Strand Cinema, Skowhegan
The Strand Cinema in Skowhegan, Maine is rumored to be haunted by several spirits, including a man in a top hat, a little boy named Ralph, and a woman in white who allegedly died by suicide from the balcony. Witnesses report experiencing unseen phenomena like whispers, handprints on the screen, moving objects, and a general feeling of being watched, particularly in the basement. Whispers in the ear and the sound of a rolling bucket. Shadows on the walls, appearing handprints too high for anyone to reach, and eyes in murals that seem to follow patrons. Feeling of being watched, a sense of possession or freezing in place, and a feeling of someone being next to you in a room. Objects moving or going missing, and items like a whiteboard marker flying across a room. An employee was overwhelmed by a presence while at the ice machine, according to a YouTube video. An old man claimed to know the names of the ghosts that inhabit the theater. A former employee stated that papers would be scattered across the floor of the downstairs office. The Man with a Top Hat: A phantom figure seen in the balcony area chewing gum. A little boy responsible for paint splatters and rustling papers in the apartment above the theater. A spirit of a woman who is said to have jumped from the balcony. She is described as angry and feeling ownership over the building. Many employees believe the theater is haunted. A staff member was frozen in place on the basement stairs. While not a full believer, the general manager, Katy Oliver, has experienced creepy happenings, such as the sound of a rolling bucket in the lobby. Guests have reported handprints on the screen, feeling watched, and seeing shadows.