Today's Friday the 13th, but I am not going to mess around with the cliche Jason Voorhes movie pics or the history behind why 13 is bad luck or even phobias for the number 13. Not me. I just want to talk about something that has fascinated me to no end since I was a kid...
The missing 13th floor!
That missing 13th floor is such a common part of our daily lives, that we enter buildings with no designated 13th floor and yet we don't stop to think how very archaic and unusual that is.
Here's is what Wikipedia says about the 13th floor. "Reasons for omitting a thirteenth floor include triskaidekaphobia on the part of the building's owner or builder, or a desire by the building owner or landlord to prevent problems that may arise with superstitious tenants, occupants, or customers. Based on an internal review of records, Dilip Rangnekar of Otis Elevators estimates that 85% of the buildings with elevators did not have a floor named the 13th floor. Future building designers, fearing a fire on the 13th floor, or fearing tenants' superstitions about the rumor, decided to omit having a 13th floor listed on their elevator numbering. This practice became commonplace, and eventually found its way into mainstream culture and building design."
I always fantasized that there was a 13th floor, one that it took the right conditions to stop at and in which one would find a strange "other" world. There was a pretty cool movie called "Nightmare on the 13th Floor." It was about a reporter learning about people missing in a hotel and comes across an unmarked 13th floor. It ends up with some kind of satanic group and a killer on the 13th floor that they send people to. I really enjoyed it and wouldn't mind owning that one. Anything having to do with the 13th floor has my interest.
Nightmare On The 13th Floor Custom Trailer
Nightmare On The 13th Floor | Myspace Video
If any of you happen to work or live in a building that has a marked 13th floor, please take a picture! They are very hard to find!
**Tonight is Lonely on a Friday Night--join us here and hang out and chat.**
My wife says Friday the 13th is always a lucky day for her. But I don't think I could convince HOMER.
ReplyDeleteIt's always been a charming day for me, but that's probably because I make myself sit down and enjoy watching Friday the 13th and any horror movie watching day is a happy one.
ReplyDeleteFun post. I got a pic of the elevator buttons at the Hotel Monteleone in New Orleans when we stayed there because they were missing a 13th floor. It's in this post:
ReplyDeletehttp://hauntjaunts.net/blog/2011/03/25/why-hotel-monteleones-haunted-14th-floor-isnt-what-it-seems/
Haha. I was in NY one summer and I couldn't find a 13th floor anywhere!
ReplyDeleteIf I see a marked 13th floor, I will take a picture and send it to you.
ReplyDeleteInteresting. I don't think I have ever seen a 13th floor and it has always bothered me as well, seeing as just omiting the number does not omit that fact that if you count the floors 13 is still there. You can't rid of it, haha. Seeing as it is Friday the 13th I am probably going to be renting the original and possibly the remake (because I am lame like that) and watch them this evening.
ReplyDeleteOh wow! I'm watching them this evening too! Yahoo. If you're bored, I'm gonna be doing Lonely Friday night here. Yeah, 14th floor--everybody--it's the 13th floor! Now, If I could get room 666 on that floor, I'd never have a Jehovah's at my door again.
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I'll keep my eyes peeled for a 13th floor!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely be on here tonight. I have no plans, aside from a bit of mild writing and watching a few horror flicks to 'celebrate' Friday 13.
ReplyDeleteTomorrow, I start my vacation for 5 days...yahoo! I'm ready to par-tay!
ReplyDeleteIt may say 14, but it's still the 13th floor. However, superstition runs so deep, that commercial real estate companies actually find it difficult to lease space on a 13th floor. Another reason for no 13 on the elevator. Personally, the number 13 has been kind to me. Except when Blogger explodes. But WAIT....it did come back on the 13th didn't it!!
ReplyDeleteTechnically, it went out on the 12th, came back on the 13th. The 13th is always lucky for me. If there was a 13th floor, I'd rent the whole damn thing and have it unmarked with a special code way to stop there.
ReplyDeleteI was at my room, talking to a old friend after a long time, when she started starring at something behind me. "What's wrong?" I asked. "There is a woman outside your window" was her answer. I live in the 13° floor. (really happend three years ago, I'm closing my windows right now)
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