Post by ♥~KarinaKay~♥ on Dec 17, 2008 8:42:56 GMT -11
LOVE to visit this place!!!
www.thecabinet.com/darkdestinations/location.php?sub_id=dark_destinations&letter=l&location_id=landers_theatre_springfield_mo
Landers Theatre
This historic landmark has been entertaining residents of Springfield, Missouri since its opening in 1909 and is rumored to be the home to a few ghosts as well. John and Douglas J. Landers conceived the structure and built it with the aid of partners to reflect Napoleon III's Baroque Renaissance architectural style. In initially hosted a variety of vaudeville shows, until a fire almost destroyed it entirely on December 17, 1920. Ensley Barbour took over and funded the rebuilding and reopening of the theater in 1922. By that time, the theater began to intermix live performances with the latest silent films out of Hollywood. In fact, Landers became the 35th theater in the United States to switch over to sound motion pictures when they debuted The Jazz Singer in 1927.
It even acted as the headquarters for radio station WIBM for a short time, but mostly continued to show films throughout the late 1960s. In 1970, the Springfield Little Theatre company purchased the building and immediately began raising money for restorations. After a series of renovations returned it to its original 1909 glory, the company once again held theatrical productions for the residents of Springfield. Some of the more notable names to have graced the stage at Landers Theatre over time include Lon Chaney, the Weaver Brothers and Elviry, Lillian Russell, Fanny Brice, John Philip Sousa, Kathleen Turner, Tess Harper, among others.
The Ghosts of Landers Theatre
There are a variety of different accounts of paranormal activity inside the theater's walls over the years. For starters, there are tales of a janitor that was believed to have died during the fire in 1920. His spirit is said to appear on the balcony at times by the actors on the stage below. Similarly, the balcony is the source of other stories as well. The story goes that during a performance many years ago, a mother accidentally let go of her baby while on the upper balcony and the poor child fell to its death. Various people have reported seeing the tragic event play out time and again, or hearing the disembodied cries of a baby, which is sometimes accompanied by the soothing voice of its mother.
The fourth floor of the building is said to have acted as the apartments for touring actors and actresses that came to perform at the Landers Theatre. It is on this floor that people passing on the street below have reported seeing a person looking out from one of the windows. Most sources list the gender as that of a male, while others list a female, but all describe the person as being dressed in Elizabethan clothing with long blond hair. Interestingly enough, the apparition has never been sighted inside the walls of the theater itself, but only from the outside on the street below.
There are other accounts of a male apparition standing in the middle of the auditorium. Additionally, people have reported seeing a greenish haze or mist, as well as having the sensations of either being watched, tapped on the shoulder, and even being shoved on occasion. Finally, equipment has been known to either spontaneously shut off or become unplugged on its own accord. The strange and varied accounts have given the theater the reputation of being the most haunted location in Springfield, Missouri.
The Landers Theatre Today
The Springfield Little Theatre company continues to operate the building and have even added a Walk of Fame in front of the theater, where the honorees have their names displayed on stars. They continue to put on productions for the citizens of Springfield (as well as their spiritual guests) to this day.
www.thecabinet.com/darkdestinations/location.php?sub_id=dark_destinations&letter=l&location_id=landers_theatre_springfield_mo
Landers Theatre
This historic landmark has been entertaining residents of Springfield, Missouri since its opening in 1909 and is rumored to be the home to a few ghosts as well. John and Douglas J. Landers conceived the structure and built it with the aid of partners to reflect Napoleon III's Baroque Renaissance architectural style. In initially hosted a variety of vaudeville shows, until a fire almost destroyed it entirely on December 17, 1920. Ensley Barbour took over and funded the rebuilding and reopening of the theater in 1922. By that time, the theater began to intermix live performances with the latest silent films out of Hollywood. In fact, Landers became the 35th theater in the United States to switch over to sound motion pictures when they debuted The Jazz Singer in 1927.
It even acted as the headquarters for radio station WIBM for a short time, but mostly continued to show films throughout the late 1960s. In 1970, the Springfield Little Theatre company purchased the building and immediately began raising money for restorations. After a series of renovations returned it to its original 1909 glory, the company once again held theatrical productions for the residents of Springfield. Some of the more notable names to have graced the stage at Landers Theatre over time include Lon Chaney, the Weaver Brothers and Elviry, Lillian Russell, Fanny Brice, John Philip Sousa, Kathleen Turner, Tess Harper, among others.
The Ghosts of Landers Theatre
There are a variety of different accounts of paranormal activity inside the theater's walls over the years. For starters, there are tales of a janitor that was believed to have died during the fire in 1920. His spirit is said to appear on the balcony at times by the actors on the stage below. Similarly, the balcony is the source of other stories as well. The story goes that during a performance many years ago, a mother accidentally let go of her baby while on the upper balcony and the poor child fell to its death. Various people have reported seeing the tragic event play out time and again, or hearing the disembodied cries of a baby, which is sometimes accompanied by the soothing voice of its mother.
The fourth floor of the building is said to have acted as the apartments for touring actors and actresses that came to perform at the Landers Theatre. It is on this floor that people passing on the street below have reported seeing a person looking out from one of the windows. Most sources list the gender as that of a male, while others list a female, but all describe the person as being dressed in Elizabethan clothing with long blond hair. Interestingly enough, the apparition has never been sighted inside the walls of the theater itself, but only from the outside on the street below.
There are other accounts of a male apparition standing in the middle of the auditorium. Additionally, people have reported seeing a greenish haze or mist, as well as having the sensations of either being watched, tapped on the shoulder, and even being shoved on occasion. Finally, equipment has been known to either spontaneously shut off or become unplugged on its own accord. The strange and varied accounts have given the theater the reputation of being the most haunted location in Springfield, Missouri.
The Landers Theatre Today
The Springfield Little Theatre company continues to operate the building and have even added a Walk of Fame in front of the theater, where the honorees have their names displayed on stars. They continue to put on productions for the citizens of Springfield (as well as their spiritual guests) to this day.