M.A. Kleen

Beneath the glowing artificial night sky of the Akron Civic Theatre linger stories of restless spirits tied to the building’s long and colorful past. From a protective ghostly janitor named Fred to a grieving woman along the old canal and a mysterious man in the balcony, the Civic has earned a reputation as one of Ohio’s most haunted theaters.

• Opened in 1929 as the Loews Theatre, the Akron Civic Theatre is one of only sixteen surviving “atmospheric” theaters designed by famed architect John Eberson in the United States.
• The theater’s elaborate ceiling was painted to resemble a night sky and is one of the few rotating theater ceilings still in existence.
• A longtime janitor named “Fred,” who allegedly died during a work shift, is said to haunt the building and protect it from vandals and unruly visitors.
• Other reported spirits include a well-dressed man seen sitting in the balcony and a sorrowful young woman who wanders along the old Ohio and Erie Canal behind the theater before vanishing beneath the building.

Originally known as the Loews Theatre, the Akron Civic Theatre was designed by Viennese architect John Eberson in the lavish “atmospheric” style. Its ceiling was painted to resemble a night sky, and it remains one of the few theater ceilings in the country capable of rotating. According to local legend, the Civic is haunted by at least three ghosts.

One apparition is said to be the spirit of a young woman who committed suicide by leaping into the canal behind the theater. Witnesses have reportedly seen her walking along the water’s edge, weeping uncontrollably. The ghost of a longtime theater employee, a janitor named Fred, has also been spotted wandering throughout the building. Finally, patrons and staff alike have described seeing the silent figure of a man seated alone in the balcony.

Together, these stories have given the Civic Theatre a reputation as one of Ohio’s most haunted performance venues.

The Akron Civic Theatre stands at 182 South Main Street in downtown Akron, Ohio. Construction on the site began in 1919, when L. Oscar Beck envisioned a grand entertainment complex known as The Hippodrome. Financial troubles forced the project into bankruptcy in 1921, leaving the structure unfinished until Marcus Loew, founder of the Loew’s theater chain, completed the theater in 1929.

It was an ambitious project, blending Moorish and Mediterranean architecture and décor. The theater lobby extended over the Ohio and Erie Canal, and the building passed through many hands over the years, including the Akron Jaycees and the Women’s Guild. In June 2001, the Akron Civic Theatre closed for a $19 million renovation. Today, it is one of only sixteen surviving atmospheric theaters designed by John Eberson in the United States.

“Fred” is perhaps the theater’s best-known ghost. He is said to have been a janitor who worked at the old Loews Theatre for most of his adult life and died during one of his shifts. According to legend, he still watches over the building, discouraging vandalism and even frightening off men who make unwanted advances toward female patrons.

According to Weird U.S., “Fred also apparently has no tolerance for people who disrespect his beloved theatre, especially the bathrooms. In fact, Fred’s ghost is said to get so angry over people messing up his bathrooms that he will sometimes chase or attack you if he catches you doing anything other than answering the call of nature in the restrooms.”

A former theater patron or actor is often blamed for mysterious disturbances in the balcony. Unlike “Fred,” this apparition is always described as well dressed, often appearing in a formal black tuxedo with coattails. No one seems to know who he was in life, or why he lingers in the Civic.

The theater’s third ghost is a sorrowful young woman said to haunt Lock 3 of the Ohio and Erie Canal. Some believe her haunting predates the theater itself. Completed in the early 1830s, the canal carried freight until 1861 and was finally abandoned in 1913, shortly before L. Oscar Beck attempted to build The Hippodrome.

According to legend, the young woman drowned herself by leaping into the canal. Witnesses have seen her walking along the water’s edge before vanishing into the tunnel beneath the theater, while others have heard her weeping uncontrollably.

Nearly every old theater is said to have a ghost or two, but what makes the Akron Civic Theatre unusual is how clearly defined its hauntings are. Rather than vague reports of moving props, shadowy figures, or unexplained noises, the Civic’s spirits have names, habits, and favorite places.

Over time, this trio of ghosts has become as much a part of the theatergoer’s experience as the ornate proscenium arch above the stage and the violet sky painted across the ceiling. For most patrons, they are a welcome presence. But those who enter with less than noble intentions should take care, lest they meet Fred and his otherworldly companions drifting through the darkened aisles.

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