Since Halloween is less than a week away, maybe some “ghost” stories would be fun!

Since I’m a Realtor, of course, my stories will be about houses– Today’s house belongs (or belonged) to is Ozzie Nelson.

The present owners of 1822 Camino Palermo Road say this home is the site of several supernatural occurrences: water faucets and light switches turn themselves off and on. Doors swing open and closed by themselves. And they have also heard loud footsteps from no where. In 1994, a house painter said he heard some footsteps and saw a white, misty form looking over his work.

This house was made famous as the television home of the Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet. The show featured Ozzie Nelson — a renowned bandleader from the 30s and 40s — and his singer/actress wife Harriet Hilliard. When the couple started their family, Ozzie created a radio show costarring his wife to keep the couple in the same city. They hired actors to portray their two real-life sons and Ozzie based the show’s stories on what he perceived to be “real” family situations. However, when the Nelson’s sons became teenagers, they begged to play themselves. After a successful movie pilot, where the Nelson’s used their sons–the boys were hired and the show moved to TV.

The family home was used for exterior shots. A replica of the interior was built on the Nelson’s set.

The show ran from 1952 to 1966 — and launched the career of Rick Nelson — one of the most popular rock singers of the early 60s. After the show’s cancellation, Ozzie never really enjoyed the same notoriety. He tried one more TV show in the 70s that failed and died in 1975 of liver cancer at age 69.

Harriet continued to live in the house until a burglary. After that, she sold the house and moved to a condo in Laguna Beach. Harriet died in 1999. Rick died in a plane crash in 1985.

David Nelson, a producer, is that last living remember of the family.

If you want to read more:

http://www.seeing-stars.com/Died/Haunted.shtml or http://www.hauntedhouses.com/states/ca/nelson_house.cfm