Category Archives: Haunted Theaters

Things to Do in Salem, MA – Shops, Tours, Haunted Locations, Psychics, Museums and More

23 Wednesday Oct 2013

Posted by in Haunted Cemeteries, Haunted Hotels, Haunted Mansions, Haunted Tavern, Haunted Theaters, MA, Massachusetts, Tarot Readings, Uncategorized

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Several friends, my husband and I are planning a trip to “The Witch City” of Salem, MA.  It is not only a ghostly city, but also home to on of the most significant seaports in America.  It is home to the 1692 historical witch trials.  With many shop, such as,  New Age and Wiccan boutiques, kitschy Halloween, witch-themed attractions and a vibrant downtown that has more than 60 restaurants, cafes and coffee shops, the 15th Annual Retailers Association of Massachusetts names Salem as the best place to shop.

If you plan on visiting, be sure to plan in advance which shops, museums or haunted locations you would like to visit.  There is simply too much to see in just one weekend.

Below you will find a great selection of museums, cemeteries, historical homes, shops, tours, mock witch trials and much more.  I’m sure you will find something to satisfy everyone.  If you are interested in stopping in to a haunted house, be sure to check the website offered with many locations that I will cover at a later time.  As you narrow your choices, be sure to contact the location to ensure they are operating during the time of your visit.  Some of the locations are seasonal and close after October or November and open again around April.

Cemeteries:

  • Burying Point – Charter Street – The oldest cemetery in Salem contains the grave sites of Mayflower voyagers and John Hathorne, Judge from the Salem witch trials.

Historical Houses and Museums:

  • Corwin House/Witch House – 310 Essex Street – The only structure still standing with direct ties to the Salem witch trials of 1692.
  • Salem Witch Museum – 19 1/2 Washington Sq N. – Salem’s most visited museum focuses on the Witch Trials of 1692.
  • Witch History Museum – 283R Derby Street – Hear the untold stories of the witch trials.  Open April through November.
  • Chestnut Street – The antique houses on this street showcase one of the most architecturally beautiful streets in America.
  • Count Orlok’s Nightmare Gallery – 285 Derby Street, Salem – Hollywood FX artists have reproduced life sized monsters from over 30 different horror movies.
  • House of Seven Gables – 54 Turner Street – Includes a guided tour of the Turner-Ingersoll Mansion (The House of the Seven Gables), a visit to the Nathaniel Hawthorne House, the Counting House, the Colonial Revival Gardens, and the waterfront.
  • Museum Place – East India Square – This shopping mall offers specialty shops, , home to a single family for over 5 generationsan eatery and 3 screen movie theater and home of the Nightmare Factory, Salem’s oldest haunted house.
  • Phillips Street – 34 Chestnut Street – This is a federal style mansion that showcases 5 generations of artifacts.
  • Pickering House – 18 Broad Street – The oldest home in America, home to a single family for more than 3 1/2 centuries.
  • Salem Wax Museum – 288 Derby Street
  • Salem’s Witch Village – 282 Derby Street – Discover the myths and facts about witchcraft.  Hysteria Pass covers admission to the Wax Museum and the Witch Village.  Open year round.
  • Salem Witch Museum – 32 Derby Square – A great overview of the ares history and attractions.

Tours:

  • Salem Trolley – 8 Central Street – One hour tours through Salem with all day shuttle service.
  • The Salem Witch Walk – 125 Essex Street – Join Salem Witches bless you, take you on a tour of a graveyard and teach you the truth about different types of witchcraft.
  • Witch City Segway – 283R Derby Street – a two hour tour through the city’s attractions on a Segway.

Witch Trials:

  • Witch Dungeon Museum – 16 Linde Street – Presentation of witch trial based on the 1692 actual transcripts.  Open April through November.

Occult, Witches and Psychics – Stores, Card Readers, Mediums, etc.:

  • Enchanted Magickal Shop – 98 Wharf St. –  H.P. Laurie Cabot’s new shop.  She was famed as the original owner of the first witch shop ever.  (Be sure to call for an appointment for tarot readings!)  Robyn Mortola is fantastic!
  • Lori Bruno – 63R Pickering Wharf
  • Omen – 184 Essex St.
  • Leanne Marrama – 246 Essex

Shopping:

  • Pickering Wharf – Derby Street – Featuring harbor tours and cruises, home to many boutiques, including occult and Wiccan shops.
  • Enchanted Magickal Shop – 98 Wharf St. –  H.P. Laurie Cabot’s new shop.  She was famed as the original owner of the first witch shop ever.  (Be sure to call for an appointment for tarot readings!)

Miscellaneous:

  • Gallows Hill: The Witchcraft and Ghost Experience – 7 Lynde Street

This is an incomplete list as there is just so much to do.  These are all great places to start.

For a list of haunted locations, some of which (or witch) I will be covering the histories of here on this blog can be found by visiting the site, Salem MA Witch City Ghosts.

Please comment with your favorite location in Salem if you have visited in the past and we will report back after our visit.

Sources

  1. Salem Massachusetts – The City Guide (Website)
  2. Haunted Places to Go – Salem, MA
  3. Salem – Still Making History

America’s Most Haunted Theater – The Lincoln -Decatur, IL

13 Sunday Oct 2013

Posted by in Haunted Theaters, IL, Lincoln Theater Decatur IL, Uncategorized

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Lincoln TheaterHISTORY OF THE LINCOLN THEATER:

The Lincoln Theater in Decatur, IL, opened October 27, 1916, built atop ancient burial grounds and the ashes of two hotels that once stood on it’s very location.

This is an amazingly beautiful theater with its high balcony, basements and sub-cellars, private seating boxes, mezzanine seating, ivory colored columns, 1346 seats and amazing acoustics.

Upon it’s opening, the theater was most used for stage shows and vaudeville acts as well as high school graduations.

Many famous people performed upon its stage such as, Bob Hope, Fighter Jack Dempsey, Magician Harry Blackstone Jr.  and some may argue that  Harry Houdini may have even put on a show there early in his career.

When motion pictures became popular, the audience demanded to see more, leading to a large decrease in stage shows.

The theater closed shortly after December of 1980, except for a few live music shows on occasion.  The theater was abandoned by 1990 and was not in use for quite some time.  It has since undergone quite an extensive restoration project that has not stopped performers from putting on a show or two.  It has been reported by many to have experienced ongoing paranormal and unexplained activity in the theater during these events.

THE LOCATION PRIOR TO THE LINCOLN THEATER

In 1860, the site was first the home of The Priest Hotel which was bought out in 1880 and the name was changed to the New Deming.   Later in 1892 it changed hands again and was renamed The Decatur & Arcade Hotel.

Fire Decatur Arcade HotelThe building caught fire in 1904 and was rebuilt only to later, in 1915 catch fire again (see photo left) due to some oily rags near a furnace, this time, taking 2 lives that have been documented but several other guests were unaccounted for.  It is unsure if they escaped the fire as their bodies were never recovered.  Of the two men who were recovered, one, William E. Graham was an engineer and the other, C. S. Guild, a traveling salesman.

Troy Taylor, author of “Haunted Decatur,” on his web page listed below, talks about how there have been reports of haunts at this location since the 1930’s.

One legend has it that the most reported to be a stagehand named, “Red,” who’s love of the theater and performers may have him coming back to haunt the place.  One night, while working on the catwalk, some 75 feet above the stage, it is said that Red lost his footing and fell to his death.  However, after investigation, Troy states this story is inaccurate.  According to his sources, Red died in his sleep while taking a nap in the theater in 1927.

Since Red’s death, there have been reports of unexplained footsteps, whispers, strange voices, cold chills in certain areas, having been touched by someone who is not there, apparitions, theater seats raising and lowering on their own and other noises in the otherwise empty theater.

A second figure, that of a woman in a long dress has been seen in the balcony area.  Yet, others have reported to have described what they have seen and they do not match either description, leading some to believe there are several occupants.

Troy states he has had experiences himself while working alone in the theater.  He has heard footsteps climbing the steps of the stage while he was alone.

staircase Lincoln TheaterHe tells also of a performer who heard whispers while he was getting ready to go on stage and when he turned toward them, he saw a shadowy figure on the spiral staircase that he described as being male.  When the staff checked into it, there was no one there, yet there was nowhere the “man” could have escaped to.  At the time, the performer had not known of the haunted reputation of the theater.  This was the same staircase that Troy reports being followed on by one of the ghosts.

Check out this 4 minute video to see the inside of this grand theater and hear Troy’s recollection of another spiral staircase event…

There are haunted tours of Decatur taking place this month, most of which are sold out.  There are however, two dates that have availability.  The tours are inexpensive at $30 per person.  They start at the Avon theater.  The 2 open dates are November 1st and 2nd (2013.)  According to the website, Haunted Decatur, public tours are also offered April through August and mid September through early November.  Private tours are also available.  Please check the above link for prices and details.

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