While visiting my daughter in Albuquerque recently, I decided to check out the haunted Kimo Theater on Central Avenue in the downtown area. Unfortunately, the doors were locked, no one was around, and I was unable to enter the building. I did snap some awesome pictures of the outside of the beautiful building (and as many interior shots as I could through the windows). Surprisingly, not one orb appeared in any of my pictures. However, I did capture a delightful shot of a Hitchcock poster on display.

The Kimo opened in September of 1927 by Oreste Bachechi showing silent movies. The amazing architecture of the building fused Pueblo deco and Art deco, and is brightly decorated with Native American symbols and designs. The ceiling was painted with seven gorgeous murals by the artist Carl Von Hassler.

Many famous stars performed at the theater in its heyday including Vivian Vance, Tom Mix, Gloria Swanson, and Ginger Rogers.

Tragedy struck one afternoon in the late summer of 1951 when the basement boiler exploded severely injuring seven people, and killing a six year old little boy named Bobby Darnall.

Bobby had become frightened in the theater, and was walking down the stairs into the lobby when the boiler (located under the lobby) exploded, throwing him against a wall. Some reports say that Bobby died in the theater, and others indicate he died in the ambulance.

Another fire occurred in 1963 destroying the original stage area of the building. Eventually the place fell into disrepair and was on the demolition list, when a group of Albuquerque citizens purchased the building in 1977. The Kimo Theater was renovated, with completion in 2002. The theater is now on the National Register of Historic Places, and home to a performing arts center.

Bobby first started appearing in the early 1970s. A lady wearing a bonnet is also seen walking down hallways.

Bobby is often seen playing on the staircase, wearing blue jeans and a striped shirt. He is a bit mischievous, and enjoys playing tricks on people. He likes to trip staff and patrons.

The performers at the theater found that Bobby would sometimes take little bites out of their doughnuts, and they now hang doughnuts on the water pipe behind the stage area when they leave for the evening. The next morning, the doughnuts are gone.

One year while preparing for a Christmas production, the actors neglected to hang the doughnuts, and the entire performance starting going wrong. As soon as the doughnuts were returned, everything was back on track.

I don’t often hear of apparitions that enjoy eating, and I have to say that I’m always pleased to hear when they do…I’d hate to pass on from this life without my chocolate!

References:

www.legendsofamerica.com/nm-Kimotheatre.huml

www.hauntedhouses.com/states/nm/kimo_theater.cfm

www.cabq.gov/kimo/