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The Victoria
Theater: Dayton Ohio
 Dayton Ohio is best known as the
birthplace of aviation, and perhaps a little bit more obscure, for the
electric automotive starter, and the cash register. Besides its history of
innovation and progress in modern industry, Dayton has a few more equally
interesting stories. In the heart of downtown there is a lovely old theater
called the Victoria. Closed several times over the years, and turned into a
movie house for a short time in the 60's the theater is now restored to its
former ornate beauty. The theater is once again active with numerous
theatrical productions and concerts throughout the year. There are at least
two ladies, however, who would argue that the theater has continuously been
active.
Some time in the theater's early years, a young woman was attacked in
one of the upper boxes during a performance. In the darkness and as the
music peaked, she was murdered. While the spirit of this young woman
has only been seen a few times since, there have been instances
reported, where gentlemen have entered the theater box only to be
slapped hard across the face. Of course no one is ever found in the
box, but the phantom hand strikes so hard that it leaves a bright red
welt on the face of the gentleman.
A
sudden and powerful sent of roses has frequently caught visitors and
patrons by surprise. In several instances they are even more startled,
when the sent is accompanied by a vision of a young woman in a beautiful
gown. Paying little attention to anyone, and after just a few seconds
she vanishes into the shadows of the theater. The legend suggests that
she was an actress who left the stage for what was intended to be only
a few minutes, but vanished never to be heard from again. While this
incident is said to have occurred at the turn of the century, the
mystery remains unsolved to this day.
by:
Dr. Von Zuko 1998©
The Central City Opera House
 Once
known as the "Richest Square Mile on Earth" Central City was the largest
city in the early years of Colorado's development. Central City was not
only the economic center of Colorado in the 1860s and 1870's, it was
also the cultural center of the territory.
One of the more famous landmarks in the old mining town is the Central
City Opera House. Here, some of Colorado's finest troupes of
entertainers performed, and some have stayed on to perform in the
spectral light of the hereafter. One such spirit is that of Mike
Dougherty, a miner turned accomplished stage performer, and a favorite
in the territory of 1865. Unfortunately, and like many residence of
this rough and tumble frontier town, Dougherty drank himself to death.
Apparently Mike's love of the stage has caused him to linger.
Over the years, numerous back-stage
visitors have reported being nearly overwhelmed with the strong (but
fleeting) odor of alcohol sometimes accompanied by a stout nudge on the
shoulder, or their hair being lightly ruffled from behind. While
Dougherty seems to be a friendly ghost, the living are always
considerably startled when they turn to look and realize that they are
alone in the darkened corridor.
Other reported occurrences have included
strange flickering orbs of light that seem to float across a darkened
stage and then vanish into the wings. The distinct sound of footsteps in
the balcony, thought to be those of a long departed female patron, and
the presence of an occasional cold spot that moves from one corner to
the next backstage. Nearly all of these occurrences have been reported
when the theater is dark (not in use for performances.)
by: Dr. Von Zuko 1998©
Orpheum Theater : Memphis Tennessee
 Once
called the "South's Finest Theater," the playhouse on the corner of Main
and Beale Street in downtown Memphis has risen from the ashes and evaded
the wreaking ball several times in its history.
Built in 1890 as "The Grand Opera House,"
the theater rivaled those of New York City and Chicago. Its
primary venue was Vaudeville and over time, the theater became part of
what was known as the Orpheum Vaudeville circuit. As a result it
was renamed The Orpheum Theater in 1907. In 1923, during a show, a
fire broke out and the theater burnt to the ground. It was rebuilt
in 1928 and the new Orpheum was twice as large and twice as opulent as
the Grand Opera. Today, the newer Orpheum Theater is a
mainstay in the Memphis entertainment complex.
This more recent theater however, has a
few unsettling ties to the past. Over the years many people have
reported seeing a diaphanous apparition of a young woman, who has come
to be called Mary. Theater staff and patrons alike have
encountered Mary at the most unexpected times. On many occasions
she is glimpsed sitting in seat C-5, sometimes at night after the
audience has left the theater, other times she is glimpsed during the
day. In other instances, it is the sound of faint giggling that is
heard, and there have also been reports of unseen fingers running across
the keys on the massive Wurlitzer pipe organ.
Maintenance and office staff have also been subjected to mysteriously
opening and closing doors, sounds coming from areas in the theater that
are unoccupied and other mischief such as misplaced objects.
by: Dr. Von Zuko 2007©
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Memorial Hall: Dayton Ohio
Constructed
in 1909, Dayton's impressive Memorial Hall is listed on the National
Historic Register. In addition to hosting numerous public performances
and private events, it is home to the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra.
It is also home to the spirit of a gentleman who once cared for the
property.
In the late 1960's, a custodian working
alone in overhead rigging slipped and fell into the orchestra pit and
was severely injured. The man lay alone in the darkness of the theater
for hours until discovered by his co-workers. The custodian, a long
time caretaker of the theater, later passed on as a result of his
unfortunate accident. Shortly thereafter, strange, unexplained
occurrences began and have continued to this day.
Frequently, theater employees and stage
hands are startled by sounds in the rigging above. Sounds of scuffing
or distinct foot steps, sometimes accompanied by the sound of creaking
metal are those most often reported (no one is ever on the overhead
catwalks when these phenomena occur.) Lighting systems have been known
to exhibit strange behavior, strangely flickering or pulsing for no
apparent reason. Common objects, like brooms and mops, have been moved,
and others report hearing running water and toilets flushing when no one
else is in the building.
It causes one to reflect, that as we have
purpose and commitment in life, we must also have purpose and commitment
in death.
by: Dr. Von Zuko 1998©
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