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Legends of Oriental Theater and the Ghosts from The Great Chicago Fire Disaster

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After a devastating fire in the old Iroquois Theater in Chicago around 600 people died trying to escape the flames. Even after the Oriental Theater was built in its place, some still believe the ghost from the fire is haunting the stage. 

The Oriental Theater in the windy city of Chicago is a grand venue that has been entertaining audiences for over 90 years. But behind the grandeur and glitz lies a dark and eerie history, filled with ghostly legends and supernatural stories. 

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Many people believe that the Oriental Theater is one of the most haunted venues in Chicago, with a long list of ghostly sightings and unexplained phenomena. What sets this ghost story apart though is how the haunting origin story is more scary than the haunting itself. And the most deadly haunting happened as soon as this spot in the city was turned into a theater. 

The Nederlander: The theater has had many names and is today called The Nederlander. Before this exact theater were built, another one who burnt is said to have caused the haunting said to go on inside of the building.

The Fire of the Iroquois Theater and Death Alley

The Oriental Theater, formerly known as the Iroquois Theater, opened its doors in 1903 at 24 W. Randolph Street. It was a grand venue, with a seating capacity of over 1,700, and was designed to be the most luxurious theater in the world. The newspaper also advertised with it being fireproof. But just as Titanic was unsinkable, the theater would catch fire as soon as it opened.

Just five weeks after its opening during a performance of a comedy-musical called Mr. Bluebeard starring Eddie Foy, tragedy struck when a fire broke. The show had been a success and the theatre were sold out with extra standing tickets being issued. Most of the spectators were women attending with their children. 

A spark from the stage lights hit the very flammable muslin backdrop and it burst into flames quickly. First, they weren’t too panicked, as they all believed it when they said it would be safe from fire. But then the fire started to spread, and none of the fire prevention equipment seemed to be working.

When the spectators tried to flee the theater, they were unable to locate the exits as they were not labeled and doors were locked. In the staircase people were trampled, crushed or asphyxiated to death. 

When the crew and actors escape in the backscene doors, the cold air caused a fireball that shot out from the stage onto the crowd. Those who managed to find a window or get to the roof jumped to their death. 

There were no fire-alarm box in the building and when the fire department finally arrived, it was already too late. 602 people lost their lives in the 30 minutes blaze, making it one of the deadliest theater fires in history and was remembered as The Great Chicago Fire Disaster.

Hundreds of bodies were piled up in the theater of mostly women and children. It reportedly took over five hours to gather them all, the amount of bodies raging six feet above the ground. The next door space turned into a temporary morgue and hospital. Soon, the alley right next to the theater was called the Death Alley and was remembered as such for a long time.

Ever since there have been rumors about it being haunted and the spirit of the dead lingering in the alley now known as Couch Place. Whispers in the night as well as people feeling the ghostly touch on the shoulders.

So some say that the theater was cursed from the start, but it was certainly not the end though. 

Couch Place: Commonly called the Alley of Death, was the place they place the bodies after the fire and many have experienced strange things in this backstage place of the Chicago theater district. // Source

The Start of Oriental Theater

After the fire, the theater was rebuilt and renamed the Oriental Theater in 1926. In 1988 the Oriental Theater closed down and fell into disrepair,  but it was restored in 1998 and is now a popular venue once again. 

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However, the history of the Iroquois Theater fire has left a lasting impact on the theater, and many believe that it is responsible for the ghostly sightings and unexplained phenomena that occur there.

Ghostly Legends and Reports

There have been many reports of ghostly activity at the Oriental Theater over the years. The ghosts of those who perished in the fire is also said to haunt the newly built theater and people claim to have seen their spirit leaping out from the window onto the street as a death loop. There is also the smell of smoke coming from nowhere that people claim is a remnant lingering from the deadly fire. 

When actors are on stage they report about seeing shadows moving on the balconies. In the fire, they perhaps had it worse, as they were the ones locked inside and were unable to open the doors leading down to the first floor. 

The Wicked Incident

One of the stories told was during a production of the musical Wicked. Ana Gasteyer had the role of Elphaba. In the end of Act I, there is a scene where she learns to fly and smog and fog comes from the auditorium and filling the stage. She told in the writing Celebrity Ghost Stories that she looked to the sides in the wings. They were filled with people, more people than the stagehands of the production used to have there. 

The people didn’t look like crew either, they looked like families, but when she landed and the smoke cleared, there was no one there. 

She also claimed to have seen a woman in the hallways with a boy and a girl, all wearing period clothes. It was first when she asked her dresser about it that she thought they might have been ghosts, as Dec 30. was coming up. 

Could this have been one of the performances she claimed to have seen the ghosts?

Spooky Events and Experiences at Oriental Theater

The Oriental Theater in Chicago is a grand venue that has entertained audiences for over ninety years. In 2018 it was renamed to the James M. Nederlander Theatre, after the founder of Broadway in Chicago.

But behind the glamour and glitz lies a dark and eerie history, filled with ghostly legends and supernatural stories and the danger of fire.

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References:

 The Oriental Theatre, now James M. Nederlander Theatre in Chicago is one of the world’s most haunted places – NBC Chicago
Chicago Hauntings: The Horrors Of The Iroquois Theater Fire That Killed 602 People Downtown In 1903, And Stories About Ghosts Left Behind
Death Alley Near Nederlander Theatre – Windy City Ghosts
Iroquois Theatre Fire: History & Discovery of GhostsIroquois Theatre fire – Wikipedia

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The Haunted Hilo Memorial Hospital and the Ghost Children from the Deadly Fire

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The legend says that after a deadly fire that took the lives of the children in the nursery as well as the nurses, the ghost of the children can be heard playing and crying in the Hilo Memorial Hospital in Hawaii. What really is the truth behind these ghostly tales?

In Kaumana, Hilo, an old, nearly forgotten hospital sits shrouded in mystery and ghostly rumors. Built in the 1890s, this hospital on the Big Island of Hawaii was once a place of healing, but over time, its reputation has been overshadowed by chilling tales of the supernatural. 

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Now partially destroyed due to a fire that gutted much of the structure, the Haunted Hospital of Hilo, as it has come to be known, stands as a silent witness to tragedy—both real and imagined.

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The History of the Hilo Memorial Hospital

Hilo Memorial Hospital, as it was once known as, was constructed in the Italian Renaissance palace architectural style. When it opened, patients were transferred from an older facility, which was subsequently dismantled. Its materials were repurposed to create outbuildings for the new hospital, such as servant quarters, a cook’s cottage, and a nurse’s dormitory. For many years, it operated as the primary medical center for the town and surrounding plantations.

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However, as with many old buildings, the hospital eventually closed its doors. It used for a long time after its closing to house Hawai’i Island Adult Care, providing daytime services for the elderly. But despite its current use, the haunted stories that have surrounded this place for decades refuse to fade away.

The Tragic Fire and the Haunting Nursery

According to local legend, years ago, a catastrophic fire broke out in the Hilo Hospital nursery. The fire is said to have been so fierce that it burned several babies and their nurses alive. The souls of those who perished in the blaze are rumored to haunt the hospital’s remains, forever bound to the place of their tragic end.

Visitors to the abandoned parts of the hospital claim they’ve heard the unmistakable cries of infants echoing through the crumbling halls. Disembodied footsteps and strange noises—scratches, taps, and soft weeping—have been reported by those brave enough to explore the site after dark. Some say that on certain nights, the overwhelming smell of burning flesh still lingers in the air, a grim reminder of the tragedy that supposedly occurred there.

KELSEY WALLING/Tribune-Herald file photo

But did this fire ever really happen? Strangely, despite the vividness of the legend, there is no solid evidence—no documented date, no records, and no newspaper reports—confirming that such a fire ever took place. Even long-time Hilo residents and historians have been unable to verify the event, raising questions about whether this tragedy is rooted in fact or merely a tale passed down through generations.

The Spirits of the Elders and Ghostly Children

The hospital may have closed, but the stories of its hauntings have persisted through the years, even as the building found new life as a care center for the elderly. Lizby Logsdon, a Community Outreach coordinator at Hawai’i Island Adult Care, spoke to the Keolamagazine in 2016 about the haunted rumors: 

“Yes, there are ghosts,” says Lizby Logsdon. “Most people would agree. I haven’t heard anything recently, but it’s not uncommon for the elders to hear children outside playing when there are no children outside.” “One evening, I had to go back into the Golden Heart Wing,” she recalled. “Just upon getting to that entrance, I kind of got the oojies. I found a line of crayons between the tables, heading into the shower room.” When she returned to her colleagues, they noticed her pale face and asked if she had seen a ghost.
source

Staff members and some of the elderly patients have also reported hearing the distant laughter of children outside, playing in areas that are otherwise empty. Could it be the spirits of the children said to have perished in the fire, or are these apparitions tied to something even older, something deeper in the land’s history?

A Ghost Story Without Evidence

Despite the chilling stories and firsthand accounts of paranormal experiences, the truth behind the Haunted Hospital of Hilo remains elusive. No concrete evidence exists to confirm the fire that allegedly destroyed the nursery, and none of the local historical archives mention such a catastrophic event. Nonetheless, the hospital’s reputation as one of Hilo’s most haunted places endures.

Even without documentation, the experiences of those who have worked in and around the building suggest that something unusual lingers within its walls. From phantom cries to shadowy figures, the hospital seems to be a place where the line between the living and the dead blurs, a place where the past refuses to let go. So if not by a deadly fire, where does these ghostly children that are said to haunt the old hospital come from?

The Future of the Haunted Hospital

Some Hilo residents express concerns over future plans to develop the land around the former hospital, perhaps fearing that whatever spirits may be resting there might not take kindly to further disturbance.

The Haunted Hospital of Hilo may never fully reveal its secrets. Whether the stories are true or simply local legends passed down through time, one thing is certain: the hospital, with its crumbling walls and ghostly reputation, will continue to captivate the imaginations of those who hear its tale.

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References:

Then & Now: The Old Hilo Hospital – Ke Ola Magazine 

Haunted Places on the Big Island of Hawaii 

Trick Or Treat Special: Old Hilo Hospital, Babies Cry – Big Island Pulse 

Spooky Haunted Places In Hawaii – Resortica Hawaii 

Shadowlands Haunted Places Index – Hawaii 

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The Ghostly Presence of Beverly at Lake Quinault Lodge

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At the old Lake Quinault Lodge in Olympic National Park, it is said that the ghost of Beverly, the former employee that died in a fire, still haunts the suit named after her.

Lake Quinault Lodge was built in a span over 10 weeks in 1926 and still stands like it did then in the middle of nature. The Lodge has drawn people wanting closer to nature for years but also bore witness to a tragic tale that left an indelible mark on its storied history. 

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This remote Lodge far from most things in the In the Pine peaks of Olympic National Park in Washington was built in 1926 and still today it cling to its rustic and spartan way of living with no internet and designed to socialize with other guests. A lot of the conversations are about  the designated house ghost, a former employee called Beverly. 

Lake Quinault Lodge : The old lodge said to be haunted by Beverly, the former housekeeper who died in a tragic fire. // Source: Flickr

The Haunting in The Beverly Suite

One time a guest was unpacking her bag inside of her booked room when she was suddenly face to face with a woman. The woman told her name was Beverly and that she worked at the hotel. The guest got so upset about the unannounced staff and went to complain to the front desk. The ones working behind it had to tell her that they did in fact not have a worker called Beverly, not anymore. The guest checked out the same night. The room the woman was staying in was called The Beverly Suite.

There are plenty of different rooms in the Lake Quinault Lodge, one of them being The Beverly Suite filling up the entire third floor in the Boathouse Building. The staff used to call it that after they noticed that their ghost seemed to prefer to appear inside of it. 

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According to the story, there was a woman named Beverly, once the dedicated housekeeper of this remote haven. However, one night a fire engulfed the lodge’s attic in the Main Lodge, in some versions the Boathouse that used to serve as a kitchen. 

The fire claimed the life of the unsuspecting Beverly who slept soundly in her room, or worked in the kitchen. 

Interior: Inside of Lake Quinault Lodge as it was in 2017. // Source: Joe Mabel/Wikimedia

The Death of Beverley at Lake Quinault Lodge

Beverly’s untimely demise cast a melancholic shadow over Lake Quinault Lodge, but her spirit, it seems, refused to depart from the place she worked. In the quiet corners of the lodge, her apparition is said to wander, a ghostly specter that traverses the halls with a quiet grace and her presence is thought to be most powerful in the attic. 

Witnesses to Beverly’s ghostly manifestations recount the subtle opening of windows as a testament to her lingering benevolence. The gentle touch of her unseen hand, still imbued with the essence of a caring housekeeper, leaves an ethereal trail that hints at her enduring connection to the lodge and its occupants.

Although mostly a friendly ghost it has been said she sometimes throws glasses and silverware. 

The True Haunting of the Lodge

But was there really a fire at the Lake Quinault Lodge that took the life of one of the employees? Was there ever a housekeeper named Beverly? One year we dated was 1924, when the owner of the hotel was Olena Egge. On an August day she brought her family to a picnic of Higley Peak and saw black smoke through the fog.  

In this version Beverley was her cook and chambermaid and the fire had started in the flue in the kitchen. All was gone at the hotel except the fireplace and chimney. After this, the hotel we see and stay in today was built on top of it. 

Lake Quinault Lodge: The original building that was completely destroyed by the fire and the starting point for the ghostly legends of today.

It is said that she watches over the lodge, a silent guardian from beyond the veil, ensuring that the tranquility of this remote retreat is maintained. As the winds sweep through the dense forests surrounding Lake Quinault, whispers of Beverly’s presence are carried through the air. 

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References:

LeRoy Tipton’s take on local lodge history – Washington Our Home 

Lake Quinault Lodge – FrightFind 

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The Joelma Building and the Ghosts of the 13 Souls

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In the 70s, a deadly fire broke out at the Joelma Building in São Paulo, Brasil, killing many people. Later, the building is reported haunted, and the ghosts of the victims are crying for help from beyond the grave.

In downtown São Paulo in the southeast region in Brazil, a building stands that were the site of one of the most horrific fires that the world ever saw. Today the building has been renamed and is called Edifício Praça da Bandeira, but it is probably most known by its former name, the Joelma Building. 

The 25-story Joelma Building is famous because of a fire that started in the building in 1974 that took the life of at least 179 people, and is the world’s worst skyscraper fire in history besides the World Trade Center fire by death toll. 

The Death Fire of the Joelma Building

On a Friday the 1. February at Avenida 9 de Julho, 225, an air conditioning overheated on the twelfth floor in the morning. The building was used as an office building so at this particular time, the working day had started. The banking company Banco Crefisul S/A that worked in the building had 756 employees present.

The Fire: Although the Joelma Building didn’t collapse, the whole building was swallowed by the flames.

The Joelma Building was a brand new building and completed in 1971 and it shouldn’t have any old or rusty things that would malfunction like this. The reason why the air conditioning overheated was that it used the wrong plug that it needed. Also, the materials that had been used to build the interior of wood, the fabrics and such were very flammable, and in no less than 20 minutes, the entire building was engulfed in flames that trapped the people inside. 

There were no emergency lights, fire exits or fire sprinkler systems that would help the people trapped by the fire and smoke inside, and after the tragedy, it put a new focus of how important standard things like this was in a building. But for those trapped inside of the fiery hell, it was all too late.

There was a chain of events that led to the big catastrophe the death fire turned out to be. The firefighters came only 20 minutes after the fire started, but didn’t have proper equipment with them to put out the flames in the tall building. The ladders they had could only reach up to 14 floors of the building with 25 floors, and those above were left to their own devices.

The fire in the Joelma Building turned into a battle of survival. They tried to rescue the people on the upper floors by helicopter as well, but didn’t manage to get close enough to get them safely out.

By the time the fire was extinguished, over 300 people were injured, and they estimate that between 179 to 189 people had lost their lives. 

The 13 Souls in the Elevator

40 people tried to jump out of the Joelma Building when they realized they wouldn’t manage to get down on the lower floors. Of these jumper there were none survivors because of the height of the building. The only way to escape was by getting down to the lower floors, but with no emergency exits, the people inside found themselves trapped. 

13 people tried to escape by using the elevators of the building that was at the time still working. Although not recommended to use under fire, they were desperate enough to try to escape. The plan didn’t work though and the elevator stopped on its way down and trapped them inside where they died of suffocation as the flames were closing in on them.

The bodies were badly hurt by the fire and it even took time to make the carnage of huddled corpses into 13 individuals. They never managed to identify the 13 souls and today they are buried in anonymous graves at the Vila Alpina Cemetery. 

Haunting the Cemetery

These 13 souls have since been suspected of still lingering in this world as ghosts. At the site of the mass grave of the 13 unidentified bodies there were reports of moaning and cries for help for those that in their dying moment, never got rescued. 

The Thirteen Unknown Graves: The graves of the 13 souls that were never identified in the Joelma Building fire. Visitors comes and puts glasses of water for them. // Photo: Wikimedia

The cemetery caretaker at the time, Luiz Nunez was so bothered by this and became desperate to stop the noise of their cries and poured water over the graves. This act of extinguishing an eternal fire he meant helped to quiet them, at least for one day. 

From that day, visitors started leaving a glass of water on the grave instead of the usual flowers. 

The Haunting at the Joelma Building

Back at the building where this tragedy happened, the reports of the paranormal continue to this day as well. People experienced strange phenomena where the cars in the parking lot outside of the Joelma Building would suddenly start blinking with their lights without anyone turning them on, and the inside of the building was also haunted. 

It is said that every floor above the 15th floor is haunted, where the firefighters ladders didn’t reach. People keep seeing shadows in the stairways and experience malfunctioning elevators. Fire alarms going off with no fire is also some of the activity that is apparently going on there. 

Curiously enough It is not the only tragedy that happened on the site of where the building stands either. And the place where the building was built has been called cursed land because of its history.

Cursed Land

In 1948, a chemistry professor named Paulo Camargo lived in a house at the same place where the Joelma Building would be built with his mother and two sisters. They had a lot of illness in their family that took a lot of energy for Camargo that had to take care of them by himself. It didn’t get better when Camargo found a girlfriend named Isaltina dos Amaros that his mother didn’t approve of. 

It all ended with Camargo killing his entire family by shooting them and throwing them down a well. They never really found a clear motive as to why he ended up doing what he did. And they never got a chance to dig further either. When the police came and discovered the well, Camargo killed himself with the very gun he had used on his family.  

When they built the Joelma building it is said they changed the entrance so the address wouldn’t be the same as the murderers. But the place was still the same and some even called it cursed land because of the place.

Even before the gruesome murders in 1948, the place was believed to be a ‘pelourinho’, a public place were they would take slaves and criminals. They would tie them up and torture them, and at times, also kill them for the public up to the abolition of slavery in 1888.  

Purified by a Buddhist Monk

Today the Joelma Building is once again renamed and something stands on the top of a past buried tragedy. After the fire the Joelma Building closed for 4 years for reconstruction. It was renamed Edifício Praça da Bandeira after it opened again to rid itself of its past. But there are some things you just can’t bury. 

In 2004, they were doing work on the building, but the owners was met with hesitant workers, not wanting to be there at all because of its haunted history. Many wouldn’t step into the new building until it was blessed by a Buddhist monk. The monk that did the blessing said in interviews that she had purified the place and deemed it safe for the living. The Buddhist monk also said that she could do nothing about the ghosts on the upper floors, and that they still lingered.

But is it enough to ward off another tragedy to have a monk purify the place? Is the supposedly cursed land clean and cured? Or was it just a coincidence that they happened on the same land as the past atrocities? 

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References

Joelma Building – Wikipedia

The Killer Doctor, the Swirling Fire, and the World’s Most Haunted Building

13 Haunted Locations Across 7 Continents