The Ghosts of the Rivoli Theater in Indianapolis, Indiana

The Rivoli Theater in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana, is a gorgeous landmark and is reputed to be one of the most haunted.

The Indianapolis during the 1920s when the Rivoli was built, was a far cry from the bustling and sprawling metropolitan city we know today. The city was more rural in nature, with farms located just outside the city limits, and a lack of public transportation. It was into this environment that th Rivoli Theater was built.

Universal Studios began building movie theaters across the country, to increase the appeal of the still new field of "moving pictures". The studio chose architect Henry Ziegler Dietz to design the theater, and chose a location on the east side of the city. The belief was that this was the perfect location to attract customers as they entered and exited Indianapolis.

The Rivoli Theater would be the first Universal Studios owned theater in the state, and they spared no expense in building materials or design, using the best locally produced materials such as limestone, and lumber imported from the southeastern area of the state. They also planned on the Rivoli being the best of the best for theaters in Indiana, with stores located in front of the building, and a capacity for 1,500 movie goers. Though Vaudeville was dead by the time the Rivoli opened its doors in 1927, the stage often ran small shows, and locally produced plays.

As Universal began building more and more theaters across the state and country, the cost of upkeep and general maintenance became more than the Studio found feasible. In some cases the costs of maintaining their theaters outweighed their profits. Rather than face the inevitable bankruptcy, the Studio chose to sell some of their theaters, including the Rivoli. A decade after opening its doors, the Rivoli closed in 1937, but only for a short period of time.

The theater opened and closed repeatedly throughout the years, opening for a few years, then changing ownership, and beginning the cycle again. The Rivoli closed for "good" in 1992, though in the last few years the current owner has worked hard to renovate ad reopen the theater. Rivoli Theater supporters were even successful in designating the building as a Historic Landmark in 2004. According to the official website of the Theater, it seems as if the building will open again one day.

As with many historic buildings, the Rivoli Theater is haunted by stories of ghosts and goblins, and its easy to see why. Despite the changes in ownership, the Rivoli retains its original charms, making it seem like a one of a kind site in Indianapolis. It still features an old fashioned neon marque outside, and the original Rivoli sign that lights up. Walking down the crowded street, and spying the large sign is almost like stepping back in time, and while standing inside the theater, you can almost imagine the days when a projectionist could sit in his booth, while smoking a cigarettes, and women put on their finest clothes for a simple night at the movies.

The ghosts of the Rivoli Theater seem to be former customers who aren't quite ready to leave the place most saw their first glimpse of moving pictures. There are stories of workers who spotted people calmly sitting in their seats, only to watch in surprise as the figures slowly disappeared. Another ghost is that of a man who runs through the seats and through a wall. Other stories include visitors who have heard voices talking, laughing, and whispering when no one else was in the theater. Some visitors have also spotted a couple dressed to the nines, in a tuxedo and ball gown, sitting alone in the empty theater. Workers and volunteers claim to feel people staring at them, seeing things move through the air, and on occasion being pushed by a ghost. Perhaps the ghosts at the Rivoli are unhappy about seeing their home changed.

There is also a sense of unease or uncomfortableness felt by some in certain areas of the building. Some people claim they felt someone watching them in the bathroom, and one woman had an uneasy experience with a spirit in the bathroom. While washing her hands in the sink, the toilet flushed, and in the mirror she saw a woman exit the stall. After turning around, she discovered that the woman had mysteriously disappeared.

Generally, the Rivoli Theater experiences a wide range of paranormal activity. Cigarettes have been found burning, and on occasion the cigarettes found were a brand no longer made, or a package can be found sitting on a table, with a design not made for decades. There have also been cold spots experienced in the building. And some workers claim to see the faucets turn on and off on their own.

The one thing that many ghost hunters point out when attempting to debunk the hauntings at Rivoli Theater are the shear amount of activity reporting. It almost seems at times that the building boasts a little bit of everything in regards to types of activity; voices, apparitions, poltergeist activity, and a whole lot more. I've never had the opportunity to seen the inside of the Rivoli, but I have heard some of the stories, and seen the building up close. Personally, I don't know if the Rivoli is haunted by ghosts, but it will be interesting to see the inside when it reopens.

Sources:
http://www.rivolitheatre.org/index.html
www.historiclandmarks.org/news/stories/newsstory0704.html
www.prairieghosts.com/rivoli.html