An already historic theater in downtown Hot Springs now has the added recognition of being a haunted destination.
The Malco Theatre has been listed in the Arkansas Haunted Road Trip, published by the Blog for Lifestyle & Travel, a website that boasts more than 100,000 viewers. The trip features destinations such as the Crescent Hotel in Eureka Springs and the Empress of Little Rock Bed and Breakfast.
Though the Malco originally opened in 1946, the tale of its haunting dates back more than half a century before it was open to the public. Maxwell Blade, who will be returning his magic and comedy act to the theater within the next year, said that before the Malco's construction, the building that previously occupied the site hosted a magic show that led to its reported haunting in 1888.
According to Blade, a German magician, Jerome Schemitar, was performing in the building and called a young lady, Clara B. Sutherland, up to the stage. Blade said Schemitar made Sutherland disappear in front of the audience, but was unable to bring her back.
From this tale, the notion of the theater's haunting arose. In their haunted road trip directory, the travel blog states theater goers have reported paranormal activity in what is now the Malco, such as a woman's spirit looming in the building's basement.
The Malco was constructed in 1946 on the site of the disappearance and quickly became a premiere movie theater in Hot Springs. Liz Robbins, executive director of the Garland County Historical Society, noted the theater's significance in an age when movies were one of the public's biggest mediums for entertainment.
"When television and the internet were not omnipresent, going to the movies was a really big deal, and the Malco was a special place to go," Robbins said.
The theater was later taken over by Blade, who used the venue for his magic act from 1996-2007. In his time at the Malco, Blade used the story of Sutherland's disappearance as a tool to drive his magic and comedy show.
"My entire show was wrapped around that mystery for the entire 12 years that I was there," Blade said.
Though he primarily used the story as a theatrical device, Blade said he and his co-workers all experienced ghost like activity in their time working there. Blade said while leaving the theater one night, he heard a retractable theater seat fold into its upright position and then saw a shadow pass in front of one of the theater's exit signs.
"I freaked," Blade said. "I ran around, not knowing if anyone was there, and then I just left. I figured it must be the ghost talking to me. But it was real."
Blade said that although he will not be employing the story in his new routine, he does plan on preserving its history. He said he will likely display photographs and newspaper clippings about the story in his curiosity museum, which will take up space next to the Malco.
Blade also said he will not shy away from the story if anyone asks.
"If somebody asks, we'll talk about it," he said.
Local on 10/27/2016