The Haunted Harvard Exit Theatre

Posted: 07.31.2024 | Updated: 11.25.2024

The Harvard Exit Theatre, a three-story building in Seattle, carries with it a legacy much darker than its charming façade suggests. Built in the early 1900s, the structure initially served as a Women’s Century Club, a gathering place for progressive-minded women of the time. However, beneath its historical significance lies a tapestry of eerie tales and unsettling occurrences that have turned this theater into one of the city’s most haunted locations.

Why is The Harvard Exit Theatre haunted?

It’s believed that a former member of the Women’s Century Club hung herself inside the building. Are these allegations true? Keep reading to find out, and be sure to book a ghost tour with Seattle Terrors to uncover more haunted hotspots in the city.

A History of Hauntings

The building was completed in 1925 and quickly became home to the Women’s Century Club, a group that still convenes in the building to this day, gathering every third Friday of the month. Even in its early days, the theater exuded an aura of antiquated elegance, a reminder of a bygone era. Yet, this seemingly tranquil space harbors secrets, whispered only by the walls that have stood through decades of silent observation.

In 1968, the building transitioned into the Harvard Exit Theatre, Seattle’s first twin cinema. Art Bernstein and Jim Osteen, who converted the space, were perhaps unaware that they were awakening something within its old walls. Reports of otherworldly activity began to surface almost immediately after the cinema opened. The most frequently sighted spirit was that of a woman clad in 1920s attire, who would silently glide through the lobby and staircases, vanishing as quickly as she appeared. Interestingly, these ghostly sightings ceased abruptly in 1987, leading many to speculate that some spiritual threshold had been crossed, releasing or binding the restless souls within.

For forty-seven years, the theater captivated Seattle’s residents with its selection of independent and foreign films. But beneath the celluloid glamour, a darker story unfolded, one that would leave an indelible mark on the city’s folklore. In 2015, the theater closed its doors, and the building was sold to developer Scott Shapiro, who transformed it into a restaurant and office space. Yet, despite the renovations, the building’s haunted reputation remains as potent as ever.

Ghosts of the Past

The stories of the Harvard Exit Theatre’s hauntings are as varied as they are chilling. One of the most enduring tales involves a woman who, during the building’s time as a Women’s Century Club, allegedly hanged herself in the upstairs lounge. Her spirit is said to still wander the building, a tragic figure lost in a loop of despair. Visitors and employees have reported eerie sensations in the lounge—cold spots, inexplicable feelings of dread, and the unsettling sensation of being watched.

In the theater’s heyday, ghostly enthusiasts would flock to the site, hoping to catch a glimpse of the spectral woman. Some even attempted to dig into the basement walls, driven by rumors of a skeleton buried within. Though no such remains were ever found, the persistent lore only fueled the building’s haunted reputation.

Another curious tale involves a photograph taken by a visitor after watching a ghost-themed movie at the theater. The man had the photo signed by a female employee, yet when he asked for her name, she refused to give it—a strange occurrence, considering all employees wore name tags. The photo itself, featuring a mysterious girl standing by a window, became a subject of debate among photographers who found its exposure levels oddly inconsistent as if the image had captured something not of this world.

The Spirits Within

The spirits said to haunt the Harvard Exit Theatre are not confined to the tragic woman in the lounge. Another apparition frequently sighted is that of a man known as Peter. His ghostly form is partially solid and partially transparent, and he’s known for his playful, social demeanor. Peter’s clothes appear aged, and he is often seen lingering on the first floor, where he seems to take pleasure in startling visitors with his ghostly presence.

Adding to the spectral cast is a female spirit dressed in Victorian-era clothing. Unlike the tragic woman upstairs, this ghost seems more mischievous, appearing and disappearing at will, as if she enjoys her role as the theater’s enigmatic hostess. Her presence, along with Peter’s, gives the building an unsettling yet captivating energy, one that continues to draw curious souls into its shadowed corridors.

Structural Mysteries

Beyond the otherworldly, the Harvard Exit Theatre harbors physical mysteries as well. The building contains a sub-basement below the main basement, once used to store extra supplies for the theater. This sub-basement houses a large, inoperable furnace, a relic from a time when the theater’s purpose was still evolving. Rumors persist that during Prohibition, a nearby ice cream parlor served as a speakeasy and that patrons would escape through a tunnel leading into the theater’s basement when the authorities came knocking.

The building’s second floor also hides a bizarre feature: a shower with a urinal installed inside it, a detail that has perplexed many who have encountered it. Even more mysterious is the discovery of a hidden room, once concealed behind a staircase but now inaccessible due to fire codes. A small window allows a glimpse into this forgotten space, where old furniture still sits, untouched and undisturbed, as if waiting for occupants who will never return.

Haunted Savannah

The Harvard Exit Theatre may have undergone renovations and transformations, but its haunted history remains an indelible part of Seattle’s folklore. The spirits that once walked its halls seem unwilling to leave, their stories woven into the very fabric of the building. Whether you believe in ghosts or not, the eerie atmosphere and strange occurrences reported by so many cannot be easily dismissed.

The Harvard Exit Theatre stands as a monument to a past that refuses to be forgotten, a place where the line between the living and the dead blurs, and where the echoes of history continue to resonate.

Check out our blog for more spooky stories of Seattle, and be sure to book a ghost tour ith Seattle Terrors to see some of these locations in person!

Sources:

http://s-hw.com/work/harvard-exit-theatre/