New York Ghosts

28. New Amsterdam Theater

New York, NY

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214 W 42nd Street New York, NY 10036 The New Amsterdam Theater is located in the heart of Times Square and has been a staple in New York City since 1903. At the time, it was the largest theater in the city, and today is tied with the Lyceum Theater as the oldest Broadway venue. Its first show was a production of "A Midsummer Night's Dream," but thanks to the effects of the Great Depression, it temporarily closed in 1936. The venue reopened in 1937, but changed over to a movie theater not long after. The Nederlander Corporation purchased the property in 1982, the State and City of New York took over in 1990, and Disney Theatrical Productions - who restored the property for several years - signed a lease in 1993. It reopened in April 1997 and hosted a different film, concert, and stage production until 2006 when the stage production of Mary Poppins took up residency. The production has been there since. Films and stage productions haven't been the only things that are long standing at the New Amsterdam Theater. Olive Thomas, a beautiful performer born on October 20, 1894 in Pennsylvania, has been haunting the theater since her death in 1920. Thomas came to New York at 16 years of age to make a name for herself, and she certainly did. She was deemed "The Most Beautiful Girl in New York City," was on the cover of "The Saturday Evening Post," posed half-nude for a painting done by Alberto Vargas, and became a Ziegfeld girl at the age of 21. However, her personal life was not as fantastic as her professional life. She was married to Jack Pickford, a womanizer and alcoholic. In 1920, she downed a bottle of mercury bichloride pills - which ironically were shaped like coffins - that belonged to her husband as he was using them to treat his syphilis. Her cause of death was deemed accidental, but considering she said, "My God, what have I done" right after she took the pills, many believe her death was a suicide. Shortly after her death, several employees and visitors to the theater reported seeing Thomas wearing her green follies dress with beaded headpiece and sash, and she just so happened to be carrying a bottle of pills. She shows herself mostly to men, is known to be quite flirty, and only gets upset when changes, such as renovations, are done to the theater. She's often seen floating in the air or walking right through walls. Next time you're at the New Amsterdam Theater - especially if you're a man - keep an eye out for a beautiful woman who stands out in the crowd thanks to her green beaded follies ensemble. If you're nice, maybe she'll even blow you a kiss. Photo credit bnilsen http://www.flickr.com/photos/edenpictures/4641250588/in/photolist-byyrgL-858C6S-djfJxz-bMt866-cgwbWE-cgwb3s-9G6B9U/