Long Beach Underground—a partnership with Studio One Eleven, Intertrend Communications, and James Tir (aka @LBFoodComa)—will begin its inaugural outing with “Temples.” Guests will explore the depths of two of Downtown Long Beach’s oldest and most storied structures. On one hand, the Psychic Temple on Broadway. And, on the other, the Masonic Temple on Pine Avenue, both designed in the early 1900s by architect Henry F. Starbuck. All the while sipping, eating, and, well, stirring up the spirits.
The evening takes place on Thursday, Oct. 16 from 6PM to 9PM, with tickets currently on sale.
“‘Temples’ is a journey,” said James. “It’s a progressive evening that moves from the spectral quiet of the Psychic Temple to a haunting feast inside the Masonic Temple. Each course and each cocktail is designed to awaken the senses and stir what lingers beneath the surface of Pine Avenue. This isn’t a ghost tour. It’s a haunting.”
The storied history of the Psychic Temple will be part of Long Beach Underground’s inaugural evnet.
Long Beach’s past has long been connected to spiritualists and charlatans posing as spiritualists. Among them was Dr. William R. Price, a former Baptist preacher turned hypnotist and healer. In 1905, he built what he claimed was the world’s first structure dedicated to “psychological work.” That building, the Psychic Temple, rose at 224 E. Broadway under the motto “Health and happiness for all.” Funded by followers of Price’s Society of New and Practical Psychology—also called the Holy Kiss Society—the Romanesque Revival landmark quickly became one of the city’s most eccentric attractions.
Price’s charisma and controversy were inseparable. His followers believed in his power to heal through touch and mind, while his critics accused him of manipulating devotees into mortgaging their homes to fund his temple and perform sexual favors. By 1908, the financial foundation of his vision began to crumble, and after years of lawsuits, Price sold the building in 1911. His departure ended the Psychic Temple’s brief era of spiritual experimentation, but not its story. Under new ownership, it became the American Hotel—a flophouse, speakeasy, and wartime hangout for GIs—surviving the Depression, earthquakes, and decades of neglect.
The Psychic Temple managed to defy demolition time and again. Thanks to the preservation efforts of Intertrend, the landmark stands today as a testament to Long Beach’s layered identity: part spiritual curiosity, part architectural resilience, and wholly emblematic of a city that never quite lets go of its ghosts.
The Masonic Temple, now home to Altar Society Brewing, will host supper for Long Beach Underground.
Altar Society Brewing gave new life to the city’s historic Masonic Temple at 230 Pine Ave. Housed in a 1903 structure, the space is one of the few surviving examples of architect Starbuck’s turn-of-the-century work—and is now a flagship destination for craft beer lovers, coffee aficionados, and community gatherings.
At its core, Altar Society is a brewpub, pizzeria, and coffee roaster. Beyond food and drink, the venue also functions as an event space and cultural hub. Weekly and seasonal events—like rum tasting conferences, DJ nights, live music, and wellness classes—help animate the three floors of the building.
And its blend of historic architecture, artful brewing, and community programming offer a perfect space for the inaugural “supper haunting” for Long Beach Underground.
Long Beach Underground takes place on Thursday, Oct. 16 from 6PM to 9PM, with tickets currently on sale. It will start at the Psychic Temple (Intertrend Communications) and end at the Masonic Temple (Altar Society Brewing).
