By: Nick Carraway

At the historic New Amsterdam Theatre on West 42nd Street — home to Disney’s long-running hit “The Lion King” — the spirit world and show business have long shared the same stage. As the New York Post reported, every day the theater’s staff greets large portraits of Olive Thomas, a former Ziegfeld Follies chorus girl whose mischievous ghost is said to still wander the halls. The gesture isn’t just for tradition — it’s to keep her satisfied and stave off trouble.

According to Broadway historian and tour guide Jeff Dobbins, Thomas is among the most famous of New York’s theatrical ghosts. In fact, the New York Post reported that one Lion King cast even held a tongue-in-cheek “apology” ceremony for Olive in the early 2000s after a stage malfunction mysteriously shut down a performance. The crew took no chances with the spirit said to be responsible for unexplained happenings.

“The management of the New Amsterdam is quite upfront,” Dobbins said. “‘Yeah, this is a factor here. Don’t be surprised if you encounter something you can’t explain.’” As he told the New York Post, such stories are part of Broadway’s mystique. “It’s an industry coexisting with all these spirits,” he added. “Almost every theater has its ghosts and its unusual occurrences.”

Dobbins recalled that while working as a tour guide there in the early 2000s, he himself saw Thomas — “pretty clearly” — reflected in a full-length mirror. “She was looking right at me,” he said, “not in a threatening way, but with a mischievous, flirty smile.” According to legend, Olive only appears to men and sometimes whispers a playful “Hiya, fella!” before disappearing.

As the New York Post reported, the New Amsterdam may be among the most charmingly haunted theaters, but the Palace Theatre is widely considered the most haunted of all. Built in 1913, the former vaudeville house is rumored to have as many as 100 resident spirits. Among them are Judy Garland, whose ghost is said to hum softly in the wings, and an acrobat who tragically fell to his death during a tightrope act.

A few blocks away, the Belasco Theatre — known to performers as “hauntingly fascinating” — is home to the ghost of its namesake, David Belasco, the “Bishop of Broadway.” Legend has it that if Belasco’s figure appears in his old private box on opening night, it’s a sure sign the show will be a hit.

Despite the occasional chill in the air, Dobbins’ business is booming. As the New York Post noted, his ghost tours often sell out — one recent outing in Lower Manhattan filled up so fast he had to add more dates. “There’s a real fascination with ghost stories and theater history,” he said.

Over decades of leading tours, Dobbins said visitors are always most captivated by tales of what happens behind the curtain — and who might still linger there. “People from Broadway’s past are still an element on Broadway,” he explained. “When new staff move into a theater, they’re often warned: ‘Don’t be surprised if something strange happens in that corner.’”