Jogger Ghost

The Jogger Ghost (also known as The Phantom Jogger) ^[1] was the spirit of a man who had jogged near Central Park in life.

History

Primary Canon History

After dying, likely quickly and tragically, this man either did not realize he had died and continued to jog at his former haunt near the Reservoir in Central Park, as he was seen checking his pulse shortly before being captured, or he just retained his hobby.

Unfortunately, he often appeared in bright daylight, frightening those going for a nice stroll. He also had a habit of pushing people out of his way to clear his path.

The Ghostbusters eventually trapped him by simply laying a Trap in his path and having Peter Venkman wait nearby in disguise to strike the activation foot pedal upon on Ray Stantz's signal, leaving the park a little safer for the citizens of NYC.

Secondary Canon

Insight Editions

The Jogger's origins were undiscovered but based on the habit of checking its pulse, it was believed he died a sudden death like a heart attack. ^[2] The Jogger manifested several times each day on Central Park's running paths. Runners and horses were scared by its sudden appearances but the ghost started out as mostly benign. However, as it appeared more and more, the ghost became more aggressive and even began shoving runners out of its way. ^[3] The Ghostbusters were able to easily calculate the time of its next manifestation thanks to its predictable routes. Peter sat on a park bench near the reservoir with a Trap and captured it.

Behind the Scenes

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. ^[4] 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. ^[5]

Trivia

Jim Fye filmed his Jogger Ghost scene in front of blue screen in January 1989.^[6]
On page one of Ghostbusters Volume 2 Issue #2, the male jogger accosted by Gareth Dibello is visually based on the Jogger Ghost.

Classification

Secondary Canon

Insight Editions

The Jogger Ghost is an anchored Class III Corporeal. ^[7] The type of entity it is is a confused spirit. ^[8]

Appearances

Primary Canon

Ghostbusters II

Chapter 12: Two in the Box

Secondary Canon

Real Ghostbusters Starring in Ghostbusters II

Part 2

Insight Editions

Tobin's Spirit Guide
- Section I: Ghosts of New York
  - Page 23

References

↑ Narrator (2016). Insight Editions- "Tobin's Spirit Guide" (2016) (Book p.23). Paragraph reads: "Each time it manifested, the Phantom Jogger could actually be seen checking its pulse as though it still had a beating heart."
↑ Narrator (2016). Insight Editions- "Tobin's Spirit Guide" (2016) (Book p.23). Paragraph reads: "It's most likely that the Jogger wasn't aware that it had actually passed on, which isn't uncommon in the case of an instantaneous death---a sudden heart attack could have killed the Jogger before he had the chance to register his own passing (for more on this type of entity, see the entry on confused spirits on page 34)."
↑ Narrator (2016). Insight Editions- "Tobin's Spirit Guide" (2016) (Book p.23). Paragraph reads: "The Jogger manifested several times each day, and although its sudden appearance would spook other runners and occasionally the horses on the bridle paths, it was mostly benign. However, the more it appeared, the more aggressive it became, until it resorted to shoving others out of its path."
↑ Eisenberg, Adam (November 1989). Ghostbusters Revisited, Cinefex magazine #40, page 21. Cinefex, USA.
↑ Eisenberg, Adam (November 1989). Ghostbusters Revisited, Cinefex magazine #40, page 17 footnote. Cinefex, USA.
↑ 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."
↑ Narrator (2016). Insight Editions- "Tobin's Spirit Guide" (2016) (Book p.23). Paragraph reads: "CLASS III. CORPOREAL, BUT SEMI-TRANSPARENT. ANCHORED TO CENTRAL PARK."
↑ Narrator (2016). Insight Editions- "Tobin's Spirit Guide" (2016) (Book p.23). Paragraph reads: "It's most likely that the Jogger wasn't aware that it had actually passed on, which isn't uncommon in the case of an instantaneous death---a sudden heart attack could have killed the Jogger before he had the chance to register his own passing (for more on this type of entity, see the entry on confused spirits on page 34)."