FRIENDLY ACQUAINTANCE: Michael Haddy and Voula Kasdalis say Francis is a friendly ghost.
FRANCIS, the Adelaide Arcade ghost, has been caught on the centre's security cameras for the first time, so it appears.
Adelaide Arcade promotions manager Sharon Leaney provided the City Messenger with the eerie surveillance footage which shows a burst of light, man-like, fading in and out, near the Grenfell St end of the arcade.
Click http://www.messenger.net.au/vids/videopxt.3gp to see Francis.
"It's been on the surveillance cameras for quite a few days," Ms Leaney said.
"We have had lots of reports of people hearing footsteps, going cold, but this (film) is the first time I've ever seen anything."
The Adelaide Arcade ghost is said to be its former caretaker Francis Cluney.
He was investigating a flickering light one night in June, 1887, when he fell into the generator and died. Adelaide Arcade, built in 1885, was the first mall in Australia to boast electric lights.
Adelaide Arcade's resident clairvoyant Joan Lesley has no doubt it's Francis on camera.
"He's a nice guy," Ms Lesley said.
However, she said he wasn't happy with the upgrades and renovations to the arcade, such as a new lift near where the generator used to be, or the refit of the Haigh's shop, on the Grenfell St corner.
Ms Lesley said the arcade was also home to other ghosts: Francis' friend, who she thinks is called Joseph, and a baby and a woman, who were both smothered in the precinct.
"(The upgrades) disturb the ghosts' peace when they come out," she said.
Arcade trader Voula Kasdalis, of Deva hair and beauty, said Francis was a friendly ghost.
"My husband and I have felt things like a tap on the shoulder but it's friendly," she said.
Innovation Science director Michael Haddy was sceptical but admitted to experiencing a few strange occurrences.
He once ducked into the arcade on his way to the airport, at about 5am, when doors started slamming. There was no wind.
"It was kind of spooky at that time of the morning and as far as I'm aware no one was in the arcade at the same time."
Ghosts are rumoured to haunt other city locations, including the Railway Station, Old Parliament House, the SA Museum and the Old Adelaide Gaol.
In North Adelaide, there have been reports of other-worldly beings at Carclew House and in the cellars of the British Hotel, which were once used by the police as a temporary morgue.
SAFM's breakfast team was planning a stay over in Adelaide Arcade tonight (April 10).
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