Modjeska Theatre

Arrival

The group arrived on location at 3:50 pm and began unloading their equipment. Base camp was set up in the Lobby by the concession stand. Once base camp was established, the group started and time stamped their control recorders. The group began setting up equipment while Missy took outside conditions and baseline readings (see table below). Baseline EMF (electromagnetic field) readings were taken with a Tri-field DSP-523. Indoor temperature was taken with a Mel-8704R. A Kestrel 3500 Weather Station was used for outdoor weather conditions.

View Environmental Data

Every member of PIM is equipped with a Zoom H1 digital audio recorder, which is used as a control recorder, an Extech RHT50 data logger and a UV flashlight, which they carry on their person. Control recorders are not only used as another recording device but also to discriminate the sound contamination that an investigator might create during an investigation. Control recorders are started and time stamped prior to all other equipment being started and time stamped. Time stamps, from a designated atomic watch, are used as a point of reference and make cross referencing easier during evidence review.

A Sony HDR-CX160 was placed in the Lobby on the North side, facing the concession stand.

Several video recorders were placed in the Theater. A Sony HDR-SR7 was placed stage right in the Balcony facing the Stage. A Sony HDR-CX160 was placed in the back center of the 1st floor. A Sony HDR-CX190 was placed stage left on the 1st Floor. A Sony HDR-XR200V was placed stage right on the 1st Floor. A Spectorcamcorder was placed on the back end of the Stage overlooking the Stage and House. Lastly, a Sony HDR-SR5 was placed on the Stage facing towards the House. Trigger objects, which consisted of a baseball, horse, Bible, cape, and an apple, were placed on the Stage in view of this video recorder. Trigger objects are miscellaneous items that are strategically chosen in hopes to invoke a response.

Several other devices used to measure or respond to possible paranormal events were placed alongside the trigger objects. These included an EMF pump, Extech RHT50 data logger, CO2 detector, Dark Matter data logger, geophone, six Ion detectors and a touch flashlight.

The EMF pump emits different frequencies of electromagnetic fields into the surrounding areas. The use of an EMF pump is based on the theory that spirits need energy to manifest or manipulate objects.

The Dark Matter Detector measures and records several environmental factors including: temperature, EMF, humidity and barometric pressure.

A touch flashlight, which is activated by two contacts being touched, thus, closing a circuit and turning the light on, was also placed with the trigger objects. The touch flashlight is used in lieu of a flashlight that has had the battery compartment or on/off switch manipulated to function in a way that is not intended and as a result, can create false positives.

The Extech RHT50data logger measures humidity, temperature and barometric pressure at one minute intervals. This devices allows us to graph these changes and compare data to other devices that might have measured or recorded an event.

The geophone is a device that measures vibrations. It has several LED lights that light up in a linear fashion depending on the intensity of the vibrations.

Several digital audio recorders were placed in the Theater. A Tascam DR40 was placed on center stage. One Zoom H1 recorder was placed in the center of the Balcony and another in the back of the House on the 1st Floor.

A Sony HDR-CX160, Zoom H1 recorder, Single-Axis EMF Detector Mel-8704REM-ATDD-SDD, and multiple trigger objects were placed in the Private Theater. The trigger objects chosen for this location were a bottle of whiskey, pair of dice, a bullet, playing cards and a Playboy magazine. A touch flashlight, GMC-300 Datalogging Geiger Counter, Extech RHT50 data logger and Mel 8704R-Vibe were also placed near the trigger objects.

In the 2nd Floor Lobby, a Sony HDR-XR200V was placed at the opposite end of the hallway facing the entrance to the Private Theater. This covered both stairwells, the entrance to the Private Theater as well as the entrances to the Balcony of the House.

The Basement had several audio and video recorders placed throughout. The Boiler Room contained a Zoom H1 recorder and a Sony HDR-SR5 video recorder. The Main Storage Room, containing the theater props, had a Zoom H1 recorder and a Sony DCR-DVD610 video recorder placed in there.

All lights that could not be turned off were covered using dark plastic sheets. Any additional windows, doors or cracks, in areas of interest, were also covered to avoid light contamination from outside sources.

Before breaking for dinner, the group started and time stamped all the equipment in the entire building. They returned to basecamp, turned off their control recorders and left for dinner at 6:42 pm. The group returned from dinner at 7:33 pm. Upon their return, guests, Jenny and Kelli, arrived and joined PIM for the investigation. Once inside the Theater, the group restarted their control recorders, separated into two groups, and began the investigation.

 

Claims of Activity

• Strange, unexplained sounds
• Levitation of various objects
• Smoky apparition of a man wearing a top hat peering down at the audience from the Balcony

Investigation

Group 1: Noah, Tony, Missy, Denys, Tea

Group 2: Gravy, John, Chris, Jenny, Kelli

Group 1

Private Theater – 7:48 pm

Everyone was spread out in the Private Theater. The group started with a few minutes of controlled silence. Controlled silence is a common practice to get acclimated to and tag or document the normal sounds of the buildings and its surrounding environmental noises. It was noted there was a lot of vehicular traffic noise and pedestrian voices from the street below.

After silence was observed, the group began an EVP (electronic voice phenomenon) session. An EVP session is conducted by asking several questions but leaving a minimum of ten seconds in between each question in the event a response is captured on a nearby device. Investigators speak in full voice and tag any abnormal noises they might make during an investigation. Common noises that investigators tag are stomach growls, accidental whispering and shifting or moving noises they might create that could be mistaken as something paranormal during evidence review.

At 7:55 pm, Noah heard a male whisper on his left side. No source of the sound was determined and was not captured on any digital audio recorders.

At 8:11 pm, Tony observed lights moving on the wall to his left. The source of the lights was not discovered and was not experienced again. No other known activity occurred and the group moved to a new location.

END TIME: 8:16 pm

2nd Floor Hallway – 8:17 pm

The group spread throughout the hallway of the 2nd Floor. After observing several minutes of controlled silence, the group began an EVP session. At 8:26 pm, Noah heard voices. It was uncertain if the voices were within the building or coming in from an outside source. No other activity occurred during this time and the group radioed Group 2 to meet back at base camp.

END TIME: 8:35 pm

Group 2

Basement – 7:50 pm

The group spread out in the Dressing Room Area of the Basement. They observed several minutes of controlled silence before beginning an EVP session. It was noted they could hear outside noise including voices from pedestrians, cars and motorcycles driving by and music coming from passing cars.

Despite the contamination of noise from outside, the building was very quiet. No known or recorded activity occurred during the EVP session.

END TIME: 8:38 pm

Both groups met back at base camp before switching locations.

Group 1

Basement – 8:49 pm

The group situated themselves throughout the Props Area of the Basement. After observing controlled silence, the group began an EVP session. At 8:51 pm, Noah asked for a response in the form of a knock and shortly thereafter, the group heard a knock in the vicinity of a wooden coffin prop.

At 8:55 pm, Denys and Tony heard the sound of movement come from behind Noah, however Noah did not hear it at the time.

At 9:08 pm, Noah and Tea heard a popping noise that was heard again approximately thirty seconds later by the entire group. No source of the sound could be determined and it was dismissed as a possible building noise.

At 9:10 pm, Missy and Tony heard a loud bang come from the vicinity of the dressing rooms. No source of the sound could be found and nothing appeared to be out of place.

No other events occurred during this session and the other group was radioed to meet in the Lobby.

END TIME: 9:42 pm

Group 2

2nd Floor Hallway – 8:43 pm

The group situated themselves throughout the Hallway of the 2nd Floor. After observing silence, the group began an EVP session. It was noted that outside noise could be heard. At 8:56 pm, a metal “clink” sound came from the area surrounding the large metal film projector. With the cooling of the air and contracting of the metal of the projector, the sound was dismissed as anything paranormal.

At 9:02 pm, Chris heard a voice in response to his question. However, he could not make out what was said and this sound was not captured via digital voice recorder. No other activity occurred during this time and the group decided to change locations.

END TIME: 9:05 pm

Office Area – 9:08 pm

The group spread out in the Office Area of the building. After observing silence, the group began an EVP session. At 9:16 pm, Chris heard a popping noise but was not sure what direction it came from. No one else in the group heard the noise; therefore its source could not be determined. This was not captured on a recording device. No other activity occurred during this time and the group concluded their EVP session before meeting up with the other group at base camp in the Lobby.

END TIME: 9:42 pm

The entire team took a short break and discussed some of the night’s events, after which, they decided to investigate the Main Theater as a single group.

Main Theater – 10:12 pm

The group spread out in the Main Theater. Half the group sat in the Upper Balcony while the rest sat in the lower seats. Gravy sat on the Stage. The group observed silence before beginning an EVP session. It was noted that sounds from outside the building could be heard. At 10:45 pm, Denys changed the battery on his video recorder on the Stage. The group reset themselves and continued the EVP session.

At 10:54 pm, Tony heard a shifting noise in the area of the light booth. The sound was not captured via any audio recorder and no source of the noise could be determined. The group ended the EVP session and broke up into groups for the remainder of the night.

END TIME: 11:01 pm

Group 1

Private Theater – 11:06 pm

The group situated themselves in the Private Theater and began an EVP session. After a while, with no known activity experienced, the group decided to forego the EVP session and have casual conversations. Often times, this approach can result in evidence capture. It is uncertain as to why this occurs, but it is PIM’s experience that this method does work on occasion. It was noted that street traffic and pedestrian conversations could be easily heard. No known activity occurred during this time.

END TIME: 12:00 am

Group 2

Basement – 11:07 pm

The group spread out in the Prop Area of the Basement. They observed silence for a few minutes before beginning an EVP session. At 11:18 pm, Gravy heard a shifting noise coming from his right. No source of the sound could be found but it was thought to possibly have been caused by a small animal or even a bat, though neither was seen earlier in the night.

No other activity occurred during this time and the investigation was concluded.

END TIME: 12:00 am

The group broke down all their gear, stopped their control recorders and packed up their equipment.

Conclusion

Even though the investigation did not produce any evidence of the paranormal, PIM would like to further their research of the paranormal at this location. PIM would suggest that future employees document any activity they may experience. This will help PIM and other groups that might investigate the location to determine what might be occurring at this location.

PIM would like to thank Larry and the owners of the Modjeska Theatre for allowing PIM to investigate this historic location. PIM looks forward to investigating the Modjeska Theatre in the future.