Haunted History of the Palace Theater in Broadway, Manhattan
The Palace Theater in the heart of Manhattan's Broadway theater district was once a mecca for vaudeville entertainers desperate to "play the Palace." The legendary ghosts of the Palace Theater, at times, overshadow their modern counterparts. It seems that these vaudeville performers are still roaming and "playing" the Palace Theater, hoping for fame, notoriety and one last curtain call.
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Apparitions
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According to Playbill (2005), the Palace Theater is home to more than 100 ghosts. Sightings include a white-gowned cellist who plays her lost melody into the darkness, a weeping child looking on from the balcony, a man in a brown suit (possibly a former manager) walking past office doors late into the night, and a small boy rolling toy trucks on the landing behind the mezzanine.
A Deadly Act
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One more menacing sighting is that of Louis Borsalino, a vaudeville acrobat who fell, snapping his neck, during a live performance. Eye witnesses have claimed to see this performer walking his tightrope from balcony to mezzanine. Other witnesses claim the acrobat lets out a blood-curdling scream, just before re-enacting his deadly fall. Even more chilling is the consequence of spotting this deathly act--legend has it that anyone who is unlucky enough to watch the acrobat's final performance will also suffer a tragedy within days.
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An A-List Ghost
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Perhaps the most honored ghost of the Palace Theater is that of legendary Broadway singer and Hollywood sensation Judy Garland. A door at the rear of the orchestra pit was built specifically for Garland's entrances and exits and it is there that her spirit is often seen and felt lingering onstage before taking a bow.
Unexplained Phenomena
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Eye witnesses have reported several unexplained phenomena. For example, after dark, the sounds and smells of the Palace also come to life. The faint melody of the ancient Steinway piano can be heard coming from the orchestra and the smell of cigarettes lingers nightly outside the old manager's office.
Expert Insight
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While the Palace Theater has been on many ghosthunter lists since the first sightings in the 1960s, it will be The Paranormal Research & Investigative Studies Midwest (P.R.I.S.M.) that will be scheduled to visit the Palace to scientifically investigate claims of alleged hauntings.
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References
- Photo Credit Palace Theater, Photobucket
