SOUNDS & SCENES.
Who You Gonna Call? Not Bill Murray These fans of the 1984 film do more than just tote ghost-zapping gadgets By Lauren Macaluso with it being such an investment but we were like, ‘What else can we do with this stuff in order to make it worthwhile?’” Since June 2009, members of Philadelphia Ghostbusters have been playing the part of their favorite childhood superheroes, building their own Proton Packs (some of which cost hundreds of dollars to assemble) while raising money for local charities and foundations. South Street is the group’s go-to spot for fundraising. A donation to Great Strides: Taking Steps to Cure Cystic Fibrosis, is suggested for every photograph. The first fundraiser the Philadelphia Ghostbusters participated in was in Oct. 2009 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Light the Night Walk. Their hope is to raise enough funds to participate in at least two walks a year. Last year they raised almost $6,000 for four charities in the city. “Before I realized it wasn’t a real job as a kid, that’s what I wanted to be,” Dan Ritchie says. “When I found out it wasn’t a real job I said I still want to be it!” “Some people grow up worshipping Superman or Batman and they can’t grow up to be him necessarily,” adds Paro. “Why not grow up to be a Ghostbuster?” Want to know more about these nerds? Instead of waiting for them on South Street flash mob style, go here: www.edfx.com/philadelphiaghostbusters.
KATIE YUEN
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ver the loud rumble of traffic, five members of the Philadelphia Ghostbusters chitchat before heading over the South Street Bridge. Within minutes, a group of girls approach the Ghostbusters, excitedly begging for a photograph. “She’s from London!” one of the girls shriked. “Can she please get a picture with you?” Paul Poole, 34, of Clifton Heights, Pa., offers advice to new members of the group who are a little wary of being approached by strangers. “Don’t make eye contact, walk with determination like you’re actually doing it,” he says. “Act like there’s something wrong down there.” “People get excited because they think you’re actually going to bust ghosts,” Pool adds. To the 20 or so men and women currently affiliated with the Philadelphia Ghostbusters franchise, suiting up in a khaki-colored jumpsuit and slinging a selfmade ghost-zapping contraption on your back is all in a day’s work. Only, their fascination with the popular film goes much deeper than you’d think. Nate Paro, 27 of Landsdowne, Pa., founded the Philadelphia Ghostbusters after hearing from other Ghostbusters groups that charity work was what kept them going. “It started with a few of us that had made our gear,” Paro explains. “We kind of realized and came to terms