Avon Theatre Hauntings and the Spirits of the Stage
Why do ghosts appear when we finally feel at peace? Explore the eerie history of the Avon Theatre and hear a listener's chilling encounter with the dark.
Best quote from Avon Theatre Hauntings and the Spirits of the Stage
Think about what a theatre actually is—it’s an energetic beacon. It’s like the building itself becomes a battery of human emotion that never quite finishes discharging.
This audio lesson was created by a BeFreed community member
The host welcomes listeners to the Real English channel. It’s a horror podcast in English about the Avon Theatre. During the podcast, she receives a call from a listener who shares their memories. The second host appears only in the role of the calling listener.
Frequently Asked Questions
Theaters are viewed as energetic beacons because they act as emotional batteries that collect and store a century's worth of raw human emotion. Every night, hundreds of people gather in a confined space to laugh, cry, or gasp in terror, while actors backstage experience high levels of adrenaline and nerves. This massive discharge of energy is believed to be absorbed by the building's wood and stone, creating a reservoir of history that spirits can tap into or remain trapped within.
The Man in the Balcony is the most famous resident ghost of the Avon Theatre, often described as a figure with a pale, glowing face who sits alone in the dark. Staff members frequently mistake him for a living patron who stayed behind after a show, but he vanishes the moment someone approaches to speak to him. While some believe he is the ghost of a dedicated former janitor who lived in the theater, others suggest he could be Ambrose Small, the millionaire theater mogul who mysteriously vanished in 1919.
The "Crime of the Century" refers to the unexplained disappearance of Ambrose Small in 1919. Small was a wealthy theater mogul who owned a chain of playhouses, including the Theatre Albert (now the Avon). Immediately after selling his theater chain for 1.7 million dollars and being seen buying a newspaper in Toronto, he vanished without a trace. No body or leads were ever found, and his ghost is now said to haunt several of his former properties, sometimes appearing to protect the buildings or interact with performers.
The phantom violinist is a recurring phenomenon on the second floor of the Queen’s Inn in Stratford. Guests have reported hearing loud, beautiful violin music coming from vacant rooms, a claim that was once verified by a manager who heard the music through a guest's phone line. When the room was investigated, it was found to be ice-cold and completely empty. This haunting is thought to be an "echo" of the past, possibly linked to the building's long history and a devastating fire in the late 1800s.
Unlike the relatively passive "Man in the Balcony," the haunting of the Phelps family in 1850 was aggressive and disruptive, fitting the profile of a poltergeist. The activity included furniture being smashed, objects moving in slow motion, and the creation of unsettling "dummies" made from clothes and stuffed with rags to parody a prayer meeting. The entity specifically targeted the son, Henry, physically throwing him across rooms or setting his bed on fire, suggesting a more malicious and intentional presence than the residual energy found in theaters.
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From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
