Ghosts at the Palace Theatre
Ghosts at the Palace Theatre
#1Ghosts at the Palace Theatre
Posted: 7/9/13 at 4:45pmLilla Crawford was talking about them in her video blog... anyone else hear any stories besides the boy who plays with trucks and the cello player in the white dress??
#2Ghosts at the Palace Theatre
Posted: 7/9/13 at 5:55pm
Do you have a link to the blog?
I wish there was a book about haunted Broadway theaters. I like picking up books about local hauntings when I travel (and I do those cheesy ghost tours too).
Maybe I'll research and write one.
aaronb
Broadway Star Joined: 6/3/12
#3Ghosts at the Palace Theatre
Posted: 7/9/13 at 6:19pmMaybe one of them can scare Andy Blankenbuehler away from theatre for good.
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#4Ghosts at the Palace Theatre
Posted: 7/9/13 at 6:55pm
Nearly every theater I've worked in has had a theater ghost. I would guess nearly every theater on b'way has a story.
And yes, it would be fun to see the stories in print!
#5Ghosts at the Palace Theatre
Posted: 7/9/13 at 6:57pmI know the Belasco has a ghost that haunts the apartment that is still in the theatre!
Matt Rogers
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/4/04
#6Ghosts at the Palace Theatre
Posted: 7/9/13 at 8:01pmYou are aware that Lilla is 11 years old and has not yet learned that there is no such thing as a ghost, correct?
brettarnett
Featured Actor Joined: 5/2/09
#7Ghosts at the Palace Theatre
Posted: 7/9/13 at 9:40pmI remember reading about the Palace that there is a ghost of tight rope walker from the vaudeville days who fell during his act, and Judy Garland of course.
#8Ghosts at the Palace Theatre
Posted: 7/9/13 at 10:24pm
Here is an article on NYC Haunted Theaters
http://nycxplorer.com/nycs-haunted-theaters/
#10Ghosts at the Palace Theatre
Posted: 7/9/13 at 11:20pm
This is from Wiki so take it with a grain of salt:
The ghost of acrobat Louis Borsalino is said to haunt the theatre. According to various versions of the story Borsalino "fell to his death in the 1950s" and that "Stagehands say that when the theater is empty, the ghost of Borsalino can be seen swinging from the rafters. He lets out a blood-curdling scream, then re-enacts his nose dive."[43] However, in reality Borsalino, who was a member of the Four Casting Pearls, was only injured when he fell 18 feet during a performance on August 28, 1935 before 800 theatre goers. Borsalino's act was not a trapeze but rather fixed towers in which the acrobats are "cast from one to the other." Comedian Pat Henning started his act after the accident before the curtain was pulled
AEA AGMA SM
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/13/09
#11Ghosts at the Palace Theatre
Posted: 7/9/13 at 11:41pm
"I know the Belasco has a ghost that haunts the apartment that is still in the theatre!"
That is believed to be the ghost of David Belasco himself.
#12Ghosts at the Palace Theatre
Posted: 7/10/13 at 11:25am
A coincidence that Belasco is also the name of the ghost in the movie (and book) The Legend of HellHouse? I think not!
#13Ghosts at the Palace Theatre
Posted: 7/10/13 at 11:38am
"You are aware that Lilla is 11 years old and has not yet learned that there is no such thing as a ghost, correct?"
That 11 year old knows more than you do. 
Ghosts are real. What ghosts are is debatable.
iluvtheatertrash
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/9/04
#14Ghosts at the Palace Theatre
Posted: 7/10/13 at 11:38am
http://www.playbill.com/features/article/93486-The-Ghosts-of-Broadway
Robert Viagas always writes great pieces on this...
OperaBwayLover
Broadway Star Joined: 5/17/07
#15Ghosts at the Palace Theatre
Posted: 7/10/13 at 11:40amJust curious: why was the Belasco penthouse apartment sealed off? Wouldn't it be a good spot for social events/after-parties?
AEA AGMA SM
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/13/09
#16Ghosts at the Palace Theatre
Posted: 7/10/13 at 11:49am
I do know there is a good deal of HVAC equipment and duct work now running through Belasco's old apartment that was not there when it was first built. I'm going to guess that there are also issues with modern day fire codes and accessibility issues that make it cost prohibitive to restore.
Many cast members of shows that have run in the Belasco have found their ways up there, even though it is supposed to be locked and inaccessible.
ghostlight2
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/5/04
#17Ghosts at the Palace Theatre
Posted: 7/10/13 at 12:17pm
Belasco's old apartment is in ruins. As AEA AGMA SM says, an enormous duct passes through most of it, and has to be climbed over in order to get to other parts of the apartment.
It is not only locked off from the rest of the theater, it is also on an alarm system. There are a few technical tasks that can be performed only from there (lowering the main chandelier so it can be re-lamped, for example), so the alarms are disabled and the doors unlocked for that reason. That is usually how cast members gain access, during these rare occasions.
AEA AGMA SM is also probably right regarding fire codes. There are only 3 ways to access the apartment - two staircases on the west side of the building, one from the box office that leads to old long ago abandoned offices, and eventually to the apartment, the other on the north side of the building where the dressing rooms are. The very top floor, which leads to a floor of dressing rooms that have not been used in decades, also leads to the apartment.
On the east side of the building is the tiny elevator Robert Viagas mentions, which perhaps not so oddly opens directly into the East alleyway outside of the theater. I believe he is mistaken that it is no longer functional, though I could be wrong about that. It certainly isn't used. I don't believe any fire escape is accessible from the apartment.
Even though it's in ruins, it's easy to see through the dust and detritus how glorious the multi-leveled penthouse once was. Massive safes, beautiful woodwork, a mosaic-ed fireplace and sauna.
All that said, most Belasco ghost sightings I've heard of have been in the theater itself, either in the house left boxes or en route to the box office.
finebydesign
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/17/07
#18Ghosts at the Palace Theatre
Posted: 7/10/13 at 12:20pm
"Nearly every theater I've worked in has had a theater ghost. I would guess nearly every theater on b'way has a story. "
Doesn't every college campus as well?
KathyNYC2
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/2/10
#19Ghosts at the Palace Theatre
Posted: 7/10/13 at 12:46pm
"Do you have a link to the blog? "
Just type in "simply red backstage with Lilla Crawford" into your browser search and you will see links for all the video blogs. There have been 5 so far ( I think 8 are planned) - and the one is question regarding ghosts is #5. It's towards the end of the video.
And not for nothing, she's 12.
brettarnett
Featured Actor Joined: 5/2/09
#21Ghosts at the Palace Theatre
Posted: 7/10/13 at 2:38pmI wish I would have heard about this sooner. Was just there for Annie and could have been on the look out :)
#22Ghosts at the Palace Theatre
Posted: 7/10/13 at 2:51pm
If you scroll down to the Bellasco theatre you can see pictures of the apartment
tp://jkstheatrescene.blogspot.com/2010/02/broadway-theatres-old-and-beautiful_27.html?m=1
Updated On: 7/10/13 at 02:51 PM
TheGingerBreadMan
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/7/12
#23Ghosts at the Palace Theatre
Posted: 7/10/13 at 5:01pmI have heard that the Majestic has a ghost of sorts. Rumor has it he can be seen nightly at 8:00 PM.
Matt Rogers
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/4/04
#24Ghosts at the Palace Theatre
Posted: 7/11/13 at 12:04amFun thread, but again, this is all fiction. That Ghost Hunters show is on SyFi right now and oooooohhhh, they heard a knock. Stop the presses! They!ve been on the air for years including marathon all nighters in supposedly the most ghost infested places on the country, and they cannot prove a thing, just like the Sasquatch reality show has been hunting for him for years and has found only leaves. There is no scientific evidence whatsoever. It's all bunk. Even though it's fun bunk. Of course, people will believe whatever they want to, so...............have fun discussing.
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