Belasco Theater

There are a smattering of theatres that are east of Broadway. One is the Belasco, just off 6th Ave on this block. The Belasco, built by David Belasco in 1907, has the distinction of having one of the most active and famous ghosts in all the Broadway houses. David Belasco had an apartment on the top floor of the theatre and a private box in the audience. He died in 1931 and apparently decided to stay in his theatre forever. Over the years, his private elevator which was sealed off and dismantled, has been heard going up and down. Laughter, footsteps, and singing have been heard from his apartment, which is also sealed off and locked. He has been spotted watching rehearsals from the balcony, wafts of cigar smoke have been smelled repeatedly, and backstage chorus girls have had their rear ends inexplicably pinched over the decades. It is considered good luck to see him in his private box on opening night.