Haunted Broadway: A Glimpse into the Otherworldly

For many, Broadway is a favorite haunt—literally. Stories abound of famous figures like Judy Garland and Bob Dylan lingering in the theater district, with modern-day actors adopting quirky rituals to keep the spirits satisfied, according to longtime tour guides.

At the New Amsterdam Theater on West 42nd Street, where “The Lion King” continues to draw crowds, staff members greet the portrait of Olive Thomas, a former Ziegfeld Follies dancer. She’s said to be particularly active, and to ward off any mischief, guides like Jeff Dobbins recommend acknowledging her presence. In fact, one performer famously held a ceremony to apologize to her when a critical show piece failed during a performance.

Dobbins emphasizes that the management at New Amsterdam is very straightforward about spectral happenings. They’ll tell you not to be surprised by the unexplained—something he personally experienced during his time managing the Lyric Theater just a block away.

“This industry coexists with different beliefs,” he explains. “I think almost every theater has its own spirit and strange occurrences.” He notes incidents like missing props, flickering lights, and mysteriously locked doors, attributing them to otherworldly influences.

During his early days as a tour guide at New Amsterdam, Dobbins claims to have seen Thomas quite clearly in a mirror. “It wasn’t a malicious encounter at all,” he recalls. “She’s playful—people have even heard her say, ‘Hi, hi!’ and blow kisses.”

Although the New Amsterdam might be a hotspot for ghostly energy, many locals regard the Palace Theater as even more haunted. An array of spirits, reportedly numbering up to 100, are said to inhabit this vaudeville venue, including Garland, who is known to hum in the wings, along with an acrobat who tragically died during a performance.

Dobbins reports a boom in interest for ghost tours, even as overall theater tourism sees a decline. His recent Ghost Tours of Lower Manhattan were so popular that he had to add extra dates. “There’s just something about ghost stories and the historical context that really captivates people,” he notes, particularly as contemporary hits like “Hamilton” attract a younger audience interested in theater history.

People who join these tours often ask about the behind-the-scenes happenings, especially the ghostly tales surrounding New York’s iconic theaters. “The spirits of Broadway’s past are still very much a part of its present,” he reflects, noting that theater staff routinely caution newcomers about potential supernatural encounters.

At the Belasco Theater, performers have a superstitious belief that the ghost of David Belasco—the so-called “Bishop of Broadway”—is a good omen if sighted in a private box on opening night.

Other legendary figures, like singer Ethel Merman and the choreographer Phos from the Imperial Theater, are rumored to still visit their old stages. Dobbins believes this attachment to Broadway is rooted in a deep love for the city. “Many people refuse to leave because they’ve built their lives around theater,” he states. “They return because it represents some of the most significant moments of their lives—and perhaps even as protectors.”