Lincoln Square Theatre
Spectral showmen and paranormal performers may lurk through the backstage rooms of this old theater
Paranormal Claims at
Lincoln Square Theatre
- Shadow figures are seen in the basement
- Disembodied footsteps are heard
- Cold spots are found on a backstage staircase
- A young boy’s apparition is spotted
- Loud thumps and bangs are heard around the basement green room
- Ghost hunters report strange EMF spikes around the backstage stairs
- A one-armed apparition is frequently encountered
- A woman’s apparition appears in the balcony seats
- Disembodied voices are heard from empty rooms
Lincoln Square Theatre:
A Historic Decatur Cornerstone
At one point, almost every town in America had a thriving theater. But through decades, many historic theaters of small-town America have been lost to time.
Decatur, Illinois’ Lincoln Square Theatre was almost one of those forgotten venues.
Luckily, Lincoln Square stays busy today thanks to local support, regular performances, and ever-present spirits.
The venue has long been a hotbed of ghost stories, and is now considered to be one of the most haunted places in central Illinois.
Timeline of Lincoln Square Theatre's History
Swipe or use timeline points to see Lincoln Square Theatre through the years
1916
In old world Decatur, the future site of Lincoln Square Theatre was The Arcade Hotel. Unfortunately, a fire in 1915 reduced the hotel to ashes in an instant. Eventually, after much consideration from the local community, the hotel’s former site was chosen for Lincoln Square Theatre. The theater went up fast and, with great fanfare, opened in late 1916. In no time, Lincoln Square was the talk of Decatur.
1942
The new venue was an instant success. Lincoln Square Theatre attracted numerous traveling performers and vaudeville acts. Much like the hotel before it, Lincoln Square Theatre seemed destined for a successful life. But, just like the hotel, Lincoln Square always had fire to worry about. The theater was fairly modern, but many buildings on the block were not, and they often caught fire. In one notable 1942 instance, magician Harry Blackstone had to rush a theater of children outside to escape a burning building not far from Lincoln Square.
1960
Lincoln Square itself caught fire in 1960, and much of the original lobby was destroyed. Luckily, no one was killed or injured in the blaze. The theater was quickly rebuilt with a simpler lobby design. But, as multi-screen movie theaters became more common, Lincoln Square fell into disrepair. After just over a hundred years in operation, Lincoln Square Theatre closed its doors in 2017.
2022
Local support ensured that Lincoln Square Theatre did not stay closed for long. Under new leadership, the venue reopened in 2022. The soft relaunch allowed the theater to fundraise to bring the venue fully back to life. Lincoln Square’s revitalization is still ongoing today. And as the venue sees renewed interest, its ghost stories are getting their share of new intrigue as well. Long thought to be haunted, Lincoln Square Theatre is now a favorite exploration of Illinois ghost hunters.
Is Lincoln Square Theatre Haunted?
The most enduring ghost story of Lincoln Square Theatre is the story of One-Armed Red. For generations, visitors and staff have reported a one-armed apparition roaming the theater, often near the stage. Over time, the tales of this mysterious ghost have weaved together pieces of both fact and fiction.
One of the most popular stories says that One-Armed Red was once a theater worker who had his arm violently torn off after a fall from the stage’s catwalk.
The truth isn’t quite as gruesome. Red really was once a theater worker at Lincoln Square, but he lost his arm in World War I, not in a horrible stage accident.
Despite that, Red has good reason to haunt the theater, since that’s where he died. Purportedly, during one of his regular shifts in 1927, he sat down for a break and died right there in the theater.
A Woman’s Ghost in The Balcony
Along with Red, Lincoln Square Theatre keeps a few other spiritual theatergoers in the building. A woman’s apparition is frequently reported lingering in the theater seats, almost always in the balcony.
Whenever the theater is empty and quiet, rehearsing performers and stagehands report seeing her seated in the balcony, watching them work.
A Young Boy’s Phantom in Lincoln Square
Elsewhere in the theater, a young boy’s apparition is seen. Interestingly, this boy’s figure has been positively identified by at least one witness. The witness identified him in a news photo from the 1942 Harry Blackstone fire, as one of the children photographed leaving the scene.
Nobody died in that fire, but perhaps the impact was still great enough to leave some spiritual impressions behind.
Ghosts in the Green Room
Lincoln Square Theatre’s basement is another reported hotspot. Few members of the public explore down there, but many acts spend time in the basement’s green room. There, shadow figures are sometimes spotted lurking in dark corners. At least one of the mysterious shadows sometimes darts suddenly from one side of the room to another.
Other guests in the green room report heavy knocks and thumps on the walls and from nearby empty rooms.
A Staircase of Spirits
Lincoln Square Theatre has a few distinct haunted hotspots. But the most unique is tucked into a backstage corner.
There, a tall spiral staircase reaches up above the stage to a small attic space. Apparently, the theater’s ghosts love spending their time on the slim metal staircase.
People who head up or down the steps often report footsteps chasing them. Others have run-ins with unexplainable cold spots and pockets of strange energy on the steps.
Ghost hunters who visit Lincoln Square Theatre further note strangely high EMF readings on the stairs.
Crowds of Unseen Visitors
at Lincoln Square
While much of the activity at Lincoln Square Theatre stems from its long history, some people wonder if there aren’t some ghosts that predate the theater.
Sounds of overlapping voices and crowds of footsteps are sometimes heard from the lobby at quiet times.
While these could certainly be the residual sounds of a busy theater evening, some witnesses aren’t so sure. Instead, they wonder if it isn’t residual activity from the old hotel that once sat on the theater’s property.
Nobody ever died in the Lincoln Square’s fires, though a few Arcade Hotel guests may not have been so lucky.
Lincoln Square:
Decatur’s Spirited Theater
For as many historic venues as there are in America, there seem to be just as many ghosts.
Most old theaters have ‘white ladies’ haunting their halls and auditoriums, but Lincoln Square Theatre has One-Armed Red and his guild of ghostly theatergoers.
Ghost hunts and tours are offered whenever Lincoln Square’s schedule allows. These days, plenty of ghost hunters come away from an evening at the theater with even more ghost stories about the building.
So, if you’re looking to experience the eerie history of Decatur, stop into Lincoln Square Theatre. There’s always a show you can see, a ghost or two you can encounter, and an extra spooky staircase that’ll leave you spiraling.
