Comments on: Famous Haunts of The Bird Cage Theater

By: Chrissie

Chrissie — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 17:43:59 +0000

I actually went on the after hours ghost tour. I was a skeptic myself. As the tour began and communications were being attempted near the stage, I felt a heavy feeling and my battery in both of my cameras drained. Upstairs, when the lights went out and the seance began, the woman next to me remarked that she believed something was “playing with her hair”. My eyes had adjusted to the darkness by this time and I could clearly see her hair moving in a circle (one ringlet). At this time, I felt a slight push in my back. I then felt something rubbing my leg (about 10 times). After this I felt someone breathe into my left air (cold air) and heard a man’s voice. I could not detect what was being said. Needless to say, I am no longer a skeptic. There were no strings or wires…this theater is haunted. I am going back in October to bring friends to hopefully have them experience what I did..

By: Curt

Curt — Fri, 06 May 2011 20:37:59 +0000

I enjoyed your story regarding the famous Tombstone haunt, the Birdcage Theater. Living in Arizona, I frequent Tombstone two to three times a year. The rich history of the “old west” in the southern part of our great state is wonderul to experience. Throughout the year I make a point to travel to many of the famous “ghost towns” throughout Arizona. If you like Tombstone you should visit Jerome, and the Bradshaw mountain range where many ghost towns remain such as Crown King, Bumble Bee, Oro Belle (whats left of it), and Cleator.

I took note that in your story you listed Wyatt and James Earp as the owners of the Birdcage. This is incorrect. They did frequent the theater but were not the owners. The Bird Cage Theatre was opened on December 25, 1881 by William “Billy” Hutchinson and his wife Lottie. In 1882 Joe and Minnie Bignon acquired the theater. The theater was abandoned in 1889 when the local mine flooded and was shutdown.

A year and a half ago, I visited the Birdcage Saloon and photographed the majority of the interior. Upon my review of the pictures I noticed what could be two different apparitions. One in the “birdcage” near the piano in the theater and one in Josephine Earp’s room down stairs. One looks as if a man with a beard is sitting in a corner chair, looking onto the theater floor. The other appears in a full size mirror with what looks like a moustache and a long jacket or a duster. When I was photographing the facility I didn’t notice or see anything abnormal. It was after when I was showing pictures of our trip to family that it was caught.

I plan on returning to Tombstone very soon to attempt to debunk these pictures. I will be bringing these pictures with me to show the staff at the Birdacage to seek their opinions. I’ve never been a believer in the paranormal. Thought these pictures are VERY intriguing, I really think there has to be some sort of explanation. I will let you know what the results are if you are intrigued. Thanks.

By: Kayla

Kayla — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 23:10:57 +0000

While I understand your point, Mark, I agree with you, it is easy to trick your eyes to see things and hear your name randomly called, we’ve all been there, but I would also argue the closed mindedness and stubborness of those who lay claim to being total skeptics and completely turned off to the idea of anything paranormal of the sort. The only way to correctly figure the mystery out is to be open minded to both sides, the idea that it may not be real, but just a fictional myth and to the possibility there may after all be life after death. The one reason why anyone would set out to “hunt ghosts” or invesigate is simply to find answers. It all falls back on the age old question we’ve all asked ourselves at some point- Is there life after death, and what comes with it? I personally am not a person of certain faith, nor do i intend to be, But I, just like the rest of the curious population- want answers. To be 100% honest, in a way, I really don’t want to believe there are ghosts, or life after death, it doesn’t seem very peaceful. Yet, we treked over fifty miles out of our way to find out. Keeping my word, I would like to touch bases again and share our findings- We have reveiwed our video and bulk durring our down time, and actually debunked the reason why our camera was showing corrupt file screens, we accidently switched the memory card with one not compatable with that device. However; we did find three serperate peices of audio which we believe contain evidence supporting the paranormal, also known as EVPs or Electronic Voice Phenomena. I can’t tell you what we found and felt was one hundred percent paranormal, but I can tell you it was NOT all in our heads. No one knows the real answers, but that is why we look for clues. I guess someday we will find out for ourselves, until then- I will continue to work to solve the puzzle myself.

By: Ghost Writer

Ghost Writer — Sun, 02 Jan 2011 03:50:48 +0000

I agree with you Mark that there are people who want to hear, see, experience the paranormal so bad that the mind will “give them what they want”. I also believe this to be true in the opposite case as well. Skeptics believe so hard that there is nothing out there and everything is explainable that they too will go out of their way to prove something not to be paranormal.

I think you are correct in both cases though, an open mind by both sides would be the right thing to do.

By: mark white

mark white — Sun, 02 Jan 2011 00:15:02 +0000

Alot of people that believe in paranormal activity want so much to see or hear things,that their conscious begins to enter into play.What I mean is,that the more people concentrate and want so much to happen,that their minds take over and they begin to imagine they see shadows or spirits as some will call them or they think they hear things.When people see something they might have captured
on film,could be change in lighting.Its long been talked about that spirits and dead images cannot be captured on
film.But if that is whatt alot of people believe in,more power to them.As far as the couple that reviewed their
film and didn’t get anything inside the Birdcage,could be
because what they thought they experienced was actually
their subconscious coming into play.They kept visualizing
what life was like back then and they go into the place and stand there for a moment for their mind to visualize what all happened back then and to picyure what life was like.As for me,I don’t believe in the paranormal,but that is just me.I have been in a few places thought to be haunted through the years,but I went in with an open mind
and not concentrating on hoping to see or hear something.