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Landers Theatre, Springfield, MO

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Availability:	Open to the Public
Filed Under:	Paranormal Hot Spots > Haunted Theaters Theaters
Added By:	TheCabinet
Added On:	April 22, 2008 - 08:23 PM UTC
Last Modified:	April 22, 2008 - 08:23 PM UTC
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Address
311 E Walnut St, Springfield, MO 65806, USA (Springfield, Missouri)

Information
Landers Theatre This historic landmark has been entertaining residents of Springfield, Missouri since its opening in 1909 and is rumored to be the home to a few ghosts as well. John and Douglas J. Landers conceived the structure and built it with the aid of partners to reflect Napoleon III's Baroque Renaissance architectural style. In initially hosted a variety of vaudeville shows, until a fire almost destroyed it entirely on December 17, 1920. Ensley Barbour took over and funded the rebuilding and reopening of the theater in 1922. By that time, the theater began to intermix live performances with the latest silent films out of Hollywood. In fact, Landers became the 35th theater in the United States to switch over to sound motion pictures when they debuted The Jazz Singer in 1927. It even acted as the headquarters for radio station WIBM for a short time, but mostly continued to show films throughout the late 1960s. In 1970, the Springfield Little Theatre company purchased the building and immediately began raising money for restorations. After a series of renovations returned it to its original 1909 glory, the company once again held theatrical productions for the residents of Springfield. Some of the more notable names to have graced the stage at Landers Theatre over time include Lon Chaney, the Weaver Brothers and Elviry, Lillian Russell, Fanny Brice, John Philip Sousa, Kathleen Turner, Tess Harper, among others. The Ghosts of Landers Theatre There are a variety of different accounts of paranormal activity inside the theater's walls over the years. For starters, there are tales of a janitor that was believed to have died during the fire in 1920. His spirit is said to appear on the balcony at times by the actors on the stage below. Similarly, the balcony is the source of other stories as well. The story goes that during a performance many years ago, a mother accidentally let go of her baby while on the upper balcony and the poor child fell to its death. Various people have reported seeing the tragic event play out time and again, or hearing the disembodied cries of a baby, which is sometimes accompanied by the soothing voice of its mother. The fourth floor of the building is said to have acted as the apartments for touring actors and actresses that came to perform at the Landers Theatre. It is on this floor that people passing on the street below have reported seeing a person looking out from one of the windows. Most sources list the gender as that of a male, while others list a female, but all describe the person as being dressed in Elizabethan clothing with long blond hair. Interestingly enough, the apparition has never been sighted inside the walls of the theater itself, but only from the outside on the street below. There are other accounts of a male apparition standing in the middle of the auditorium. Additionally, people have reported seeing a greenish haze or mist, as well as having the sensations of either being watched, tapped on the shoulder, and even being shoved on occasion. Finally, equipment has been known to either spontaneously shut off or become unplugged on its own accord. The strange and varied accounts have given the theater the reputation of being the most haunted location in Springfield, Missouri. The Landers Theatre Today The Springfield Little Theatre company continues to operate the building and have even added a Walk of Fame in front of the theater, where the honorees have their names displayed on stars. They continue to put on productions for the citizens of Springfield (as well as their spiritual guests) to this day. For more information, please visit the site below.

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Related Sites
Springfield Little Theatre at the Landers The official Web Site for the Springfield Little Theatre organization that owns and operates the reportedly haunted Landers Theatre in Springfield, Missouri.
Legends of America: Haunted Springfield, Missouri Legend of America's entry on the various accounts of paranormal in Springfield, Missouri.

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Ford's Theatre National Historical Site
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See Also on TheCabinet.com
Blog: The Resurrected (and Haunted) Landers Theatre (12/17/08)

Available from Amazon.com
Haunted Missouri: A Ghostly Guide to the Show-Me-State's Most Spirited Spots

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The historic and reportedly haunted Landers Theatre in Springfield, Missouri - June 2007.
From: TheCabinet

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The above content is for informational purposes only. Before making any travel arrangements, it is highly recommended that you contact those in charge of the property to check for updated availability and hours of operation. While we do our best to keep this information updated, we cannot guarantee that it is completely valid and up to date. Any destination marked "Closed to the Public" is marked that for a reason and we discourage any visits or attempts to gain access to that facility. Similarly, take note of any "Travel Advisory" that may be associated with a destination. Finally, treat any location and its local residents with respect. Any vandalism and/or unruly behavior is completely despicable and only ruins the experience for future visitors.

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