Metal Insider is getting into the Halloween spirit this year with something a little different. Throughout October, we’re sharing the history and eerie tales behind venues across the world. Check out our latest column, Halloween Countdown for more, and Enjoy!
Introduction
Today’s countdown includes six in one, for October 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, and 21st with venues Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, TN, Orpheum Theatre in Memphis, TN, Phoenix Theatre in Petaluma, CA, Edinburgh Playhouse in Edinburgh, Scotland, The Viper Room in West Hollywood, CA, and Stadium Theatre Performing Arts Centre in Woonsocket, RI.
Ryman Auditorium
It’s no surprise Nashville, also known as the Music City, has a haunted history. The larger-scaled venue with a capacity of over 2,300, started in 1892 as the Union Gospel Tabernacle. Riverboat captain Thomas Ryman brought the place to life after his life was changed by a chance encounter with revivalist preacher Sam Jones. Ryman invested his fortune and took seven years to construct the grand tabernacle. While the place initially opened as a place of worship, it didn’t take long for it to become a place of community, where members of the city would join to host sermons, lectures, and concerts. The venue was given the Ryman name after Thomas passed away in 1904, and its purpose evolved beyond a house of worship.
Once taken over by Lula C. Naff, the theatre became known as The Carnegie Hall of the South, welcoming performers like Harry Houdini, Katharine Hepburn, and Duke Ellington. By 1943, the theater became known as The Mother Church of Country Music, being the home to the Grand Ole Opry. The theatre became neglected following the Opry’s departure in 1974, up until 1991 when Emmylou Harris’ live album, At The Ryman, gave life back into the Auditorium, where restoration soon took place, followed by its 1994 reopening. The Auditorium continues to host countless concerts throughout the year within many genres of music. There’s much more to read about the Ryman; you can check out a full, detailed list of historical events here.
Orpheum Theatre
There are a few venues named the Orpheum, and, in fact, a few of them are considered haunted. However, the one in Memphis, TN, apparently takes the cake. The Memphis Orpheum Theatre was first built in 1890, which was known as The Grand Opera House. The venue had a reputation for being one of the best outside of New York City. It soon became part of the Orpheum Vaudeville Circuit in 1907, offering all kinds of stage acts up until a fire destroyed it in 1923. Reconstruction later took place, and a new venue was built in the same location by 1928 and given the name, The Orpheum Theatre. Designed by the Chicago firm Rapp and Rapp, it featured lavish décor, marble, crystal chandeliers, and a Mighty Wurlitzer organ that still plays today.
Just like many venues throughout the US, once the vaudeville age faded, the Orpheum was acquired by Michael A. Lightman’s movie theater chain, and it became known as the Malco, a movie theater from 1940 until well into the 1970s. By 1976, Lightman decided to sell the building, where debates about demolishing the site took place. However, the Memphis Development Foundation stepped in to save it, restoring it to the Orpheum Theatre. The venue remains today, hosting touring Broadway shows, concerts, ballet, and community events. You can view the full historical timeline here.
Phoenix Theatre
Located in the North Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area in Petaluma, the Phoenix Theatre initially opened in 1905 as an opera house. It was later destroyed by a fire in the 1920s and rebuilt in 1925 as a movie theater. It sustained multiple renames and constructions, and it wasn’t until 1982 that it became what it’s known as today, the Phoenix Theatre, when manager Tom Gaffey renamed it, giving it a positive name despite its disastrous past: “the Phoenix rises from the ashes.” Overall, the theater survived multiple fires, the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, and threats of demolition in the late 1990s before it was saved by local musicians and citizens who turned it into a nonprofit community center. Over the decades, the Phoenix has hosted many shows, and it continues to do so today.
Edinburgh Playhouse
The Edinburgh Playhouse opened its doors during the rise of the “talkies” in 1929. Designed by architect John Fairweather, making the place a “super-cinema,” inspired by New York’s Roxy Theatre with an enhanced, elegant Art Deco interior and Venetian organ fronts. The Playhouse was a successful cinema lasting decades until a decline in sales resulted in its closure in the 1970s. While on its way to be demolished, the public refused, leading to a petition with over 15,000 signatures to save the building. The Playhouse has been protected since 1974.
The venue was restored and reopened as a live performance theatre in 1980. Today, the Playhouse remains under the ownership of the Ambassador Theatre Group, continuing to host concerts, comedians, touring musicals, and more events. It is known as one of Scotland’s largest theaters.
The Viper Room
The Viper Room is infamously known for its dark history, making it no surprise to land in the Haunted Venues. Located on the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood, The Viper Room opened its doors in 1993 under co-owners Johnny Depp and Sal Jenco. The building itself was once a grocery store in the 1920s and had varying identities since for the nightlife scene on the Sunset Strip, including The Melody Lounge, Filthy McNasty’s, The Central, and then Depp transformed the place to the jazz-inspired rock club known as The Viper Room.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers were the first to perform at the official opening of the Viper Room, setting the tone for what became a hotspot for Hollywood, but it didn’t take long for the location to receive a reputation for its darker side. Long before Joaquin Phoenix’s acting career skyrocketed, his brother, River Phoenix, was on his way to major success with his acting career. It all came to an unfortunate end when River died of a drug overdose on the sidewalk outside of the club just months after it opened. This tragedy set the dark tone for more near-fatal overdoses, including one from Courtney Love. In 1997, INXS frontman Michael Hutchence gave his final public performance there before taking his life a week later.
Beyond deaths and overdoses, there were allegations of embezzlement and the mysterious disappearance of co-owner Anthony Fox in 2001, adding more mystery surrounding this venue that clearly stems beyond concerts. Despite the controversial history, The Viper Room remains open today, yet it seems the building’s days are numbered. LA Mag reported in 2024 that the entire block on the Sunset Strip where the Viper Room sits will be replaced by a high-end hotel and apartment tower, adding another layer of controversy in today’s rise of luxury buildings replacing history and inflated price tags. But that will be saved for another discussion. The Viper Room appears to remain active. According to its events calendar, a few things are happening there throughout the year. At least for now.
Stadium Theatre Performing Arts Centre
Located roughly thirty minutes from the infamous Conjuring House, sits The Stadium Theatre Performing Arts Centre & Conservatory in Woonsocket, Rhode Island. The venue opened its doors in 1926 and remains one of the few examples of the Vaudeville-era-styled theaters still in existence today. Local supporters initially funded the venue, which industrialist Arthur I later took over. Perry and Whipple of Providence designed it. The term “stadium” originated from the stadium-style seating arrangements, which provide each audience member with a view of the stage. Like many venues of its time, it went through years of decline and even entered an explorative period, sustaining the theater by screening adult films in the 1980s. The centre was on its way to being demolished but a $3 million restoration campaign saved it. It officially reopened in 2001 and hosted a variety of events, including concerts, plays, educational programs, and more, to serve the community of northern Rhode Island.
Facts
Ryman Auditorium
Location: 116 Rep. John Lewis Way North (formerly 5th Ave. N), Nashville, Tennessee
Venue Type: Historic live performance hall / music venue (originally a gospel tabernacle)
Year Built (and Key Dates): Construction began in 1889, Opened as Union Gospel Tabernacle in 1892, 1904 – Renamed Ryman Auditorium, 1943-1974 – Became home of the Grand Ole Opry, 1994 – Reopened after major restoration, 2001 – Designated National Historic Landmark, 2022 – Named Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Landmark
Status: Active
Capacity: Approximately 2,362 seats
Orpheum Theatre
Location: 203 South Main Street, Memphis, Tennessee
Venue Type: Historic performing arts theater
Year Built (and Key Dates): Originally built in 1890 as the Grand Opera House; rebuilt in 1928 as the Orpheum Theatre; restored in 1982, 1996, 2014
Status: Active
Capacity: 2,308 seats
Phoenix Theatre
Location: Petaluma, California, USA
Venue Type: music venue/community center
Year Built (and Key Dates): Built 1905 (as Hill Opera House); rebuilt 1925 after fire; renamed Phoenix Theater in 1982; became nonprofit in early 2000s
Status: Active
Capacity: Approximately 600–800 people
Edinburgh Playhouse
Location: Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
Venue Type: Theatre / performing arts venue
Year Built (and Key Dates): Opened August 12, 1929; closed in early 1970s; restored and reopened as a live theatre in 1980
Status: Active
Capacity: 3,059 seats
The Viper Room
Location: 8852 Sunset Boulevard, West Hollywood, CA
Venue Type: Nightclub / live music venue
Year Built (and Key Dates): Originally constructed in 1921; became The Viper Room on August 14, 1993
Status: Active (slated for demolition and redevelopment into hotel and retail complex)
Capacity: Approximately 250–300 people
Stadium Theatre Performing Arts Centre
Location: 28 Monument Square, Woonsocket, Rhode Island
Venue Type: Performing arts theatre / concert hall
Year Built (and Key Dates): Built in 1926; added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976; closed in 1985; restored and reopened in 2001
Status: Active
Capacity: Approximately 1,100 seats
Music Cred
Ryman Auditorium
While Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, and Johnny Cash have held performances at the Ryman Auditorium, heavier acts are a bit further between, but some notable ones include ZZ Top, Sum 41, Tesla, Explosions in the Sky, Clutch, Foo Fighters, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, and Joe Satriani.
Orpheum Theatre
Many bands have performed at the Orpheum Theatre, including Sevendust, Alter Bridge, Alice Cooper, Foreigner, Nine Inch Nails, Pop Evil, Smashing Pumpkins, Saxon, Def Leppard, as well as the late Ozzy Osbourne, who made his appearance in 1981.
Phoenix Theatre
Metallica graced the Phoenix Theatre stage in 1991, in addition to the previously mentioned AFI and GWAR. Other artists include OTTTO, Soulfly, Agent Orange, King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, Faith No More, Primus, Mr. Bungle, Death Angel, Testament, Sleep, Social Distortion, Forbidden, Malevolent Creation, Coal Chamber, and Slipknot.
Edinburgh Playhouse
Major legends have performed at the Edinburgh house, including, Iron Maiden, Alice Cooper, Saxon, Rainbow, Queen, AC/DC, The Who, Scorpions, Rage, Raven, Girlschool, The Rolling Stones, Meat Loaf, Ozzy Osbourne, Manowar, KISS, Dio, Motorhead, Motley Crue, Ratt, Accept, Black Sabbath, and Metallica, to name a few.
The Viper Room
System of a Down made quite a few appearances at the Viper Room, right when their career was first getting started. Other artists include: Ill nino, Ottto, Bastardane, Yungblud, Edge of Paradise, Pearl Jam, Motorhead, Tenacious D, Buckcherry, Deftones, Snot, Stone Temple Pilots, Hole, Finger Eleven, Iggy Pop, A Perfect Circle, Deadsy, Faster Pussycat, CKY, and Tom Morello.
Stadium Theatre Performing Arts Centre
While the venue serves events beyond concerts, a few artists have performed here, including Todd Rundgren, Blue Öyster Cult, and most notably, the late Ace Frehley.
Reported Hauntings
Ryman Auditorium
The Ryman Auditorium has an extensive list of haunted findings, tracing back to Captain Thomas Ryman’s death in 1904. It is said, even after his passing, Ryman remains unhappy that the auditorium is no longer a place of worship. There have been reports on Ryman’s ghost stomping through the aisles during performances he’d consider “sinful.”
Other haunted findings involve the timeline during the Grand Old Opry, bringing in a darker energy. There are also connections to artists like the late Hank Williams Sr. and Patsy Cline, rumored to linger throughout the Auditorium after their deaths, allegedly their voices remain to echo if you listen close enough.
Another sighting involves a confederate soldier who has been spotted watching rehearsals from the balcony. There are further explanations on the haunted history of the Ryman Auditorium, available on US Ghost Adventures, as well as Ghost City Tours, where you can book a tour of the Auditorium to experience the haunted history firsthand.
Orpheum Theatre
The Orpheum Theatre has a long history of paranormal activity. Its most famous ghost is of a young girl named Mary, said to have died near the theater in the early 1920s. There are varying reports where some claim she was hit by a car or trolley in front of the building, and others say she fell nearby. Mary has been described as a young, shy girl with braided hair wearing a white dress. Her spirit is usually found at seat C5 in the balcony section. Beyond sitting in a seat watching performances, the young ghost is known to cause lights to flicker, cold drafts, and slam doors. However, Mary is likely a friendly ghost and wouldn’t cause any significant disruptions.
Additional spirits claim to have been spotted, one of which includes a man named David who appears to be waiting to escort Mary into the afterlife. While not-so-friendly, a woman called Eleanor seems to have a darker presence, leaving those who go near are left with a heavy chill in the upper balcony. Ghost tours are available of the Orpheum Theatre as part of Back Beat Tours; there’s a Memphis Ghost Tour. You may be able to experience it for yourself, spotting one of these myths that have surrounded the venue for over a century.
Phoenix Theatre
Paranormal activity has been claimed to be active at The Phoenix Theatre in Petaluma, but it doesn’t seem to be as widespread for complete details. From the few sources we can find, KQED reminded us of a 2000 AFI song, “The Days of the Phoenix,” taken from The Art of Drowning. AFI referenced “the ghosts on the stage” and “the secret tunnels below” in the track about the theater. KQED also stated back in the ’90s, a security guard traveling with GWAR claimed to have seen a ghost of a small boy backstage.
Former manager Tom Gaffey once expressed his experiences, including seeing flickering blue lights, hearing loud footsteps, and receiving strange phone calls from the unused projection booth. According to Ultimate Classic Rock, where this venue has also been featured as haunted, Gaffey claimed to have identified a few of the spirits, including “the little kid,” “Big Chris,” and “The Lady in the Bathroom.” A psychic allegedly removed an angry woman’s spirit from the restrooms, but claims a tall man remains haunting the projection booth. There doesn’t seem to be any ghost tours available for the theater. Perhaps buy a concert ticket there and, in between acts, see if you spot any spirits.
Edinburgh Playhouse
The Edinburgh Playhouse has a famous ghost named Albert, whose presence has been seen as far back as the 1950s. While the facts surrounding his demise and what kept him there are a blur, he was either a night watchman who took his own life or a stagehand who died on the job. Regardless, Albert’s spirit is said to haunt the backstage and upper levels of the theatre. Described as a man in grey overalls or wearing a coat, he’s commonly spotted on Level Six. Those who encountered Albert felt sudden chills as they saw his shadowy figure before he vanished. Beyond shadows, witnesses of Albert have seen flickering lights and objects moving, and apparently, dogs refused to enter certain parts of the building. Despite the disturbances, Albert is claimed to be a friendly ghost.
While Albert’s legend dominates the Playhouse’s haunted history, there’s apparently another spirit claimed to lurk within the walls. Intrepidus Outdoors reported an alleged second spirit known as “The Lady in Grey.” She is said to wander the upper part of the theatre, often accompanied by a cold breeze and an overwhelming sense of sorrow. The spirit is believed to be an actress whose life ended tragically. The Edinburgh Playhouse is considered one of Scotland’s most haunted theaters. To read more about “Albert,” Edinburgh Live and Edinburgh News both reported the lore behind the spirit.
The Viper Room
Some may claim The Viper Room was cursed long before it opened, surrounded by dark history, leaving a negative energy behind. When known as The Melody Room, mobster Mickey Cohen and his team were frequently spotted; one can only assume what happened during those days. As for the Viper Room’s controversial history, tied to the drug overdose of River Phoenix in 1993, to the mysterious disappearance of co-owner Anthony Fox, the venue naturally takes on the term haunted for more than one reason.
Beyond the natural remnants of negative energy, the Viper Room is claimed to be a site for paranormal activity. There have been reports of oppressive energy towards the basement bar, where glasses have flown off shelves, and people have felt pressure on their chests. There have also been claims on unseen hands touching employees or hearing whispers late at night. Meanwhile, others believe the building is a portal tied to restless spirits.
The Viper Room was featured in the 2017 Ghost Adventures episode. It was considered one of the most paranormally charged sites in Los Angeles. During the episode’s investigation, the crew recorded a series of cold spots, flickering lights, and disembodied voices on spirit boxes and other ghost investigative equipment. One believed to have heard the late River Phoenix saying, “I get confused.” Rita Fiora, a staff member who had worked at the venue for years, recalled feeling hands grab her by something unseen. She also claimed to have received bizarre texts from a number that belonged to a dead woman. The episode successfully captured visual evidence that surpasses what can be naturally read through EMF Meters. Evidence includes figures moving through doors and sudden static surges disrupting the investigator’s gear. Between the building’s criminal past, drug overdoses, and a mysterious disappearance, there’s definitely something going on in The Viper Room. The question remains, will this portal, or whatever activity is going on, continue once it becomes a luxury building?
Stadium Theatre Performing Arts Centre
It may be rare to find The Stadium Theatre Performing Arts Centre listed as one of Rhode Island’s most haunted places, yet it was featured in a 2015 episode of Ghost Hunters. According to the episode, initially aired on Syfy, the venue has an extensive history of unexplained activity. Some findings include phantom footsteps, doors opening and closing, and voices heard in the balcony. The Ghost Hunters episode brought their crew to determine if the place was, in fact, haunted. Sure enough, activity was captured during the investigation, such as metallic crashes, footsteps, and disembodied voices, especially near the balcony and projection booth. Cameras captured a shadowy black mass heading down the stairs just as the investigators heard movement within the same area.
The episode also featured the adjoining building, where construction workers refused to continue renovations due to frequent paranormal disturbances.
The one who haunts the centre is said to be the ghost of Arthur Darman. A businesswoman who financed the theater in 1926 may have never left. While there’s little evidence to prove the spirit is Darman, the Ghost Hunters episode did validate the reports of paranormal activity.
Visit Info
Ryman Auditorium
Orpheum Theatre
Phoenix Theatre
Edinburgh Playhouse
The Viper Room
Stadium Theatre Performing Arts Centre
Interested in horror and the paranormal? Metal Insider is teaming up with the newly resurrected site Dizarranged, which is also running a haunted countdown to Halloween, featuring 31 haunted places from around the globe.
