Report written by: Richard Roy, Director Of Franchise Ops. Pictures By: Richard Roy and GBNJ CEO, Bill Malkin
Which is why Columbia University aka The University was next. I wonder if when they made the movie, they took these things into consideration as well. Either that or its a good thing The University was the next place after Alice is scared by the library ghost! Amazing how it all worked out perfectly. We pull up along it and forunately are able to park on the street. Parking and paying were my concerns with having to drive. We walk alongside Columbia, then go 'inside' walking to the Quad. Its easy to see why a few very good scenes of Ghostbusters/II and Spiderman/II were filmed here.
The four of us walked around this beautiful, historic campus looking for Weaver Hall. We found the building I thought was used for "Weaver," but we weren't totally sure. Unfortunately I did not take a picture. Plus we believe 'ol Dean Yeager shut down the paranormal program years ago. We really thought The University was ivy league. We also had some trouble finding the walkway (a few seemed alike) on the way back to Weaver where the guys discussed the investigation of the library ghost and Egon realizes they could actually catch a ghost. "Spengs, you serious about this catching ghosts?" Venkman "I'm always serious." Egon I felt quite proud when I realized we had just walked down the "dead on" walkway. I was very excited.
Not long after we also walked by the science/research building Egon worked in before he went back into Ghostbusting at the end of the late 80s. At the time we just didn't know it. It wouldn't be until we were almost leaving when Will realized this was the building Egon worked in for a time. It was good to know even though The University no longer funds a paranormal dept, that they hired (naturally, why wouldn't they?) Dr. Spengler back sometime in the mid 80s. Before that breakthrough we hung out at Columbia (which is alright since part of The University is public property) for a little before spotting a security guard whose worked there since 1987. Taking direction from the boss man, Will asked him about the filming. once we realized he was cool, we felt comfortable enough to talk to him about Ghostbusters and Spiderman. Where he had to give us a spoiler of Spiderman 2. Thanks!!! It wasn't that bad and really who cares. If you see Spiderman 2, it'll be easy to see what he was talking about, that is the filming on Columbia U. Having the connections GBI does with Columbia, he took us on a little tour, giving us his "inside info" on Columbia's involvement with Ghostbusters. Especially when it came to using The Universities numerous libraries. If he should be reading, you were partly right. Columbia (the movie studio now owned by Sony) did consider using The Stacks, but ultimately decided to film the stacks in LA. Why we're talking about stacks (nice name for a basement full of books) he was telling us that some similar strange things were happening at their stacks. Which is actually on the 2nd floor. Being the trained professionals we are, he lead us inside and investigated. Since we didn't have our packs or other major gear, we made the best of it. Nothing out of the ordinary, (for us anway) so when we were finished, he lead us back downstairs and outside. While we still had his attention I asked about us coming back on a case or 2nd big franchsie gathering. He joked about not charging them. Even with our connections, Columbia is still getting a bill. Before parting ways, I asked if we could get a pic "Its for the school news paper." - Peter Parker. On our way out (after seeing the science building Egon used to work at) we walked out of the University where a white limo pulled up. We thought it might be Dr. Venkman, it was just a guy in a tuxedo. Maybe the groom of the bride we saw walking around the campus earlier. And the guard was worried about stacks. Once we were back at Ecto C which had burned up a parking ticket, we left to drive back down broadway to Central Park West.
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