Pollard Theater Investigation
( A Past But Not Forgotten Investigation )
Date:
October 10-11, 2003
The Team:
Andy & Christy & Kym (PICO)
Ron & Becky (OKCGC-PRG)
Erik & Laura (OKCGC)
Mary (OKCGC)
Justin (SPRG)
The History
(Courtesy of the Pollard Theater )
The site of the Pollard
Theater was originally occupied by a large wooden dry goods store, built shortly
after the Land Run of 1989. The current building, of brick and native stone, was
constructed in 1901 as the Patterson Furniture Store. It also served as the
local funeral parlor, since it was easy enough for cabinet makers to also manage
the town's need for coffins.
In 1919, George A. Pollard purchased the building and converted it into a
vaudeville house. Pollard was elected mayor of Guthrie in 1920 and leased the
theater to Ned Pedigo and A.B. Florence for five years. In 1926, Al R. Powell
leased the theater. Silent films and vaudeville programs were popular until
1929. With the advent of talkies, Powell reconstructed the building, adding a
large stage and orchestra pit, hand-painted wall murals, vita phone talking
picture equipment, a grand marquee with room atop for an orchestra, and seating
for 800. The theater was rechristened the "Melba," after a local citizen's
daughter and hailed as Oklahoma's first all-sound motion picture theater. During
the depression, Powell would accept an egg as admission-eggs were in short
supply then-and he made a business of boxing them for sale in the theater. The
Powell family, current owners of Guthrie's drive-in theater, operated the
theater until 1986.
The
latest renovation of the building began in January, 1986, with over $500,000
donated by private industry and foundations and a $120,000 Urban Development
Grant. The auditorium and stage received most of the attention, since the task
was to prepare a home for Oklahoma's resident professional theater company.
Students from Guthrie High School did a lion's share of the work converting the
48'x18' movie stage to the current 50'x50' theater stage, completing the
proscenium arch, installing new seats and ensuring handicapped access. Riggers
from San Antonio built a 14-line counterweight system for hoisting scenery, and
the stage roof was raised 22 feet. Much of the old Melba was preserved, however,
including the 1920's murals that adorn the auditorium and the original tin
ceiling and wrought iron chandeliers in the lobby.
The Pollard Company was formed in late 1987 and took over much of the finishing work, creating the scene shop, dressing rooms, and office space in the adjacent Beland Building. The Pollard auditioned over 600 people to find the 17 who formed this original group. Many of the founding group still form the nucleus of the Pollard Company. The Company members continue to function as performers, directors, designers, carpenters, costumers, painters, and in all other tasks a professional theater requires. The Team As an OPRA event, members will be listed by group affiliation.
The
Team:
Andy & Christy & Kym (PICO)
Ron & Becky (OKCGC-PRG)
Erik & Laura (OKCGC)
Mary (OKCGC)
Justin (SPRG)
The Equipment:
DCR-TRV520 Sony Digital Nightshot camcorder
Sony Digital Nightshot camcorder
Sony Digital Nightshot camcorder
CCD-TRV37 Sony 8mm Nightshot camcorder
Sony Hi8 Nightshot
camcorder
Sony Hi8 Nightshot camcorder
Digital audio recorders
Analog audio recorders
Hp318 Digital Still camera
Kodak DX3500 Digital Still camera
Olympus 410 Digital Still camera
Olympus 510 Digital Still camera
Psychic Investigator's
Comments:
(Christy)
I went into this investigation knowing very little about the building and its
history. We had agreed to investigate the Pollard Theater because it was
"alleged" to be haunted which piqued our curiosity. The theater appeared very
quiet and I was at first starting to think that there was nothing to it other
than being "allegedly haunted."
Our group was broken up into two groups for the sweeps, with the two psychics
separated. Fox 25 News joined us with reporter Chris Montana and two of their
camera crew. Mary and I weren't planning on giving any impressions as we wanted
the news report to be over the technical side of what our group did, but Chris
Montana didn't seem as interested in reporting the technical side as he was the
"psychic" side of things. According to him, it would appear that the general
public seemed more interested in hearing "ghostly tales" that could possibly be
told from the "ghosts" of the theater than the technical side of things. So per
request of Chris Montana, we were asked to let him know if we saw or heard
anything while conducting our investigation.
Stage Prop. Area (Room #4) I noticed while in this area that part of the
original wall between buildings abruptly stopped. felt drawn to the area, but
could not understand the connection with the partial wall other than to say it
had some significance. I then walked into the small tool closet and saw an
elderly gentleman sitting on one of the bar stools in the room. He did not say
anything, nor did he appear to try to communicate. I believe we may have
frightened him as he immediately disappeared within seconds after I entered the
small room.
Actor's Area/Dressing Room (Room #5) I walked through the halls of the dressing
room area when a bit of movement caught my eye from within one of the rooms. It
was then that I saw a lady with dark hair sitting at one of the dressing
tables. She simply smiled at me and quickly disappeared. It was while we were
continuing with our sweeps when Erik heard thumps coming from within the
dressing room. We also heard what sounded like footsteps coming from the room
above us when no other persons occupied the building.
Admin. Area/Old Housing Rooms (Room #7) This area was a favorite of mine.
While conducting our sweeps in this area, we had several interesting things
happen. Several of us witnessed the bathroom door opening on its own (could not
be re-created) and unfortunately, of the three video cameras present, not one
captured it on film. A large crash was also heard in this area, and the source
was not able to be located. Erik also heard an audible male's voice saying
"hello" while in this area. It was in this area that I came across a small boy
between the ages of four and five. He was very shy at first and insisted on
playing games with us. He showed me his red ball and showed me that at one time
while he was playing, he had bounced his ball down the stairs and had gone
running after it only to fall and injure himself. He did not specify to me if
he was killed from the fall, but only that he was injured. He later revealed
his name as being Issac and said that his mother was there with him.
This investigation was a very interesting one, and we hope to go back for further investigations and without media where it will be easier to conduct our investigation. We do thank Fox 25, Chris Montana, and their two camera crew who were most fun to spend time with. We even appreciate the opinions of the skeptic who took part in the Fox News 25 airing as it was great to have the opinion of an outsider who, like us, likes to approach things with a open and skeptical mind.
(Mary's Impressions)
Pollard theater: Upon entering the building to take in my equipment, I saw a
lady in a white dress walk from the left corner of the snack counter straight
through the ladies' bathroom door. I later found out from the lady in charge of
the theater there have been several sightings of such a specter.
On the walk through, I felt as if I were being watched from the dressing
rooms, particularly the third room on the right. Also, in the back sitting
room, it was if someone was about to jump out from the wall where there was a
wooden frame built. I do think there was a washer and dryer there with a
mirror. In the maintenance area, it was like dark shadows everywhere. I felt
like fear had been felt here by many. The TV screen Andy had set up moved
forward 6 inches and almost fell during walk through. I felt the presence of a
woman near the back stairwell with a small child male bouncing a ball. Someone
fell down the stairs. This is what I can remember I felt. Also there was a
strong presence of a male on stage
Pollard Theater Sweep
Team 1 October 10-11, 2003Start time:
1:35am
Room #1 Lobby Area
(1:38am)
73 degrees floor
74 degrees ceiling
73 degrees wall
No EMF Readings above baseline
Room #2 Theater Area
(1:38am)
69 degrees floor
72 degrees ceiling
71 degrees wall
No EMF above baseline
Room #3 Backstage Area
(1:41am)
69 degrees floor
71 degrees ceiling
70 degrees wall
No EMF Readings above baseline
Room #4 Scene Prop Area
(1:44am)
68 degrees floor
68-69 degrees flux. ceiling
71 degrees wall
No EMF Readings above
baseline
Room #5 Actor's Area/Dressing Room
(1:49am)
68 degrees floor
73 degrees ceiling
72 degrees wall
No EMF Readings above baseline
(1:51am)
***Thumps & Footsteps are heard upstairs above dressing by
investigators***
Room #6 Upstairs Storage Rooms
(2:00am)
74 degrees floor
76 degrees ceiling
71 degrees wall
No EMF Readings above baseline
***Scents of Ben Gay & Wintergreen are noted by investigators***
Room #7 Admin. Area/Old
Housing Rooms
(2:12am)
73 degrees floor
73 degrees ceiling
74 degrees wall
No EMF Readings above baseline
(2:13.25am)
***Bathroom door opened all the way by itself; seen by 3 investigators***
(2:14am)
***Loud crash is heard in administration offices by all investigators. Could not
locate source of noise.***
(2:29am)
***One investigator heard audible male voice saying "hello".***
Room #8 Sound Booth
Area/Old Segregated Balcony Area (2:33 am)
75 degrees on floor
77 degrees on ceiling
76 degrees on wall
No EMF above baseline
Pollard Theater Sweep
Team 2 October 10-11, 2003
Start time:
2:40.54am
Room #1 Lobby Area
Room #2 Theater Area
(2:43am)
70 degrees floor
72 degrees ceiling
69 degrees wall
79 degrees Ambient Temp.
.0 EMF Readings
Room #3 Backstage
Area
(2:45am)
69 degrees floor
71 degrees ceiling
70 degrees wall
78 degrees Ambient Temp.
No EMF Readings above baseline
Room #4 Scene Prop Area
(2:47am)
67 degrees floor
68-69 degrees flux. ceiling
67 degrees wall
68 degrees Ambient Temp.
No EMF Readings above baseline
Room
#5Actor's Area/Dressing Room
(2:49.23am)
69 degrees floor
73 degrees ceiling
70-71 degrees flux. wall
68-69 degrees Ambient Temp.
No EMF Readings above baseline
(2:52.52)
Hangers moved by themselves near investigator. Natural cause for movement was
not found.
Room #6 Upstairs Storage
Rooms
(2:54.13am)
71-72 degrees flux. floor
76 degrees ceiling
72-73 degrees flux. wall
70-71 degrees Ambient Temp.
No EMF Readings above baseline
Room #7 Admin. Area/Old
Housing Rooms
(2:57.43)
68-69 degrees flux. floor
73 degrees ceiling
68-69 degrees flux. wall
No EMF Readings above baseline
Room #8 Sound Booth Area
& Old Segregated Balcony Area
(3:01.50am)
76 degrees floor
80 degrees ceiling
76 degrees wall
.2-.4 EMF Natural Baseline
(3:05.10am)
1 Activation on Magno Meter 3:06am
END OF SWEEP
Data Collected: