA. Tom Rosseter says: "Developing the look of the ghost jogger was difficult, take him down a little and add more contrast. The ghost jogger became an interesting study in how to use contrast mattes and how to extract contrast from the negative when it is not really there. We fooled around with it quite a bit until we got a look that balanced just right with the background plate and the action in the scene."
  10. Eisenberg, Adam (November 1989). Ghostbusters Revisited, Cinefex magazine #40, page 17 footnote. Cinefex, USA. Line reads: "Playing the ghost, Jim Fye was covered with white makeup and photographed against a bluescreen for subsequent compositing into a live-action plate."
  11. Wallace, Daniel (2015). Ghostbusters The Ultimate Visual History, p. 166. Insight Editions, San Rafael CA USA, ISBN 9781608875108. Jim Fye says: "The jogger was the first thing I shot, in January of 1989."
  12. Eisenberg, Adam (November 1989). Ghostbusters Revisited, Cinefex magazine #40, page 10-11. Cinefex, USA. Mark Vargo says: "On the second show, we were able to move the camera quite a bit and use a lot of different focal lengths. For instance, for one shot we were on a dolly in Central Park with a gearhead and an 85 mm lens and we were tracking an invisible subject that would later be added in optical. Our camera move was very crude and we did it in a very low-tech way--but optical can handle such situations today in ways we could not have done easily five years ago."
  13. Loftur Þorsteinsson (2016). IDW Comics- "Ghostbusters International #11" (2016) (Comic p.4). Loftur Þorsteinsson says: "The veil to beyond is thinnest here, in this park."
  14. Winston Zeddemore (2019). IDW Comics- "Transformers/Ghostbusters Issue #4" (2019) (Comic p.11). Winston Zeddemore says: "... but we exploded his marshmallow butt all over Central Park West."
  15. Narrator (2016). Insight Editions- "Tobin's Spirit Guide" (2016) (Comic p.7). Paragraph reads: "From the public library to the Foley Square courthouse; from Madison Avenue to Central Park; the New York metropolitan area is full of iconic locations plagued by supernatural phenomena."
  16. Narrator (2016). Insight Editions- "Tobin's Spirit Guide" (2016) (Book p.23). Paragraph reads: "CLASS III. CORPOREAL, BUT SEMI-TRANSPARENT. ANCHORED TO CENTRAL PARK."
  17. Narrator (2016). Insight Editions- "Tobin's Spirit Guide" (2016) (Book p.69). Paragraph reads: "Samhain first manifested in Central Park, summoning lesser entities (which Samhain referred to as its "children") and syphoning strength from them."


Gallery[]

Overall[]

Primary Canon Images[]

Primary Canon (Expanded Universe) Images[]

Secondary Canon Images[]

Behind the Scenes Images[]

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