Haunted Places – Pantages Theater

Posted by scarygeek on January 21, 2010 at 19:07 pm

When I was in elementary school I remember we had a field trip to the Pantages Theater in Hollywood, California.  I remember the interior was really quite beautiful, and made me think of a castle, or palace.  The Pantages is located at 6233 Hollywood, Blvd, and yes, it is haunted.  The theater was originally completed in the 1930’s, and was a stage theater.  In 1949, it was purchased by Howard Hughes, and it became part of old RKO Pictures, and it was turned into a movie screen theater.  In 1967, it was purchased by Pacific Theaters, and was then turned back into an all stage theater, and the Broadway Touring Company performed there.  There is a reason for me giving you all of this information before we talk about the hauntings, and I am getting to that…..lol.

Since 1932, there has been a woman spirit that visits when the theater is dark and quiet.  She is believed to be a woman who was a patron, and who also had dreams of becoming a performer, died during one of the performances.  They say her singing can be heard, day or night.  Once, during a performance in 1994, her voice was picked up during a live performance, and they said she was singing along with the performers.

Howard Hughes, supposedly haunts the second floor in and around what used to be his office, and is now a large conference room.  Employees have reported cold spots, and sudden passing of air, like someone walking by.  Twice, there have been reports of a tall male entity, walking around the corner to what used to be his office, and sometimes there is even the scent of a smoke.

Alexander Pantages, was a very gentlemanly man, and his ghost is said to have helped an older employee of the theater, after she fell down in the theater when it was dark, and she could not see.  Apparently, he took her by the arm and escorted her to the door and when she turned the lights on to thank him, there was no one to be found. 

I did not experience any paranormal activity while I was there, but it sure would be fun to go back, and see what I could find now.