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Atlas Theatre –
HauntedHouses.com
HAUNTED PLACE; Atlas Theatre
Address: 211 W. 16th Street, Cheyenne, Wyoming 82001.
Thursday, Friday, Saturday - 7:30 PM
Sunday matinees - 2:00 PM
WEBSITE: CheyenneLittleTheatre.org
LOCATION:
In the historic downtown, The Atlas Theatre
can be found one block west down the street from The Plains Hotel,
near the intersection of W. Lincoln Way and Capitol Avenue,
sandwiched in between two other businesses, sharing outer walls
with these two other stores. The cross streets are Capitol Avenue
and Carey Avenue
Half way down W. Lincoln way, it changes
mysteriously into W. 16th Street, so don't be confused!
DESCRIPTION:
The sharp-looking, Historic Atlas
Theatre is a Victorian style, 3 story brick building with a
lovely wooden and plaster facade, complete with bay windows,
decorative tiles across the front, and handsome elongated windows.
In its auditorium, on the first floor, this small theatre holds 404
seats. It is used for stage theatre all the time now. I bet
the second and third floors are used for classes, workshops,
props/costumes, auditions, storage, offices and any other use which
results in the support of the high quality product seen on
stage.
HISTORY:
This building was constructed in 1887. The
first floor was a tea and candy shop, while the second and third
floor were used as offices. It didn't become an
"entertainment center" until 1908. In 1907, Cheyenne architect
William Dubois was hired to transform the first floor into a 404
seat theater, which offered a reasonably priced vaudeville venue,
showcasing singing and dancing to the common folk in this
musical format. The Atlas Theatre closed in 1929. It was
transformed by Publix Chain, into a movie theatre, under the name
of The Strand, opening a few months later.
After 1929, The Strand struggled to make
money, closing and opening again several times. It was closed for
good in the mid 1950s. In 1961, it was transformed into a live
music and bar venue, called The Pink Pony Nightclub, which
only lasted 2 years in business.
By 1971, the building needed some TLC, and in need of restoration
and renovation. Fortunately, like many small theatres in the USA;
(National Pastime * The Washington Opera House), it was saved by a
community theatre organization, looking for a venue to present
their melodrama efforts. After they had leased the building
for 5 years, The Cheyenne Little Theatre Players bought the
building, rescuing it from it's downhill slide, with the support of
the community. One of the first things they accomplished was
to get their theater on The National Register of Historic Places in
1973, giving it some protection from future owners who may have
wanted to tear it down.
Throughout the following years, they have been steadily
restoring this historic gem, as well as performing their thespian
projects on the theatre's stage all year long. As of Feb.,
2008, a full scale renovation is planned in order to not only
improve such basics as the heating and air-conditioning, but also
to create a black box theater and art gallery on-site, probably on
the upper floors.
HISTORY OF MANIFESTATIONS:
Larry, leader of the paranormal
investigation group, CREEPS, (Case Research in
Paranormal & Supernatural), located in Cheyenne, told
hauntedhouses.com, that no one seems to remember why this
theater is haunted, or only can give bits and pieces, though he did
find one person who told him a The story of murder and suicide,
which no one else knew or would confirm. This story is
doubtful, and probably isn't true, as it doesn't qualify even as a
town legend.
This story tells the drama of a preacher
who had opened a church in the theater building. His wife
moon-lighted as a prostitute in a brothel located on the other side
of the street. She would sneak through a tunnel which supposedly
ran under 16th street. When the preacher found out about his
wife's recreational activities, he killed her in a rage, and hung
himself in the theater.
However, the fact remains that there are
two lost souls hanging around this building. These two
unknown entities could've come from any of the time periods of this
building's existence. Most entities who hang around theatre
buildings have such a strong attachment to the building for a
variety of reasons that they can't let go of this world to pass on
to the other side.
Performers or wanna-be performers in the arts who yearn for the
stage:
Pantages
Theatre
Realto
Theatre
The
Palace Theatre
Washington
Opera House
Woodstock
Opera House
Fitzgerald
Theatre
Conscientious employees or owners:
Pantages
Theatre
Harvard
Exit Theatre
The
Egyptian Theatre
The KiMo
Theater
Tampa
Theatre
Patrons who truly loved their time in the
building, enjoying the performances:
The
Capitol Theatre
The
Orpheum Theatre
Rivoli
Theatre
Kansas City
Music Hall
Harvard
Exit Theatre
MANIFESTATIONS:
It has been reported that two unknown
entities actively make themselves known to the living.
Perhaps they play with the electricity,
move items around the theatre, play
little tricks on the living for chuckles, and perhaps even find
ways to help! Perhaps they watch the players rehearse, or keep an
eye on the staff.
STILL HAUNTED?
Yes indeed, according to word-of-mouth, and
a recent paranormal investigation, completed on Sept. 19th, 2008 by
Larry's investigation group, CREEPS, (Case Research in
Paranormal & Supernatural). These investigators caught
EVPs on tape and found orbs in their pictures. One EVP sounded like
a man giving instructions in a flat, emotionless voice. Some of the
orbs were thought to be probably just dust, but one or two were
really bright, and are evidence of entities hanging around the
building. CREEPS
Youtube Video
Actual visual sightings of these entities
may happen in the future. Renovations usually stir up paranormal
occurrences, and as the theatre is
scheduled for a 5 year renovation plan, the joint may be jumping
with paranormal activity!
SOURCES INCLUDE:
Hauntedhouses.com e-mail source - Larry of
CREEPS - (Case Research in Paranormal & Supernatural).
cheyennelittletheatre.org * legendsofamerica.com * imagescheyenne.com
creeps.bravehost.com * theshadowlands.net * cinematreasures.org
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