Stories of otherworldly activities have haunted the century-old auditorium for decades. This October, ghost hunters will have the opportunity to investigate the rumors themselves.
Ottawa Memorial Auditorium and the Franklin County Historical Society are partnering to take investigators behind the scenes at OMA to confirm or refute stories of ghosts in the historic auditorium.
Two two-hour guided ghost hunts will be offered Friday, October 25, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. The hunt, called “Stage Fright,” will include a history of the auditorium presented by FCHS executive director Diana Staresinic-Deane, guided access to public and backstage spaces for 30-minute investigation sessions, and an end-of-evening gathering to discuss findings. Stage Fright is recommended for ages 14 and up.
Boos and Brews will be offered Saturday, October 26, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. This event includes a presentation of the history of the auditorium, guided access to public and backstage spaces, and additional access to spaces during “free range” paranormal investigation time. Boos and Brews will end boos with brews—an end-of-night gathering to discuss findings over beer and food. Participants must be 21 or older.
Bereft of a community meeting space after Rohrbaugh Auditorium was destroyed by fire in 1914, the citizens of the City of Ottawa passed a $75,000 bond issue to build the 1,400-seat Ottawa Memorial Auditorium in 1919. Famed Kansas architect George P. Washburn was commissioned to design the new building, which would also serve as a memorial to honor fallen World War I soldiers and sailors from Franklin County. One of Ottawa’s oldest still-standing churches was moved to make room for the auditorium, which was completed in time for opening night on March 15, 1921. During the past century, it has served as the meeting place for the American Legion and hosted thousands of performances. The auditorium has also held many funerals, was the site of at least one suspicious death, and suffered through numerous floods, most notably the 1951 flood.
Tickets for all three hunts will go on sale Saturday, August 17. Stage Fright tickets for October 25 are just $50. October 26 Boos and Brews tickets are $100 and include food and two drink tickets plus access to a cash bar. Visit https://www.ottawamemorialauditorium.com/tickets for more information or to order tickets. Funds raised benefit Ottawa Memorial Auditorium and the Franklin County Historical Society. Please note that while the auditorium itself is ADA accessible, the backstage areas are not. Please contact OMA for questions about accessibility.
For more information, contact Ottawa Memorial Auditorium at (785) 242-8810 or the Franklin County Historical Society at (785) 242-1232.