Archive # 140 Ghost of Broadway

Show Notes ✨ Intro: In this episode, we take a haunted tour through New York’s most iconic—and ghost-infested—theatres. From practical ghostlights to Ziegfeld’s flapper ghost, you’ll hear true stories of spirits that linger long after the final bow. 💡 The Ghostlight Learn the fascinating mix of practicality and superstition behind the lone bulb left glowing on darkened stages. Is it simply to prevent a fall, or to keep ghostly performers company? 🎟️ New Amsterdam Theatre — Olive Thomas, Broadway’s Flapper Ghost 📍 214 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036 Meet Olive Thomas, a Follies star turned silent film legend whose tragic death in Paris at age 25 became one of Broadway’s most whispered-about ghost stories. She’s been spotted in a green beaded dress with a blue bottle… gliding across the stage, slipping through walls, or standing beneath the glow of a ghostlight. 🎭 And yes—Disney employees still say, “Good morning, Olive,” when they arrive for work. 🏛️ The Belasco Theatre — The Bishop of Broadway Never Left 📍 111 West 44th Street, NYC David Belasco, legendary producer and stage pioneer, still watches over his namesake theatre. Nicknamed the "Bishop of Broadway" for his long cassock and mystical flair, his ghost is often seen in box seats during opening nights or backstage, offering approval with a quiet presence. Footsteps, faint jazz music, and phantom handshakes are all part of Belasco's lingering legacy. 👗 The Lady in Blue — Belasco's Other Ghostly Guest A second spirit haunts the Belasco Theatre: a blonde woman in a flowing blue dress, believed to be Belasco’s mistress who died in the 1920s after falling down an elevator shaft. Known as the Lady in Blue, she appears during dress rehearsals or sits silently in locked balcony seats. Some cast and crew report an icy-blue mist, unexplained noises from the elevator shaft, or dressing rooms bathed in blue light. Her presence is honored with a subtle tradition—costume designers often include a blue dress in each show. 🎭 New Victory Theatre — The Phantom Bow Tie 📍 209 West 42nd Street, NYC Home to ghostly mischief, the New Victory is said to be haunted by Mrs. Leslie Carter, one of David Belasco’s original leading ladies. Staff have reported malfunctioning locks, whispering voices, and missing items that reappear in dramatic fashion, like bow ties found in overturned bins. Despite the tricks, her spirit seems more playful than threatening, never disrupting a show. 🏰 Palace Theatre — The Vaudeville Spirit That Won’t Take a Final Bow Opened in 1913, the Palace Theatre was the pinnacle of vaudeville, hosting stars like Houdini and Judy Garland. It’s also known for ghost stories, including trapeze artist Louis Bossalina, who reportedly died mid-performance and whose spirit is said to haunt the theatre. Staff report cold drafts, creaking rigging, and eerie sensations, especially in Dressing Room No. 6. Two red chairs nearby seem claimed by unseen forces. A staffer once saw a man in a three-piece suit in the balcony who vanished when approached. Renovations underway may awaken more spirits. 🎭 Al Hirschfeld Theatre — The Curious Case of “M” Formerly the Martin Beck Theatre, renamed in 2003, it’s rumored that the original namesake’s ghost disapproves of the change. Actress Joanna Gleason experienced her makeup mysteriously move and an ‘M’ appearing on her mirror during Into the Woods. Later, she learned a former cleaning staffer who loved Broadway may be the ghost. The presence is gentle and curious, never disruptive. 🎟️ Eugene O’Neill Theatre — Whispers, Lilacs, and Ghostly Wake-Up Calls During Sweeney Todd in 2006, cast reported props