The Haunted Majestic Theatre
The Haunted Majestic Theatre, a grand old building adorned with ornate decorations and plush seating, now echoes with ghostly whispers and eerie creaks. The theatre is said to be haunted, with many claiming to have seen apparitions of performers long gone, still treading the boards in the afterlife.
Legend has it that the theatre’s haunting began in the early 1900s, when a popular performer died suddenly during a performance. Since then, strange occurrences have plagued the theatre, from unexplained noises to sudden drops in temperature. Some say they have seen the ghostly figure of the performer still taking to the stage, while others claim to have been touched or even pushed by unseen hands.
Despite its eerie reputation, some brave souls still venture inside the Majestic Theatre, hoping to catch a glimpse of the otherworldly inhabitants. But for most, the thought of encountering the haunted theatre’s resident ghosts is enough to send shivers down their spine. The Majestic Theatre remains a mystery to this day, its secrets locked away behind its closed doors and shadowy corners.
As the sun sets and darkness shrouds the city, the theatre comes alive with an eerie presence. Strange noises echo through the halls, and the air thickens with a sense of dread. The creaking floorboards and rustling curtains seem to have a life of their own, giving life to the rumours that the theatre is haunted by malevolent ghosts.
But what really sends shivers down the spine is the apparitions that have been seen on stage. The audience members who claim to have witnessed the ghosts say they look just like real people – performers dressed in period costumes, walking across the stage as if they were performing for a live audience. But when approached, they simply vanish into thin air.
The Haunted Majestic Theatre, with its majestic architecture and luxurious seating, is a place of beauty and terror. The walls seem to hold secrets, as ghostly whispers and eerie creaks can be heard echoing through the corridors. The theatre has been a source of fascination for paranormal enthusiasts for years, with many claiming to have seen apparitions of performers who have long since passed away. It is said that the theatre’s haunting began in the early 1900s when a popular performer died suddenly during a performance. The ghostly figure of this performer is said to haunt the stage still, unable to let go of the spotlight even in death.
The legend of the Haunted Majestic Theatre has only grown over the years, with countless stories of strange occurrences and unexplained noises. Some say they have seen the ghostly figure of the performer moving across the stage, still performing even in death. Others have reported sudden drops in temperature as if an icy hand is reaching out from beyond the grave. Despite these eerie happenings, the theatre continues to draw crowds of visitors eager to explore its haunted halls. For those brave enough to venture inside, the Haunted Majestic Theatre offers a glimpse into a world beyond our own, where ghosts and spirits still roam freely.
Majestic Theatre Haunted Are You Kidding Me? Sure It Is
The death of an Army doctor this week Police have determined that the Army doctor who tragically died this week after falling 14 stories from a window at the Majestic Tower apartment was the victim of an accident. Linda Steele Tate had been discussing finances with her husband Duane while drinking when she crawled out a small window to get his attention.
Unfortunately, she lost her footing and fell, hitting the wire holding on the marquee of the Haunted Majestic Theatre. Her arm was severed on impact and landed in a busy traffic lane on Houston Street below the Majestic Theatre.
Ghosts At The Haunted Majestic Theatre
It is said that a few ghosts haunt the Majestic Theatre of San Antonio. Staff, patrons, and performers have reported strange occurrences, such as lights flickering and doors opening and closing. Witnesses have also reported seeing figures of people walking the halls, and strange sounds have been heard echoing throughout the theatre.
The famous Zoroastro has been a part of history for many years and is a prominent figure today. He was known for his teachings about dualism and free will, and his impact is still felt in numerous religions and cultures. The twentieth century was a special time for Ladislao Trevino, who the notorious Harry Houdini influenced. Trevino, born in 1917 in Texas, pursued a career as an Illusionist and Entertainer, traveling through Central America and Mexico before settling in Corpus Christi. There, he hosted a Spanish T.V. show named Zoroastro and performed a regular magic performance at the Majestic Theatre. The precise acts remain unknown, but many believe his presence is still felt there due to the mysterious spirit hanging around the stage. This spirit is thought to be Zoroastro due to its cheerful persona.
Visiting the Haunted Majestic Theatre is an Unforgettable Experience. Legend says a female ghost haunts the Grand Majestic Theatre’s second floor. According to reports, she can be spotted near the center of the stage area, even after the curtains have been closed.
The theater staff has witnessed her presence at night, always occupying the same seat in the same section. It is believed that she may have been a regular subscriber to the theater during her lifetime. Interestingly, a medium was present in the audience during a performance at the Majestic. As he sat listening to their act, he sensed something supernatural in this Haunted Majestic Theatre.
History Of The Majestic Theatre
Rather than seat patrons in a boxlike formal setting, atmospheric theatres were designed to transport the patron to a more exotic place, such as a European courtyard or garden, with seemingly infinite vistas. Atmospheric theatres were generally asymmetrical instead of the traditionally symmetrical classical theatre design.
It was usual for an atmospheric theatre’s ceiling to be painted to resemble the sky, tiny lamps recreating celestial constellations with precise accuracy, and clouds projected over the vista to enhance the spectacle. John Eberson was the architect most associated with the style, and 16 of his atmospheric theatres are still in operation throughout the U.S., the San Antonio Majestic being one of them. The Majestic is considered one of his best examples.
Emerson’s Mexican Cloister Auditorium
The theatre’s design was inspired by Spanish Mission, Baroque, and Mediterranean styles, hailed as Mexican Cloister architecture at its opening, and was modeled on a Spanish village. It features replicas of well-known Greek, Roman, and Renaissance sculptures hidden amongst greenery and real cypress trees imported from Spain. Additional foliage included ten South American palms and Orange, Azalea, Magnolia, and Oleander trees. One of the more unusual features is 28 stuffed birds perched on balconies throughout the auditorium, some even preserved in-flight, hung on wires. The most notable is a rare white peacock on the House’s Left side. Having shown its age, the white peacock was replaced in 2007 for $3,600.
The auditorium’s ceiling faithfully recreates several star constellations, positioned according to consultations with experts from the National Geographic Society in the late 1920s.
Statue of Venus above the Proscenium Arch
Above the proscenium is a statue of the goddess Venus, looking across the auditorium. On either side of the proscenium are singers’ balconies, initially accessed by stairways from the stage.
A 3-manual 10-rank Robert Morton organ was installed in the theatre and featured in Robert Morton advertisements during the second half of 1929.
At its opening, the Majestic was the first theatre in Texas to be fully air-conditioned, the largest theatre in Texas, and the second largest theatre in the United States, boasting 3,703 seats across Orchestra and two balconies (seating was claimed at over 4,000 at the time of opening). The largest theatre was the Fox Theatre in Atlanta, GA, with 4,665 seats. A 1929 report on the San Antonio Majestic proclaims: “The upper balcony is reserved for the colored patronage and is reached by separate stairways and elevator through a separate lobby entrance.” Segregation was commonplace in 1920s Texas.
The marquee was designed to house an outdoor café on a balcony above. However, it is unclear if this ever came to fruition. The lobby housed a unique feature: a “giant wall aquarium, illuminated from behind and above.” Exotic fish were on view, and the surface water line was hidden, affording the effect of a submarine view.
A penthouse apartment containing the theatre was designed atop the 18-story “Majestic Building.” The penthouse was for Karl Hoblitzelle, head of the Interstate chain, and included a rooftop garden.
At the time of opening, the theatre’s vertical sign was said to be the largest theatrical sign in the South, measuring 76ft high and 14ft wide at the top, and 8ft wide at the base. It contained 2,400 lamps and boasted a brilliance of 114,700 candle power. The “Majestic” sign atop the theatre’s roof featured 1,280 lights.
Despite many years of entertaining the crowds, the Majestic closed in 1974. 1981 it was reopened, but a simple remodeling covered many critical architectural details. It was closed again in 1988, and the City of San Antonio stepped in to purchase the theatre. The nonprofit Las Casas Foundation was formed to restore the Majestic as close as possible to its original 1929 design. $4.5M was raised for the restorations. In the Fall of 1989, the Majestic reopened with “Majestic Week,” featuring concerts from the San Antonio Symphony and a Gala performance featuring Rosemary Clooney and Johnny Mathis. Banjoist Don Galvan, who had participated in the theatre’s 1929 opening, returned to San Antonio for the reopening celebrations.
The Majestic became home to the San Antonio Symphony until 2014 and their move to the new Tobin Center. In 1993 the theatre was designated a National Historic Landmark.
The Majestic’s Stage, now 40ft deep
The Majestic had been unable to accommodate large stage productions due to its limited stage depth. In 1995 a 3.5M dollar expansion was undertaken, which saw the Majestic’s Stage expand by reducing the depth of the Empire Theatre’s Stage, with whom the Majestic shares a rear stage wall. In addition, sound-isolation barriers/doors, modernized theatrical rigging, a state-of-the-art orchestra shell, expanded dressing room facilities, and enlarged storage space were added. The Majestic’s current seating capacity is 2,311.
Legendary stars that performed at the Majestic include Jack Benny, Mickey Rooney, Ann Miller, George Burns, and Bob Hope. Premieres that have taken place at the Majestic include West Point of the Air (1935), The Texans (1938), The Lusty Men (1952), To Hell and Back (1955), and The Alamo (2004).
The Majestic is now the home of Broadway Across America in San Antonio. Musical sensations such as Miss Saigon, Les Miserables, Cats, Cabaret, and Ragtime have graced the Majestic Stage and such international classic artists as Itzhak Pearlman and Isaac Stern. Contemporary artists such as Lyle Lovett, B.B. King, Tony Bennett, and Sting have performed in the theatre. Comedians Jerry Seinfeld, Jennifer Lopez, and Chris Rock have also had their names in lights on the Majestic’s marquee.
