The Ritz Theater

Originally called "The Poli" when it opened in 1906, this Scranton theater hosted Houdini, W.C. Fields, and Will Rogers in its prime. Staff and performers have reported strange things here for decades.

The Ritz Theater opened its doors in 1907 as the Poli Theater, serving as a vaudeville stage that hosted legendary performers including Harry Houdini, W.C. Fields, and Will Rogers. The venue later transformed into a full-time movie house before its 1937 renovation gave it the striking Art Deco style seen today. Following a major restoration in 2023, The Ritz Theater has been beautifully modernized while preserving its historic charm, now serving as a cornerstone of Scranton's downtown revitalization with a capacity of 500 people.

The theater's 115-year history has left a mark that goes beyond architecture. Guests and staff have reported footsteps echoing through empty halls, sudden temperature drops in areas that were warm moments before, and voices with no apparent source. The combination of over a century of performances, the emotions of thousands of audiences, and the building's transformation through different eras has created what many consider a genuinely haunted venue.

The Ritz Theater's reputation earned it a place on the Lackawanna County Haunted Trail and brought national attention when it was featured on the TV show "Haunted Investigators" in a 2009 episode titled "Ritz Theater Ghost Hunters." Concert-goers and visitors have noted the theater's "amazingly haunted" atmosphere, adding an extra dimension to performances in this downtown Scranton landmark.