Palmetto Paranormal Research Group

 Chester Little Theatre   

 

 The following analysis was taken. Here are the findings:     

Equipment used: 3 camcorders, 4 digital cameras, 2 EMF Meters, 2 temperature probes, 2 audio recorders.

Analysis: We started at the theatre at 9 p.m. in the evening. Upon entering the theatre, the house lights were being brought up.

I asked if anyone was with us. We got a distinct :

"Yes...I'm in the back"            (EVP captured by another investigation team.)

A few minutes later, later we got:

"Hi" (twice)               

We entered the lobby, and I was looking at the staircase that we were about to climb. I saw a very fast brush of black light pass by the top left of the staircase and I made a comment about it. We also saw a man pacing on the balcony ledge with his hands in him pockets, as if he was annoyed that we were still there. This was observed by several of us at the same time.

We learned later that we recorded an EVP that says:

"Coming down the stairs"       

We proceeded to go upstairs. This area was used in the early days of the theatre as the "negro" entrance during segregation. This led to the balcony, where the lighting equipment was used by the stage hands during production. It was then that John Roddey, the gentleman from the Chester Little Theatre, asked me to descend down this stairway that led to a door to the alley. I walked down to the first landing and immediatly asked John what had happened on these stairs.

 

 

 

 

 

He said he felt something on several occasions, as well. I took 2 pictures and proceeded to go back up as I was getting ill to my stomach and had an intense headache. (I had not come in with one). I left the balcony at that time. I told everyone I felt that someone had fallen or was hurt on the landing and was left alive, and had not passed away.

We walked around a few minutes more and then went back downstairs to listen for any EVPs and analyze more photos and get new batteries. Mine had drained in a very short period of time.

 We then proceeded to the other side of the theatre. John trustingly left us alone in the theatre, as he had other engagements that evening. (Thank you, John, for your gracious use of the theatre that night!)

The other side of the theatre was used most recently as storage, but it was used in the 1920's as the County Morgue. It was the location we wanted to see the most. It was very eerie and clammy, and recorded several moving orbs on video and captured a few on our digital cameras.

Sightings by crew and visitors outside our investigation:

According to several sources, the theatre is the scene of many hauntings. It is probably most famous for the haunting of a woman who was murdered in the alley behind the theatre in the 1970's.

The theatre is used today to put on local plays.

The production crew has reported that they have heard children crying in the headsets they wear during production. The stage area has seen it's share of mischief, too.

During the presenting of a play, the crew used an ordinary tape recorder to play the music for the show. On the tape is a song titled "The Death Song." Upon returning after leaving the tape on the stage for the night, the crew listened to the tape and the song was recorded...backwards.

One cast member reports watching two cylinders of light appear on the stage that moved back and forth. There was no light source at the time on the stage to account for the anomaly.                

Historical Research:

 Upon researching the theatre land and owners, we found several discrepancies in the documentation of this property. According to an article in the local library, the property was sold to a Mr. Powell by a Mr. Walters in 1936. When we tried to verify this at the county courthouse, we were stunned to learn that they recorded the land was only leased to Mr. Powell from Mr. A.H. Wherry in 1940, a full six years later. Even the court clerk was astonished by this finding. We also learned that there were two fires on the property in the late 1920's and early 1930's.  the latter fire was in the Chester Telephone Company boiler room, which is now the church office next door. The owners son was killed in the explosion.

 We later recorded an EVP of a man saying:

"Hot"        (EVP captured by Palmetto Paranormal Research Group.)

It is our opinion that the Chester Little Theatre is haunted by at least 3 spirits:

A young female, who greeted us upon entering the theatre with an EVP saying:

 "Hi"

A young man, who was a stagehand in the 1950's . We recorded a man's voice saying: 

"Yes, I'm in the Back." (I had asked upon entering the theatre if anyone was present.)

And another man, who raped a young woman in the balcony in the 1950's. This could explain the feeling of sickness on the stairwell, as she was apparently thrown from the top of the stairs.

We will be bringing you more EVPs and video soon, as we are still analyzing all of the technical data. We are keeping this location open for further analysis and hope to get back to it soon to get one last investigation of this truly spooky and historical SC landmark. The building may be sold or rented out due to the fact that the acting troop has moved to their new location, The Powell Theatre in Chester, SC.

We were grateful to recieve the paranormal investigative talents of Mr. Rod Killian from Chester Paranormal, who in his own right has been studying the paranormal for over 5 years. He is a Chester County, SC Sheriff Sargent, and has an uncanny ability to analyze video and pictures. Thank You, Rod for all your help! It was truly a rewarding experience having you with us. We hope to do further investigations with you in the near future.

 

This was captured looking into the theatre seating area. It appears that there was someone sitting on the front row. Could this be a long past guest or perhaps a employee of the theatre?                

     

                                     

This is a picture of me coming back from the first trip upstairs and feeling sick on the stairway. Notice the vortex wrapping itself around my neck?