The Vogue Theater is located on Hollywood Boulevard just east of Highland in the center of historic Hollywood. At the end of the 19th century, the street was known as Prospect Avenue.
A four-room school house called Prospect Elementary originally stood on the site but it burned down in 1901. Twenty-five students and the teacher, known as Miss Elizabeth, perished in the fire. The Vogue was built at the site of the school playground.
For a few brief years after the school burned down, a textile factory was built on the Site and it burned down. In 1934, plans were drawn up to construct the Vogue Theater.
History of the Vogue Theater
The Vogue was opened on July 16th, 1936 as a one-floor movie house which had seating capacity for 890 people. Fox West Coast Theaters ran the Vogue until it was purchased by Mann Theaters in the early 1990s.
The Vogue closed in 1995 but was rented by the International Society for Paranormal Research (ISPR) in 1997 as a research site and as a venue for psychic performances. The Vogue was also used as a location for various films but closed its doors in December 2001.
Ghosts of the Vogue Theater
- The most famous ghost is that of “Fritz” who worked as projectionist for over 40 years. He died of a heart attack in the projection room in the 1980s. There is a story of a projectionist who was working at the Vogue after Fritz passed away. One night he fell asleep just before he was supposed to switch over to a new film reel. For some unexplained reason, the reel got changed.
- Another ghost is “Danny” who worked as a maintenance engineer at the Vogue. He died of a drug overdose in the 1980s.
- The spirits of six children from Prospect Elementary School which burned down and their teacher, Miss Elizabeth, have been identified by many people.
- The apparition of a little girl skipping up and down the aisles has been seen on many occasions.
- Men have claimed to be pushed out of the way when they have going up the stairs.
- Ghosts of movie patrons have been seen when the Vogue has not been open for business. Seats go up and down for no apparent reason.
- Some people have detected the smell of smoke from a fire.
The four-year study by the ISPR was the longest running scientific paranormal study ever conducted at a haunted location in the world. When the ISPR finished their stay at the Vogue Theater in December 2001, they claimed to have cleared the property of seven resident ghosts.
Sources:
- Get2Gold
- Ghost Expeditions
- LA Tourist
- Cinema Treasures
- All Star Theater Café
- ISPR News
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Hollywood Forever Cemetery Ghosts
Haunted Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel
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