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New York's Haunted Theaters & Playhouses, Where Big Scares Take Center Stage
It's no surprise that ##Region## is home to numerous local theaters with haunted history - a night at the theater has been an American pastime for centuries! Theaters are seemingly always abuzz with foot traffic, excitement, and of course, drama, which is why many theaters are believed to be haunted by the spirits of actors, actresses, and theatergoers that frequented their favorite theater before their departure. If you've got a love for the stage in addition to your enthusiasm for ##Region##'s Haunted History and Ghost Hunting, then you'll want to check out one of the local haunted theaters next time you're looking for real scares!
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The New Amsterdam Theatre was built in 1903 and is said to be haunted by the spirit of an actress who once worked there. In 1920 Olive Thomas was in Paris for her second honeymoon when she mistakenly took her husband, Jack Pickford’s mercury bichloride pills; the medication was mean to treat Pickford’s syphilis, but instead took Thomas’ live. Though she died a long way from home, Thomas...
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Categories: Real Haunted Theaters
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The Lancaster Opera House was built in 1894 as a conjoined music hall and town hall and, after a few renovations, continues to act as a performing arts and civic center for the community to this day. Patrons and actors have long held that the building is haunted, claiming that there are two distinct ghosts in the theater. One, a man named William, is thought to be the spirit of a person...
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Categories: Real Haunted Theaters
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Manhattan is well known for its active theater scene, which remains consistently popular with locals, tourists, and evidently ghosts as well. The Belasco Theatre, for example, is said to be haunted by its former owner and namesake, David Belasco, who died in 1931. Both the spirit of Belasco and that of his partner, nicknamed The Blue Lady, have been known to appear on stage in the...
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Categories: Real Haunted Theaters
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Lucille Ball Little Theatre was founded in 1936 and has been entertaining Jamestown ever since. Evidently some patrons love the Little Theatre so much that they never left! Reports of ghostly activity include objects going missing, sudden chills, and white orbs appearing in photographs. Staff members report being alone in the building and hearing their names called from the library, and...
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Categories: Real Haunted Theaters
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The Francis Marion Brown Theatre in Oswego’s Fort Ontario Park is rumored to be haunted. Legend has it that a homeless person once died in the building’s basement, and now his spirit roams the theater. More specifically, he seems to like to stay in the dressing room where he opens and closes doors, rearranges objects, and causes clothes hangers to swing.
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Categories: Real Haunted Theaters
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Shea’s Performing Arts Center opened on Main Street in Buffalo in 1926 and has been entertaining guests ever since. It is said to be haunted by its proprietor, Michael Shea, who died ten years after the theater’s opening. His spirit has been seen throughout the building and is said to watch performances from his own special seat. A ghostly voice has also been heard saying “isn’t this...
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Categories: Real Haunted Theaters
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The Stanley Theater in Utica was a movie theater which first opened in 1928; it also hosted live theater events and more recently has shifted to focus on the performing arts. Visitors to the theater say they have seen shadows and apparitions on the stage and in the balcony. There have also been reports of phantom footsteps being heard, a ghost in the women’s restroom, and a row of seats...
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Categories: Real Haunted Theaters
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This four-story theater building was originally constructed in 1874. It went through a series of ownership and occupant changes over the years and was even in danger of being demolished before being added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971. After heavy reconstruction, the theater was once more able to open and has been putting on shows ever since.
Not every actor who...
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Categories: Real Haunted Theaters
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The Capitol Theatre in Rome opened in 1927 as a movie theater, and would host live acts on occasion as well. In the mid 1980s those roles were reversed, with the building converting into a live theater that would also screen occasional movies. Around the time of the switch from recorded to live theater, reports of ghostly activity also began springing up. Reports include doors that open...
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Categories: Real Haunted Theaters
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The Rapids Theater in Niagara Falls is an events center and concert venue that has been open to the public since 1921. It is said to be haunted by the ghost of an actress who committed suicide in the building some decades ago. Patrons and performers have seen doors open and close on their own, unexplained lights, and apparitions on stage. There have also been strange noises including...
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Categories: Real Haunted Theaters
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The Islip Cinema was formerly known as the Islip Pavilion Theater when it first opened in 1946. Those who have worked there have reported of unusual incidences, including sounds of footsteps and knocking when no one was around. There's also disembodied breathing and heartbeats that have been heard coming from the building.
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Categories: Real Haunted Theaters
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Opened in February, 1928, the Landmark Theatre was originally an opulent cinema built by the Loew’s Corporation under the name Loew’s State Theater. Attendance plummeted in the 1970s, however, and the building was in danger of being demolished until a local historical preservation society formed to purchase the building and convert it into a performing arts center. Residents were happy...
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Categories: Real Haunted Theaters
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The Auditorium Theater in Rochester has long entertained crowds with live theater and touring shows. It is also said to host a number of ghosts who have made appearances before guests and actors. Patrons have reported seeing strange things moving backstage, and the spirit of an elderly man has also been seen. A second ghost dressed in red has been spotted in the lobby, and many have...
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Categories: Real Haunted Theaters
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Opened in 1913, the Palace Theater has been active on Broadway for over a century. Along the way it has hosted performances by top actors including Richard Kiley, Lauren Bacall, George Hearn, and Keith Carradine. Many an actor has gotten a standing ovation at the theater, but one performer was much less fortunate than the rest. During an act in the 1950s a funambulist and acrobat fell...
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Categories: Real Haunted Theaters
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While this cinema is now torn down and has been replaced with a Lowe's store, the land remains haunted many believe. Back when the cinema was still standing, there were reports of haunting activities including ghostly shadows that would appear across the movie screen and scratch marks that would appear and disappear on the concession stand glass after it's been cleaned. Employees have...
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Categories: Real Haunted Theaters
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This property dates back to the early 1930's and once stood as a one-screen movie theater with over 500 seats and a balcony. When it was purchased by United Artists, it became a discount second run movie house and it only cost about $2 to see a movie here!
It is believed that the place is haunted by its then projectionist who would travel between this location and the Northport...
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Categories: Real Haunted Theaters
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Construction on what is now the Ghostlight Theatre began in 1889, after its completion the building served as a church for over a century. The congregation moved to a new building around the turn of the 21st century and the building was sold to Starry Night Theatre, Inc, which gave the building its new name and purpose. However, actors and patrons alike have found that they are not...
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Categories: Real Haunted Theaters
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The Echo Club occupies a building that was built in 1885 as a 24-room mansion by Thomas V Welch. The Club today operates as a restaurant, bar, and theater, often hold interactive dinner theater events and providing tours of the historic building. The old mansion has long been rumored to be haunted by a malicious spirit who smashes plates, moves furniture, and screams at guests. There...
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Categories: Real Haunted Houses | Real Haunted Places | Real Haunted Theaters
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The Friars Club was founded in 1904, comprised primarily of comedians and celebrities, and moved to its current building in 1957. The club is best known for its celebrity roasts and holds several events throughout the year. Some visitors say that they have seen the ghost of Vaudeville performer Al Kelly, who died of a heart attack in the club’s dining room in 1966. Doors have been known...
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Categories: Real Haunted Theaters
