Cutler Majestic Theatre

A 1903 Beaux Arts theater now owned by Emerson College. The lavish venue was restored in the 1980s, which many believe awakened dormant spirits who were pleased to see their beloved theater restored to its former glory.

The Cutler Majestic Theatre was built on Tremont Street in Boston in 1903, the second theatre to form what would become Boston's Arts District. Architect John Howard designed the building in the iconic Parisian Beaux-Arts style, with glamorous materials and stunning details. It was the first theatre in Boston originally built with electric lighting instead of gas. The theatre could seat over 1,600 patrons in its gilded splendor. During the 1950s and 60s, the building fell into disrepair and was used as a movie house before closing in 1983. A major restoration in the 1990s brought the theatre back to its original glory—and many believe that restoration awakened spirits that had been dormant during the decline.

One of the most famous theatre ghosts is a former Boston mayor who came to enjoy an evening performance, not knowing it would be the last show he would ever see. The mayor died in his seat that night, and some say he has been there ever since. His apparition has been spotted sitting in his seat, waiting for the show to start. Although historians have noted that no mayor actually died at the Majestic, this is the spirit spotted most frequently—a ghost whose legend has outgrown its origins.

If you're fortunate enough to attend a performance, you may encounter the friendly ghost-couple who sits in the crowd and makes friends with those around them. By the second act, the couple disappears. They are said to have died in a car accident after leaving the theatre in the 1930s, and they return eternally to finish the show they never got to see.

A little girl roams the building, looking for her parents who died in a car accident outside. Coworkers have heard her whispering "Hello?" in a lost, searching voice. An opera singer has been heard performing an aria from the stage, only for the song to stop suddenly when anyone approaches.

Backstage lies the Nightmare Room—perhaps a former dressing room, but now the most haunted spot in the entire theatre. Those who step inside experience overwhelming, terrifying feelings that cause many to flee. Some believe the sensations are caused by the lingering stage fright of performers from long ago. Visitors have reported unexplained breathing difficulties and the presence of something deeply wrong.

One student working on lighting from a balcony felt a hand in the center of their back shove them toward the edge. "It was terrifying," they recalled. The story has since echoed among Emerson students, who watch their backs in risky positions.

Christina Harrington, director of business operations for Emerson's office of the arts, always says goodnight to the ghosts when she leaves. According to Harrington, four regular apparitions grace the Majestic—and they seem pleased to see their beloved theatre restored to its former glory.