Seattle's Stage for the Supernatural
The Moore Theatre stands as a magnificent monument to Seattle's entertainment heritage, its neoclassical facade welcoming audiences since 1907. Built during the height of the vaudeville era, this grand theater has hosted countless performances, from silent films and live variety shows to modern concerts and theatrical productions. But within these ornate walls, the echoes of applause never truly fade, and the footlights continue to illuminate more than just living performers. The Moore Theatre is home to a supernatural company of actors, musicians, and theater lovers whose passion for performance has transcended death itself. These ghostly thespians continue to tread the boards, rehearse their lines, and entertain phantom audiences in a never-ending show that bridges the gap between this world and the next. At the Moore, the boundary between performance and reality has always been fluid, and now it includes the realm of the supernatural.
From Vaudeville Palace to Rock Temple
The Moore Theatre was conceived by James Moore, a Seattle real estate magnate and theater enthusiast who envisioned creating the Pacific Northwest's premier entertainment venue. Opening its doors on December 28, 1907, the theater immediately became the crown jewel of Seattle's entertainment district, featuring luxurious appointments, state-of-the-art technology, and acoustics that rivaled the finest venues in New York and Chicago. During the vaudeville era, the Moore hosted legendary performers including Harry Houdini, the Marx Brothers, Charlie Chaplin, and countless variety acts that traveled the Orpheum Circuit. The theater's grand stage witnessed comedy, drama, magic, music, and spectacle that defined American popular entertainment in the early 20th century. As entertainment evolved, the Moore adapted, becoming a movie palace during the golden age of cinema, screening both silent films and early talkies while maintaining live performances between showings. The 1930s and 1940s brought big band concerts, touring Broadway productions, and local theater companies that kept the venue alive through economic hardship and world war. The 1960s transformed the Moore into a rock concert venue, hosting legendary acts like Led Zeppelin, The Who, and Pearl Jam, adding a new chapter to its musical legacy. Throughout its history, the theater has weathered financial challenges, ownership changes, and periods of neglect, but it has always survived, maintained by the dedication of performers and patrons who consider it sacred ground. The countless hours of rehearsal, performance, triumph, and heartbreak that have occurred within these walls have created an emotional and spiritual energy that many believe has taken on a life of its own.
The Phantom Company
The Moore Theatre's most famous ghost is 'The Lady in Red,' believed to be the spirit of a vaudeville performer who died during a performance in 1918. She appears in the theater's upper balcony wearing an elegant crimson gown, often spotted during rehearsals and sound checks as if critiquing the current performers with the expertise of someone who spent her life on stage. Witnesses report that she applauds silently at the end of particularly moving performances, her graceful gestures visible to those who look up at the right moment. Her presence is accompanied by the scent of stage makeup and roses, fragrances that waft through the theater when no flowers are present. The theater's backstage area is haunted by 'Stagehand Sam,' the ghost of a longtime theater employee who died in a rigging accident in 1934. His spirit continues to work the flies and curtains, often adjusting lighting and scenery during live performances, helping ensure that shows run smoothly from beyond the grave. Performers and technicians report tools moving on their own, ropes adjusting themselves, and the sensation of helpful hands guiding equipment during critical moments. Sam's presence is particularly strong during load-ins and technical rehearsals, when his expertise and dedication to perfect productions becomes most apparent. The orchestra pit hosts the spirit of 'Professor Williams,' a silent film pianist who played at the Moore for over twenty years before his death in 1931. His ghost appears as a distinguished elderly man in formal evening wear, sometimes seen playing an invisible piano during film screenings and concerts. Musicians report hearing phantom piano accompaniment during their performances, with melodies that perfectly complement the live music in styles ranging from ragtime to classical. The theater's dressing rooms are visited by 'The Chorus of Spirits,' believed to be performers who died young and whose dreams of stardom keep them tied to the stage where they experienced their greatest moments of artistic fulfillment.
Supernatural Performances
The Moore Theatre's paranormal activity follows the rhythms of live performance, with ghostly encounters intensifying during rehearsals, sound checks, and actual shows when the theater's energy reaches its peak. The building's vintage electrical system experiences frequent anomalies that technicians cannot explain, with stage lights dimming and brightening in patterns that correspond to the emotional intensity of performances, as if the spirits are providing atmospheric lighting for the living performers. The theater's acoustics carry more than earthly sounds—audiences and performers report hearing phantom applause between songs, ghostly voices harmonizing with live vocals, and the sound of tap dancing on stage when no dancers are present. The venue's historic Wurlitzer organ, though no longer regularly used, occasionally plays by itself during quiet moments, producing hauntingly beautiful melodies that echo through the empty theater as if Professor Williams is practicing for eternity. Security cameras capture unexplained movements in the theater's seats, with ghostly figures appearing to watch performances before fading away, and motion detectors trigger in empty areas as if invisible patrons are moving through the aisles. The theater's basement storage areas, which house decades of costumes, sets, and equipment, experience the most concentrated paranormal activity, with items moving overnight, costumes appearing to be worn by invisible forms, and the sound of rehearsals echoing from rooms that contain no living occupants. During emotional performances, particularly those involving themes of love, loss, or triumph, sensitive audience members report feeling overwhelmed by emotions that seem to come from outside themselves, as if the spirits are sharing their own artistic experiences with the living. The theater's revolving door entrance occasionally spins on its own, as if phantom patrons are arriving for shows that ended decades ago.
Taking Your Seat Among the Spirits
The Moore Theatre continues to operate as an active entertainment venue, offering visitors the unique opportunity to experience paranormal activity while enjoying live music, theater, and special events in a historic setting that maintains its connection to Seattle's entertainment heritage. Concert-goers and theater patrons often report supernatural encounters during performances, making every show potentially more exciting than advertised on the marquee. The theater offers guided tours during certain periods, allowing visitors to explore backstage areas, dressing rooms, and technical spaces where paranormal activity is most concentrated. Photography enthusiasts find the Moore's ornate architecture and vintage details perfect for capturing the essence of early 20th-century entertainment, though many report unusual anomalies in their photos, including mysterious figures in period clothing and unexplained light effects. The theater's location in downtown Seattle makes it a popular stop on ghost tours and paranormal investigations, and its active performance schedule means that supernatural encounters often occur during public events rather than private investigations. Visitors interested in the theater's entertainment history can research its archives and speak with longtime staff members who have their own collection of ghost stories and supernatural experiences. The venue's connection to Seattle's cultural development and its role in launching numerous musical careers adds historical significance to its haunted reputation. Those attending performances should remain open to the possibility of encountering the theater's ghostly company, understanding that the Moore Theatre represents a rare venue where the living and the dead continue to share their love of performance art in an atmosphere where the show truly must go on, regardless of what side of the grave the performers call home.
The grand entrance where phantom patrons still arrive
The stage where ghostly performers continue their eternal shows
The balcony where the Lady in Red watches every performance
