As you enjoy a performance in our beautifully restored theater there may be an unseen audience taking in the show for free. We don’t know their names and they haven’t purchased a ticket. But, paranormal investigators from throughout the Midwest believe in their presence and have photographs and audio to prove it.
From 1890 to 1929 the Grand was a popular “legit” theater that featured many of the top touring performers and groups of the era. Century old playbills from 1900 also describe a professional stock company that produced a new show every week. Titles like Private Secretary, Gilded Fool, Saints and Sinners, Lady Bountiful, The Senator, The Bankers Daughter and The Young Miss Winthrop entertained tri-state residents in the days before movies, radio and TV. One legend tells us a young actress with the stock company who planned to meet her fiancé after a performance. He jilted her and in heartbroken despair she either took her own life or, according to some, was murdered in the building. They say her spirit that lurks mysteriously in the depths of the Grand.
Since the Grand returned to live productions in 1986 dozens of volunteers have related stories of personal experiences involving strange shadows, unexplained sounds, objects and props that disappear and reappear in unusual places, slamming doors, strange footsteps, glowing orbs, ethereal voices and electric lights that turn on and off when no one is near the switch.
The spirit of a woman has been seen by actors who were on stage, passing by the windows of the former projection booth which now holds the spotlights. A late night Ouija board session was conducted by several volunteers who claim that a name for the ghost was spelled out as “Sarah” and that she died in 1909 at the age of 19.
Recently one group of paranormal investigators visiting the Grand experienced a number of unexplained events including an individual having his flashlight pulled from his back pocket when in a basement hallway. Another had a table pushed into his back while standing alone in a basement room. A third person felt pushed three times while walking through the costume shop on the 5th floor.
One investigation describes “voices” in the old projection booth that is now used for spotlights. With frequency scanners and digital recorders they were told at least 10 spirits inhabit the building – all which had performed on stage at the Grand in the distant past.
Whether you believe or not, the stories make for interesting conversation among actors, musicians and backstage personnel and have earned The Grand a place in a new publication, “Ghost Hunters Field Guide” by Rich Newman from Llewellyn Worldwide Press.
October 27th and 28th the Grand will present an original theatrical production, “Ghosts of the Grand” with the assistance of magician Craig Beytien.
We’re hoping “Sarah” and some of her friends will approve of the show and perhaps even join us on stage or in the audience. We hope you will, too.
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