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Lindsay Academy Theatre

Location: Lindsay, Ontario
Date: February 22, 2007
Air Date: April 5, 2007 at 9pm
Members: Amanda, Brenda, Rachel, Paula and Jeff
Guests: Host and Crew of "In Studio" from Chex TV Durham
Equipment: 2 Digital cameras, 3 camcorders, 1 voice recorder, 1 audio enhancer, 1 Infrared Camera

Our Experience

As Brenda, Rachel and Amanda made their way up to the theatre we were almost lost in the snow storm that blew a fog of white in front of us. We finally made our way to the timeless Lindsay Academy Theatre. This is the first time for Amanda, Paula and Jeff to investigate this location and two of our members were unable to make it. Previous to our visit, Amanda thought she was unable to go but received a vision of a lady ghost in a long flowing dress with long brown hair, in her late 20's or early 30's, signaling her hand to come. She envisioned a winding staircase behind her. When she got home she was surprised to find out they had changed the scheduled time so she could go!

This investigation was prompted after we came in contact with the producers of the television show "In Studio", which airs on Chex TV Durham every Thursday night. Our episode aired April 5th at 9pm, for more information on the show please go to our Media section. First we were interviewed and then started an investigation. Immediately Amanda and Brenda picked up on ghosts in the theatre. One of a man with brown hair, in his 30's, with a paperboy hat on standing behind one of the curtains on stage. Brenda thought it was a good idea to take Amanda, the psychic-in-training, to all the rooms in the theatre to see what she could pick up on. She was accompanied by Marion, an employee of the theatre who knows the history, to confirm her visions.

We made our way up the stairs to the second floor, to a room with a bar and piano. At first Amanda found it difficult to pick up on anything. She did pick up on the lady in the flowing dress again, as if she was following them. Amanda also said that people used this room as a changing room sometimes. We progressed to a door just adjacent to the room. As they opened the door Amanda felt the energy getting higher. Everyone walked up the winding stairs to a room which watched over the theatre. As soon as Amanda got up to the third level, the presence overwhelmed her. She got instantly nauseas from the feeling of dread and energy from this lady spirit and had to sit down. Then Amanda burst into tears from the sadness she felt from the spirit contacting her. She could not stand to be there anymore and ran to the stairs where her legs got weak and trembled so she had to sit on the middle stair. She felt as though something very tragic happened on the stairs. The spirit contacting her said that "it was not supposed to happen this way" that she had fallen down the stairs to her death by tripping on her dress. The beautiful glowing lady with the long flowing dress was explaining this to Amanda, that she had so much more life to live. Brenda also came in to help guide Amanda through the visions. These were confirmed by both Marion and Brenda. Later after the In Studio crew looked back at their videos an orb was captured flying by Amanda on the stairs.

Finally everyone went up to the top level. Amanda became overwhelmed by a new energy which felt as though they were drunk. She could hear the clinging of the glasses and the mumbling of people from below as if it was bustling with business. Like someone would be up in the top floor listening below. She could picture that this floor did not have anything that was there now…but could somehow not envision was it was before.

At this point Amanda, Marion and the TV crew made there way up to the top balcony seats. Amanda spotted a male ghost on the right side of the balcony standing. Then she started getting contact from a ghost named Walter. She saw a stalky man, older, with a nice smile, kind of a prankster. He use to come to the theatre and still lingers there now. Immediately Marion had a connection to this and became emotional because this was her uncle. Amanda was finding it difficult to get the messages from Walter and was told by him to ask Brenda to communicate for him.

Our next stop was the stage. Amanda saw a ballet dancer but was puzzled. She asked Marion if they had ballet's there because she thought there were only plays or musicals. Amanda saw the dancer fall and hurt herself, which made her unable to dance anymore. This was confirmed by Marion who knew of this incident. She also felt that someone had lost there voice on stage and it physically started happening to Amanda where her throat got so dry she started to lose it herself! Then they went behind the stage, and underneath where Amanda started giggling and didn't want to say what she sensed. There is a small space under the stage where she knew that a couple had been caught doing something inappropriate! In the boiler room she also envisioned the face of a man screaming and panicking. Scraping the walls with his fingers to let him out, with a blood red face and bulging eyes. Both these visions were confirmed of past events.

Finally we set up in the theatre and turned out all the lights. Everyone split up and sat in different locations in the theatre. Andrea, the host and Amanda sat in the seats in front of the stage. Suddenly Andrea's seat was kicked from behind and it startled them. I think the ghosts liked her quite a bit! They also saw a male spirit sitting two seats down from them which scared them as well. With our new infrared operators set up we hoped to find something paranormal! From our pictures, one thing we noticed is that both Amanda and Brenda's hands are purple while channeling ghosts, very interesting. We yet have to find out what we can discover with our new technology from Jeff and Paula. Another member of the crew experienced cold caressing on his neck as if someone was following him. We started hearing noises from the stage, like someone was fiddling with the equipment. We then told Ben to get off the stage because we feared a ghost might drop something from the ceiling! Brenda started channeling ghosts from the Theatre…story coming soon.

 

On September 23, 2005, The Paranormal Seekers travelled to the town of Lindsay, Ontario to do an investigation at The Academy Theatre. We heard that it was haunted and wanted to see what we could discover.

We arrived a bit early, so we decided to walk to the front of the building and wait for our tour guide for the evening. We were in awe of the building’s architecture, wondering what it looked like in its prime.

Peter greeted us shortly after we arrived. He told us that our hostess was arriving soon, and sure enough Marion was there shortly after.

When Marion arrived, she took us to the side of the building and we entered there. Marion showed us the front entrance that the public would use when attending the theatre. Once inside, Brenda decided to sit near the side entrance, away from the group so she would not hear what Marion was disclosing to us. As the group talked Marion told Rachel of some of the paranormal activity experienced at the theatre.

There was the story of "Mary" who tripped and fell to her death on the stairs. Marion also told Rachel that a couple of other psychics had previously visited the theatre and had each picked up around 3 to 4 spirits present in the building

Marion handed Rachel an article on the theatre, along with some history on the building. Rachel placed this information in her pocket and proceeded to call for Brenda to return to the group. When Brenda rejoined the group, she told us what she experienced while sitting on her own. She said that while she was admiring the old building a lady appeared on the stairs leading to the basement. She was young and wore a narrow line skirt that fell to the floor and a buttoned blouse with long sleeves. The woman had brown hair that was pulled away from her face and swept up in the back. She had soft features. The spirit smiled and seemed pleased that we were all there. Brenda said the woman indicated that there was another spirit, a larger woman, by the vending machine. The first lady did not care for the other woman spirit, she found her too out spoken for a woman.

After listening to what Brenda had to say, Marion led us from the front foyer to the second floor. We entered a room at the top of the stairs where the bar and piano are.

"Notice in the picture below the spirit on the wall ahead of Brenda, along with a large orb. Above Mike's head is another orb. The woman describes from behind Mike where the piano is placed".

Brenda picked up a sound, but continued walking into the room with the rest of the group. Once in the room, Brenda described a woman wearing a bonnet and a blue dress with tiny little flowers all over it. The woman stood before Brenda as if she wanted to perform. Brenda said she was not a young, nor slender woman, but she was more on the heavier side, yet not considered large. The woman appeared by the piano and then disappeared a few minutes after. Brenda went over to the piano to read the plaque mounted on it, but found that it was a dedication plaque from a woman from her husband, nothing that would relate to the woman in the blue dress. Marion said the piano was donated to the theatre. Brenda didn't think that spirit was related to the piano, but at this point no one could figure out whom the woman would be.

Brenda also picked up that the room was used as an office at one point where money would be counted up. Brenda picked up a married man who liked to gaze his eyes upon the women. He was a good husband, just not that loyal. Brenda also said that he used the theatre as a front for some not so clean business dealings.

Brenda also sensed that the room was used as an office at one point, where money would be reconciled. There was also the presence of a married man who liked to gaze his eyes upon the women. He was a good husband, just not that loyal. Brenda also said that he used the theatre as a front for some not so clean business dealings. Brenda described the man as 5'10", big boned, and rather heavy, with a huge belly. She also picked up someone who experienced nosebleeds. She said that anyone who stays in that room, for any length of time would experience pressure in the nasal area. There was a lot of activity in the room. At this point Brenda picked up on 4 different spirits. The woman when we arrived, the woman by the piano, the man who counted the money, and the man who lounged in the chairs with the nose bleeds. We did pick up some interesting photos from our cameras in this room also!

Our next stop was up an old wooden staircase, which led to the sound booth and costume area. As we climbed to the top of the stairs, Brenda exclaimed: "Oh my God, do you hear her? Oh she is screaming, she fell, she fell down the stairs, I heard the woman screaming before we went into the other room but thought it I was just hearing things!! Oh my Lord she broke her neck. She tripped on her skirt at the top of the stairs and fell, flipped over backwards on the small landing here in the opening of the door. She didn't die right away, oh god the pain. She was alive for about 10 minutes before she died. She couldn't scream for help, only in her head as she lay there. I see tears coming from her eyes, and fear no one will find her in time." Marion was completely surprised at what Brenda was saying. Marion stated that Brenda was indeed correct and continued to explain that a young woman did live in this part of the theatre. When we played back our EVP devices, every time Brenda says the name Mary (that is what the staff call the spirit, but no one knows her real name), a man's voice says "Martha".

In order to keep the furnaces running, a family was required to live on site. As we continued to the next room (the costume room), Brenda began to feel the presence of the young girl. As we entered, Brenda described a lot of what was once there. She also told of how this young girl liked to play with the various costumes, but never put them back where they belonged. As we looked around, Brenda stated that she saw someone peek from behind one of the racks of clothes and then disappear. Brenda said that the girl is curious, but somewhat afraid. She described how the girl slept on a bed that was too small for her, but she would lie on her side all crunched up in order to fit and would never complain. Brenda described one of the beds to be made of straw, but said the cot was a mattress, the only one they had.

We left the costume room and went onto the sound booth. IN here Brenda described a person she sensed who tripped on a cord from a huge mental machine, which she thought would have been the projector. She said the cord was too short and the person, didn't break their foot, but really twisted it. Brenda kept seeing huge silver saucer shape things. Marion confirmed that this was the projection room, and what Brenda was seeing were film containers. Brenda described the exact size and shape of the cases. Brenda also mentioned that she did feel at that point that someone was with us, a man. He was accompanying us while Marion gave the tour.

When we descended down the stairs, Marion took us to the balcony. As we stood on the balcony overlooking the stage, Brenda started to describe a young lady who would come out numerous times and twirl, and twirl. She also went on to describe a few other people who were connected to the theatre. Brenda continued about a woman with a big hat. She said the spirits claim she is not what she says she is, that she does not hold the theatre in the best interest of the theatre, but that she is more concerned about what’s in it for her. Brenda couldn't give a name but was very adamant that the spirits did not like her coming to do business with Marion and the others.

While we were upstairs we decided to shut off the lights and sit in the balcony area. Rachel said she heard a voice asking her to come to the costume room, but she didn't want to stray from the group. Brenda kept getting the feeling that someone was going to touch her on the back so she kept leaning further and further forward in her chair. After a while, Marion turned the lights back on and we noticed there was a seat down that had not been. When we stood up to go back down the stairs, Brenda pointed to the clock on the wall. It read 7 o'clock. She felt there was something special about 7 o'clock, but couldn't put her finger on it. 7 o'clock was something of great importance though, the sensation was extremely overwhelming. Brenda could hear a man saying over and over again, it's almost 7 o'clock, 7 o'clock. Marion assumed it was at that time the performances would begin in the theatre. Another clue we could not peace together. We now decided it was a good time to visit the main floor of the theatre.

We now decided it was a good time to visit the main floor of the theatre.

As we walked down the stairs leading back to the main foyer, Brenda saw a man who took care of the building. She described him as having a limp. His foot and left leg was very soar. He was the man who joined us up in the sound room. Brenda began to describe his appearance and Marion chimed in identifying him as Denis. He was a maintenance man at one time after he left acting. He was a good man and was well known.

Brenda also starting describing two gold frame pictures that are missing from the front foyer. That the spirits would like their pictures back, there was one of a woman and one of a man. They were unsure why their pictures were taken down, and were not too thrilled with the idea that they were removed.

Brenda also described two gold frame pictures that were missing from the front foyer; one was of a man and the other of a woman. The spirits wanted their pictures back. They were unsure why their pictures were taken down, and were not pleased that they were removed. Brenda continued to describe that, where the front doors are now, there used to be a small room similar to a gift shop with a huge sitting bench right in the middle. It looked like an old round bench you could find in the old hotels. Marion confirmed this. Brenda also commented on all the parties held in this building, before it became a theatre. She could see and hear several people in party gowns, drinking and laughing. There was a red carpet coming from where the windows are now that led into the theatre section. Brenda said the wall was not there originally, but instead there were two huge doors, which Marion was also able to confirm. Brenda also made note that the area between the two theatre doors where all the plaques are now, was redone. She did mention the spirits wished very much that the theatre could of stayed the way it used to be, that people were taking away it's charm. At this point Marion said the theatre had under gone a lot of renovations, and there was even a restaurant/bar on the premises originally.

Brenda continued, saying that she saw a man with white gloves hurrying to open the theatre doors for us. He kept saying it was his job to escort us in…one moment please!

We proceeded to enter into the theatre once more, this time through the main floor. By this time, Brenda has now seen and experienced well over 100 spirits.

As we walked down towards the stage area, Brenda again commented on how the walls were different, that the balconies were missing, of the old velvet curtains and the gold sculptures on the walls, of the shell-shaped wall sconces that were placed under each balcony, and how the seating had all been changed.

As we continued to the stage, Rachel noticed seat number 13 was down, in the third row from the front. Rachel heard the story about Mary, the spirit, who sits in seat 13. The story states that if you sit there, you can feel her presence. We laid our tape recorder on the seat instead and continued up onto the stage instead.

Brenda instantly started to say there was so many things she was seeing and picking up once we got on to the stage. Even the stage appearance was different, and it was further out that it used to be. Brenda described the lowered pit in front of the stage where the symphony/band would play. She said that the little candles were now gone from the shell covers that sat on the edge of the stage. There use to be a trap door in the stage’s floor, right where Brenda was standing. Denis (the old maintenance man) said the darn thing would stick all the time and would upset the actors. The actors complained so much that they wanted a new trap door installed, but it never happened. Brenda would continue to tell us all the different things Denis was saying to her, like how much they admired the swimmer; Marion's daughter. They told Brenda that she was a decent young lady who had a pleasant personality. Brenda told Marion that the spirits liked her and her daughter, and viewed Marion as the boss. It brought a smile to Marion's face that the spirits would bring up the topic of her beautiful daughter and how much they liked her.

As we looked out into the seating area of the theatre, Brenda commented on the full house. "Look at all the people who are here to watch us." We just all kind of looked at each other and said nothing, what could we say! Brenda then looked at Rachel & Marion and said, “We are not to say...this is odd...but, the word ‘Hamlet’”. Rachel, with a puzzled look on her face said, “You mean Macbeth?” Brenda then laughed and said, "He said not to say that, and he kept saying Hamlet." Brenda then went on to say that the other word was a curse for the actors if said while on stage. Brenda could also sense someone who, in a duel, accidentally was cut from the tip of a sword that was not protected by a round end piece. Somehow, the protective piece had either fallen off or was perhaps removed by someone…but no one ever knew. That particular play never performed again on that stage.

Brenda said that although not many names were coming to her, there were several thousand spirits she could sense. She said that they were not remembered so much for their names but rather who they were and their abilities.

Marion escorted us back stage to visit the dressing rooms. Two out of the three rooms were very calm, but the third was a little unnerving. It was in this room that Brenda felt the presence of a woman who would be in her 40's at the time. She said the woman was a bit of a perfectionist, and seemed to be very picky about everything that belonged to her. She had a place for everything on her dressing table, and really disliked it when others would move it. Brenda saw red roses coming to her door and the woman told the young delivery girl to take them away because they made her sneeze. Brenda said the woman was bitter and unappreciative towards others around her. It was in the back hallway by the dressing rooms that Mike was feeling extremely uncomfortable and no longer wanted to video there on his own.

We then continued to the side room where Brenda kept picking up a man who had pain in his right foot. She could feel the pain in her own foot that she couldn’t even stand on it. Brenda said some heavy equipment had fallen on his it but then could not pick up the connection in the dressing room. Marion asked if Brenda could be sensing someone's pain from another part of the building? Brenda said that she could be, but what ever it was it happened in the area that she was standing, but perhaps happened in the basement. So from this point we ventured to the basement.

So from this point we ventured to the basement.

Jay and Mike were climbing the ladders to the catwalk above the stage, but Jay said there was a force of some kind preventing him from climbing it. He said he felt the presence of a man. We did manage to pick up a figure on film in the same area Jay spoke about.

In the basement we investigated the boiler room. Brenda said she could smell burning flesh and she said a man burnt to death here. He was working on the furnaces when something horrible went wrong and he caught fire. While he was trying to run out of harms way he tripped. At that point, something heavy landed and crushed his foot. Marion did confirm that a man was indeed burnt alive in a boiler explosion.

After further investigation around the basement, Brenda said there were things taken away and new additions that it felt odd to her. Marion said that the basement under went some changes as well so Brenda had good reason to be feeling like that.

From this area of the basement, we ventured under the stairs. It was here that Brenda spoke to Marion about a man who proposed to a woman in the theatre and how the Orchestra pit presented the ring to her. She continued to tell Marion about the courtship, how they met in the theatre and loved each other, and how beautiful it was. Marion did confirm that there had been two marriages performed in here, and one specifically involved an actor from the theatre.

All of a sudden our tape recorder began making weird noises. New batteries are put into the tape recorder for each new investigation, so Brenda it opened up and was horrified to see the new batteries leaking acid all over! Perhaps they were faulty batteries...but Marion said that when people come to the theatre, their cameras usually do stop working, or their film isn’t any good, specifically with 35mm cameras. Marion was not surprised at all.

We had now returned to the stage. Brenda said a smaller framed man was standing at one of the podiums, motioning us to hurry along to the stage. He was yelling, “Hurry, hurry people we have a full house! You’re on!” Brenda then noticed the audience again and concluded that we were the performance.

From this point, we went back to the side entrance in which we entered, and proceeded to the basement where the offices are located. Marion showed us the tunnel the performers would use to get from their dressing rooms to behind the stage.

We also explored the offices. Brenda said she could feel someone watching us and the space by the window to the right when walking in was very busy. She said she felt the person watching us suffered from migraines all the time. Remember to two gold-framed pictures the spirits wanted back from the front foyer? Well, while we were investigating the offices, Marion found two gold-framed pictures; one of a woman whom Brenda described precisely in the room with the piano at the beginning of the tour, and the other of the man she described in the foyer also before the tour began. Marion asked Brenda if it was these two pictures that the spirits wanted back in the main foyer of the theatre? Brenda replied with a "Yes".

Our tour had concluded and Marion escorted us outside. The Lindsay Academy Theatre is situated on a fair grade hill, that many people have complained feeling as if they were carrying a heavy load with them while walking near the theatre, but the grade is no different across the street...

How about you? Do you think you could watch a performance during the day or evening knowing you’re not alone? Do you think you could handle a little whisper in your ear as you sat in seat 13? Is it Mary or is her real name Martha? What does 7 o'clock mean, can you figure it out? We dare you to visit the Lindsay theatre for one of their spectacular presentations...are you up for it?

DIRECTIONS

From Toronto: Take Highway 401 East and take hwy 115 to hwy 35’s exit. Continue North on 35 straight into Lindsay.

Please visit the Theatre's Home page at www.academytheatre.ca For what's showing, dates, ticket information, a map and more.