The 1980 film The Changeling is based on the paranormal events Russell Hunter experienced while living in an old home near Cheesman Park in the late 1960s.
Hunter had worked as a musical arranger for CBS-TV in New York City, but moved to Colorado in the mid-1960s to help his parents manage the Three Birches Lodge in Boulder. In the late 1960s, Hunter began looking for an apartment in Denver where he could live and work on his music. He rented a home at 1739 East 13th Avenue (which has since been torn down).
Hunter claimed that beginning on February 9, 1969, he started experiencing strange phenomenon in the house. First there was the “unbelievable banging and crashing” that occurred every morning at 6 a.m. (and stopped as soon as Hunter’s feet would touch the floor). Then, faucets began to turn on by themselves and doors opened and closed on their own. Walls vibrated violently, tossing paintings to the floor.
Shortly thereafter, Hunter and an architect friend uncovered a hidden staircase in the back of a closet. The stairway led to the third floor of the home where Hunter found a child’s trunk containing “a nine-year-old’s schoolbooks and journal from a century ago.” The journal detailed the life of a disabled boy who was kept in isolation. The boy wrote about his favorite toy, a red rubber ball. A few nights after discovering the trunk, a red rubber ball dropped from the top of a spiral staircase in the home.
Hunter claimed that a séance revealed the story of a sickly child who was heir to a fortune from his maternal grandfather. When the child became gravely ill, his parents worried that the boy’s inheritance would pass to a different branch of the family. When their son died, the couple secretly buried him in a field in southeast Denver and adopted a boy from a local orphanage who perfectly resembled their deceased son. They trained him to take on the identity of the deceased boy (hence, the “changeling” film title) and the boy went on to become well-educated and successful.
Hunter declared that it was the deceased child who spoke through him at the séance, revealing directions to his burial place under a house on South Dahlia Street. Hunter stated that after gaining permission to dig under that home, human remains and a gold medallion inscribed with the deceased boy’s name were found in the grave. A few days later, Hunter stated that he began to experience more violent ghostly activity in his home. He said, “glass doors blew up in my face and severed an artery in my wrist. The inner walls over the head of my bed violently imploded.”
Hunter left the house and only returned to it again to watch its demolition make way for a high-rise apartment building. He remarked of the razing, “As the walls of the wing which had contained my bedroom collapsed, they suddenly flew outward and crushed to death the man operating the bulldozer.”
As Phil Goodstein points out in his 1996 book The Ghosts of Denver: Capitol Hill, the historical details in Hunter’s story don’t exactly check out.
What can historical records tell us about the house and people that inspired the The Changeling? Next Wednesday, we’ll consult resources readily available in the Western History & Genealogy Department to fact check this frightening ghost story!
[Want to hear more about Russell's recollection of his paranormal experiences? See "The Changeling: Denver's $8 Million Ghost" by Russell Hunter in Denver Magazine, v. 10, April 1980, p. 48 — available for research in DPL's Western History Department).
Voldi way, the young Joseph
Voldi way, the young Joseph Carmichael.
Best. Ghost. Movie. EVER.
Best. Ghost. Movie. EVER. Totally stumbled upon this.... not researching or looking for it; which makes it even creepier... Lived at one time in a 125 year old haunted home; remember watching this film there, in the dark... Always was nervous on that staircase... Thanks for the info... Y'all rock!
Sounds like a perfect place
Sounds like a perfect place to watch The Changeling! Thanks for reading, Mel!
Saw "The Changeling" while at
Saw "The Changeling" while at college in 1980. Slept with the lights on for a week! This film is an excellent example of what can be created by great actors and a great story! The atmosphere provides the horror. Still frightens me 36 years later!
This film certainly has
This film certainly has staying power when it comes to frightening its audience! Thanks for sharing, Nancy!
The acting made the movie.
The acting made the movie. Good actors, good plot etc. All that was needed. Scary as it gets.
The Changeling remains,
The Changeling remains, without doubt the most compelling horror film ever made. Superbly crafted, with credible, understated performances (George C Scott is sublime), and a magnificent score, it never resorts to cheap, gore-and-guts spectacle or other 'Hollywood' trickery. I first saw it in the early 80's and have watched it countless times since. I've never tired of it. Some movies are worth buying. This is one of them.
Definitely, Hayley! A great
Definitely, Hayley! A great alternative to buying: checking The Changeling out from the Denver Public Library - http://catalog.denverlibrary.org/view.aspx?cn=463842
My favorite haunting movie
My favorite haunting movie ever. No gore, no blood and guts. Just chill the s#@$ out of you.
Thank you for a great article
Thank you for a great article. When I saw this film as a child, it scared me so much, I had to sleep in my sister's room, and there after with a light on. I really believed it was true and if the ghost knew that you knew, you were in trouble! It is a real pity that modern horror films have moved away from solid storytelling into CGI and jump scares. The Changeling was and is one of the greats.
Thank you for commenting,
Thank you for commenting, Lynn! Be sure to read our follow-up blog about the house believed to have inspired the Changeling: https://history.denverlibrary.org/news/history-denver-house-inspired-horror-film
Is my all time favorite movie
Is my all time favorite movie !...and I've been watching horror films since the middle of the 70's.....there's just something very special about this one....everything is perfect !....the actors,the soundtrack,the story,the house,the ambience.....thanks!
It's a good one to be sure!
It's a good one to be sure! Thanks for reading and commenting!
I saw this movie in the
I saw this movie in the theater when it first came out and was afraid to go home after! I found it on DVD a few years ago and watch it periodically (coincidentally, just watched it last night). All this time later and it still gives me a "goosebumps, hair-standing-up, heart-pumping" scare! The most terrifying scene for me is when Claire goes into the attic room alone and is chased all the way to the front door by the wheelchair!! What a ride!!
My parents took me to this
My parents took me to this film in the theatre. I was eleven. This film was shot outside of Vancouver, I believe. The ball scene was the scariest to me, although I slep in my parents’ bed for months after due to the well scenes. The wheelchair scene unnerved the audience in our theatre so much that they burst out laughing, and you could hear some start to cry. It was a fascinating glimpse of actual mass hysteria.
I first watched this movie
I first watched this movie with my dad when I was eight years old. It's my favorite scary film.
It's a good one! Very scary
It's a good one! Very scary for an eight-year-old I imagine. Thanks for commenting, Tracy!
I've yaken the haunted Denver
I've yaken the haunted Denver tour with Phil Goodstein and read most of his books. The subtle references to Denver's Cheeseman Park, near the site of the real home, referred to as "Chessman Park" in the movie. Still creepy and the acting by Scott and then wife Trish Van Devere was outstanding.
one of my favorites i watch
one of my favorites i watch it every year during Halloween season a awesome ghost flick
Sounds like a Halloween
Sounds like a Halloween tradition! Thanks for reading and commenting, Morris!
your welcome katie
your welcome katie
Absolutely the best horror
Absolutely the best horror film ever made! First saw it with friends, then my Mass Media Communications professor at CU Boulder showed it in class as an excellent example of film techniques--including the awesome use of camera angles, especially in the scene where the ball comes down the stairs--one of the great horror scenes of all time, without even the blood and guts and gore that are so common now in horror films. Sets are amazing too, and the score is awesome, and very effective. My husband and I bought it on videocassette years ago, when our kids were small. Our younger daughter heard the music from her bedroom accidentally one night when we were watching it thinking she was asleep, and even when she was older she didn't want to be around when we watched it, because just the music still creeps her out. We now own it on DVD of course and still watch it at Halloween time every year. I was glad to see the comments here to know we are not the only ones. What a great movie, and what excellent acting by the great George C Scott!
It is state here "He rented a
It is state here "He rented a home at 1739 East 13th Avenue (which has since been torn down)." However, in the movie and in real life the house burns to the ground. By the way, he still had the red rubber ball at his house in Denver.
I first saw this movie before
I first saw this movie before I reached the age of 10. I'm 36 now and to this day CANNOT watch this movie either:
a) alone
b) in the dark
c) not holding on to someone/something
d) without covering my eyes at points
I'm a grown man, these things shouldn't happen! But I've been affected that deeply by this movie that the damage is irreversible.
Maybe about 10 years ago, my then girlfriend lived in a college dorm and I went to visit her and brought this DVD along. Her and a bunch of friends watched this movie but since the kids were dopes they didn't find it at all scary and they were laughing at the wheelchair chase scene. I wanted to kick those losers for not appreciating a good movie, they said to me "it wasn't THAT good". Ugh whatever.
Great read!
Thanks for reading and
Thanks for reading and commenting, Steve!
One of my favorite movies of
One of my favorite movies of all time. I notice something new each time I watch it and I've been watching it for decades!
I am lucky enough to be
I am lucky enough to be married to Russell’s cousin. Spent several nights over the years at his home and got to hear these stories from him. He was a master storyteller and kept us entertained with his piano playing and hearing about other stories he wrote. The Changeling is my favorite.
Thank you for elaborate
Thank you for elaborate article since the film description reads that house did not exist.
a terrific horror film one of
a terrific horror film one of my favorites glad its gotten more notice over the years
I am a Media teacher and have
I am a Media teacher and have used The Changeling to study the brilliant filming techniques. I have watched the film many times and always find something new. If there was a top 5 of the Best Horror Films made, surely The Changeling would be right up as being the best. By the way my favourite scene in the film was at the beginning when George C Scott was playing the piano in the house and then struck a key that didn't work he then moves outside and the camera does a close up on the Piano and the dud key suddenly goes down and the note reverberates around the house, sets the scene for the rest of the film!!!
one of my favorite horror
one of my favorite horror films just watched it last night for its 40th anniversary and plan to watch it again during halloween season a terrific horror film that its based on fact makes its even more chilling all in all a must for horror fans
The weather outside is rainy
The weather outside is rainy and dark, so I decided to give "The Changeling" another watch. Wow...this movie is absolutely outstanding. This is how you film a ghost story...no blood, no gore, just total chills. When my mother passed, I inherited her wheelchair...and I can't look at it without getting gooseflesh!
Excellent film, most folk
Excellent film, most folk refer to it as a horror film when I've always spoke of it as a very well made great ghost story. I remember watching this when I was about 13 after I got a tv for xmas, it was a late night, non school night, dark and cold in my bedroom, I was under the duvet trying to hide but transfixed. The film has stuck with me for over 30 years, I bought the dvd about 5 years ago and let my 8 year old daughter watch it with me, needless to say it has stuck with her as a great ghost story, maybe not the best decision I've made as a parent! Brilliant film I've watched it countless times and it still after all these years I still get goose pimples over both my arms and around the back of my neck!!
The Changling is by far the
The Changling is by far the scariest and most errie horror movie ever made! George C. Scott was amazing in this film and the house itself became a main character. This movie will always be a classic!
The Changeling has been one
The Changeling has been one of, if not my favorite, horror films for decades. My daughter and I are horror fans, always looking for good, classic horror films or shows. I watch it whenever I catch it on, an have it on DVD, however my daughter had never seen it. It was available for rent on Amazon, and my critical daughter loved it. It is gothic horror at its best: simple, traditional frightening events that leave it up to the viewer to fill in the terrifying emotions. We are constantly disappointed whenever we watch horror films and shows, as they tend to try to create the ghost, and fail with silly representations of what they believe will fulfill the fright factor. The Changeling is still a success, 40 years later. I must mention this may be due in part to George C Scott's superb performance, but the incredible storyline and direction must also be given credit as well. Will continue to watch it for decades more.
Great movie,first watched it
Great movie,first watched it back in the 80s when I was a teenager. I loved every minute of it.i now have a copy of it and never get tired of watching it.never realised it was based on true facts.I do believe there are things out there that can't be explained.
Great movie,first watched it
Great movie,first watched it back in the 80s when I was a teenager. I loved every minute of it.i now have a copy of it and never get tired of watching it.never realised it was based on true facts.I do believe there are things out there that can't be explained.
I have seen this movie dozens
I have seen this movie dozens of times, including today. I've gotta agree with the other comments; bar none the best horror film ever. It gives me goose bumps just as much now as it did when I first saw it 40 years ago.
Definitely the best ghost
Definitely the best ghost story ever filmed. I bought theVCR a long time ago and when the cassette player stopped working I bought the DVD. The creeping terror builds all the way through. I don’t think you could call it a horror movie- the effects aren’t predictable and cheesy. Plus, in horror movies everyone seems to make the obviously wrong moves. The manifestations are quietly frightening in a way that won’t make you jump out of your seat but it will raise the hairs on the back of your neck. Superb storytelling, definitely number one, followed by The Ring and The Haunting (1963, not the newer one).
This is one of my all time
This is one of my all time favorites and a true classic. To me it represents the best elements of what a ghost story should have. The mansion was a key part for me, along with the haunting music. This movie has a storyline that I find sad and literally ‘haunting’. It stays with you. I’m so intrigued that this movie was based on actual events! Now I’ll have to go down that rabbit hole!
This is one of my all time
This is one of my all time favorites and a true classic. To me it represents the best elements of what a ghost story should have. The mansion was a key part for me, along with the haunting music. This movie has a storyline that I find sad and literally ‘haunting’. It stays with you. I’m so intrigued that this movie was based on actual events! Now I’ll have to go down that rabbit hole!
The Changeling was a very
The Changeling was a very scary movie. Good acting, atmospheric, mysterious...everything that a horror movie should have nowadays, but doesn't sadly. The only parts of the movie that I didn't was where Russell's family was killed and where little Joseph's father kills him. The poor boy was ill and an invalid, for Pete's sake! We're there any servants? A nurse, even? I mean, where the heck was everybody when this greedy, heartless man was murdering his defenseless child? That was never explained.
My husband went to get us a
My husband went to get us a movie in 1985. He knows I love scary and suspence. He was told by an employee that The Changeling was the best. Boy oh boy was he correct. I have probably watched this movie a hundred times since then. I lived in the suburbs of Denver and had never heard of this happening.
I'm a native of Colorado and
I'm a native of Colorado and grew up in westminster. In 2017 I moved downtown Denver at approximately Franklin and colfax. I have never heard about this movie or this story until accidentally googling Cheesman Park about the headstones being removed at the park but not all of the bodies were. This is a trip I intend to check it out and watch it and read about this. Very fascinating. Whether true or untrue it sounds like a great movie to watch and some good reading to find.
The absolute best, most
The absolute best, most frightening, ghost story ever in production. This film remains unmatched in its ability to scare without special effects and gore.
My all-time scariest movie. …
My all-time scariest movie. Best scene when "Joseph" responds during the seance. Best ever
Yes! That's one of the scary…
Yes! That's one of the scary and shocking parts - you think the spirit is a little girl Cora but the voice is someone else. So haunting.
I had a boss who knew…
I had a boss who knew Russell Hunter in the seventies and he said the ghost story was connected to the Coors family in some way.
I keep posting that Russell…
I keep posting that Russell Hunter told other people that this ghost story was connected to the Coors family and my message keeps disappearing. Perhaps it is the ghosts or the Coors family are making sure my message is deleted.
1739 East 13th Avenue has…
1739 East 13th Avenue has NOT been torn down. Google it. The house next door has been torn down and the one across the street. But 1739 is still there, and IT has an attic room with a window, unlike the house in the photo. I think Denver doesn't want us to know that the house still exists...
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