R. Harper Mason

Although I have recorded many accounts and stories about para-normal occurrences in the Rialto Theater and other strange events that have occurred in the vicinity, until recently I had never heard or seen anything that I would call unusual. That all changed on Tuesday afternoon, May 25th, about two p. m. Earlier that day I had a call from Mark Givins, the El Dorado Main Street Director. He requested some new photos of the interior of the theater in order to add them to the application for a renovation grant. I took my camera and walked down to the theater, tuned on all the light, and proceeded to take pictures. In order to show the new lights that had been added to the stage, I went backstage and began to photograph to new rows of lights. The old theater was built to be a live performance theater as well as a movie theater. The stage area ceiling is some 70 feet above the stage and the movie screen is attached to cables where it can be raised and lowered. During this latest renovation we decided to temporarily return the stage to its vaudeville appearance by raising the screen into the fly space. Our contractor climbed up the top of the theater where a cat-walk extended across the back wall. While he was up there he found the original 1929 padded hanging drapes that were used when the theater first opened and the sound was too harsh. Several of these drapes which have a decorative stenciling and fringe were still in good condition, will be used in the final restoration of the theater.
The first of two para-normal occurrences happened when I was standing in the middle of the stage trying to photograph the row of stage lights right above me. The stage lights hang some 25 feet above the stage and they shine down. Above the stage there are no lights, only darkness. As I stood there, all of a sudden, I heard heavy footsteps coming from the dark area above the stage. Someone or something was walking and then running on the cat-walk. The heavy steps were much to loud and strong to be any kind of an animal. As I stood there the hair on the back of my neck raised. Then as quickly as it started it stopped. I had a small flashlight that I tried to shine toward the cat-walk, but it was much too small. I took a few more photos and then left the stage and began to walk toward the front of the theater to leave. As I walked into the lobby I smelled the distinct odor of a cigar.
Later I tried to envision what could have caused these occurrences, but I could come up with nothing that would account for them. Then, as I remembered the old theater manager from the 1940s and 50s, Mr. Rob, I thought about his ever present cigar. Was it the ghost of Mr. Rob in the lobby, letting me know he was still watching over his theater, by letting me smell the cigar smoke? I can only say this: There are numerous documents occurrences where multiple individuals have smelled cigar smoke, either in the lobby or upstairs on the mezzanine. Yes, I think the only explanation is that Mr. Rob is one of the ghosts of the Rialto. After all Ms. Pate, the cynic, described him perfectly when she visited the theater. Down to his stubby cigar.
But what about the walking on the cat-walk above the stage? It seems to me that different ghosts leave different signals of their presence. With Mr. Rob it’s the smell of his cigar.
Another signal is the sighting of a woman wearing vintage clothing. She is always seen in or around the Ladies Rest Room. Ms. Pate says she is a blonde lady, who seems to be in a hurry; rushing in and out of the rest room.
Hearing someone walking in various parts of the theater is one of the most common para-normal happenings that have been reported. Many times steps have been heard going up and down the stairs. The logical conclusion is that it is Mr. Richardson, the old projectionist from the 30s through the 60s. Ms. Pate said the most prevalent of the spirits she encountered were a man who fits Mr. Richardson. She said he was not only a projectionist, but a handy man around the theater. He even lived in the theater according to Ms. Pate. That is exactly what Mr. Richardson did for many years. Ms. Pate says he seems a little grouchy and very possessive of the theater. When she tried to go into the projection booth he told her, “You don’t belong here! Get out!”
It seems to me that putting all of the stories together gives us an overall indications that the Rialto Theater is the home to multiple ghosts, and they delight is making themselves known.