Olive Thomas: New Amsterdam Theatre, Part ll

Olive Thomas

In 1920, Olive Thomas a former Ziegfeld girl and a silent screen actress was on a second honeymoon in Paris with her husband Jack Pickford. The two had been out partying and drinking when they returned to the Hotel Ritz.

Olive in search of something to calm her nerves found in the suite’s bathroom a large blue flask that smelled like alcohol, she thought it was a sleeping draught that would help her. She drank it down. As this liquid flowed down her throat it burned.

She screamed waking her husband in the next room. Too hazy to understand, she had ingested the topical mercury bichloride that Jack was using to treat his chronic syphilis.

Jack tried to induce vomiting but this did not work. Olive was taken to the nearby Neuilly Hospital. In the hours that followed she had fits where she would gain consciousness briefly. She apologized to Jack, who stayed by her side, and then called for her mother.

The amount of toxic fluid she ingested shut down her kidneys and she tragically passed. Jack accompanied Olive’s body back to the U.S. Her funeral service was packed, it was held at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in New York City. She was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx in September of 1920.

Olive Thomas Pickford's
mausoleum at Woodlawn.

Rumors flew about her death, it was speculated that it was actually a suicide or murder—all untrue. While alive the couple had been dubbed, “the gayest, wildest brats who ever stirred the stardust of Broadway.”

After the scandal of her death, the Hollywood studios used Thomas, the Arbuckle scandal (1921), which I discuss here and the murder of William Desmond Taylor (1922) to instate “morality clauses” into actors’ contracts.

My favorite true ghost story author, Tom Ogden in his book Haunted Theaters retells several stories that indicate Olive Thomas’ spirit returned to haunt the New Amsterdam Theater shortly after her death.

Olive’s ghost often appears partly faded. She has been seen both backstage and in the lounges at the New Amsterdam. She is seen wearing her green beaded dress with the matching headband and sash.

Main stage

New Amsterdam
Theatre

A workman at the theater in 1952 saw her ghost twice. He noticed the name “Olive” written across her sash. Both times this figure disappeared right in front of him as she held a large blue bottle in her hands.

He recognized her without this ID for he had worked at the theater as a young man during the time she was a Ziegfeld girl.

As many old buildings the New Amsterdam fell into massive disrepair over the years. One preservationist group tried to restore the building in the 1970s but failed. In 1979, the building was declared a New York City landmark.

In 1993, Disney bought the building and spent $35 million restoring it. The man in charge of this restoration, Dana Amendola began to receive reports from workmen that the building was haunted.

These reports did not surprise him for research he did on the history of the theater mentioned Olive, her tragic death and the fact her ghost lingers.

Several night watchmen told him that they had seen a glowing image of a beautiful young woman on the main stage. They also saw this apparition in the dressing rooms.

One watchman stated he captured this image within the beam of his flashlight. “The beads from her Follies dress, headpiece and sash sparkled in the glare.”

This man said this figure held a big blue flask. He challenged her. “Miss, stop, who are you? You shouldn’t be here.”

He said a demure smile formed on the woman’s lips. She then turned and drifted across the stage. He watched as she walked right through a solid outside wall.

Olive’s ghost when seen always carries this blue flask. The male witnesses said she often flirted with them. She whispered, "Hi fella and then would bat her eyes before disappearing."

She was also heard calling out, “Hey, how re doin’?” At other times night watchmen and workers found items moved without explanation.

Production of Aladdin at
theatre.

After Disney re-opened the theater to the public, cast and crew have reported seeing Olive's ghost. She appears at night after audiences have left.

She has made the sets shake and she has caused all the lights to blow out in the upper floor offices. Her ghost tends to appear more often when changes are made.

She has also been seen on the Amsterdam’s rooftop floating near where the old glass dance floor used to be.

Two portraits of Olive hang in the theater. Today actors that perform in the various Disney productions often acknowledge Olive’s presence as they pass these two pictures. They stop and say, “Goodnight Olive” or they say, “Welcome Home.”

In Part l of Olive Thomas: New Amsterdam Theatre I talk about Olive’s scandalous time as a Ziegfeld girl and her marriage to Jack.

Here is a brief video with Dana Amendola talking about Olive's ghost at the New Amsterdam.

Olive Thomas: New Amsterdam Theatre, Part l

New Amsterdam
Theatre

The New Amsterdam Theatre between 7^th and 8^th Avenue in New York City, just off Times Square, opened its doors in 1903. This 11-story building was designed by the architects Henry Hertz and Hugh Tallant and was immediately dubbed, “House Beautiful.”

This building when originally opened contained two theatres, offices, several plush lounges and a spacious lobby. It displayed murals that reflected the founding of the early settlement, New Amsterdam that was to become New York City.

Flo Ziegfeld

Florenze “Flo” Ziegfeld’s Follies were already successful when he moved his annual show to the New Amsterdam Theatre in June of 1913. At a suggestion of a friend Flo had produced an American version of the Parisian Folies Bergère since 1907.

Ziegfeld’s Follies followed a simple formula. He combined melodious songs sung by famous singers with the funniest comedians from vaudeville. But the highlight of his Follies were beautiful women that wore revealing costumes.

Ziegfeld Follies

Olive Duffy was born in Charleroi, Pennsylvania in 1894. Her father, a steelworker died in a work related accident in 1906. To help support her younger siblings Thomas at age 15 left school and got a job.

A year later, in 1911, at age 16 she married a man by the name of Thomas, she worked in a department store in Pittsburgh. This marriage only lasted 2 years.

Olive in 1916.

Olive then moved to New York City where she won a contest for the Most Beautiful Girl in New York City.

Thomas began to model, then in 1916 she auditioned for the great Flo Ziegfeld on the New Amsterdam’s main stage. Flo an avid womanizer was immediately attracted to her, she was hired.

She danced in the Follies in a green beaded dress, with a matching feathered headband and sash. Olive was an accomplished flirt and it wasn’t long before Ziegfeld began an affair with her.

She then performed in the theater’s more risqué show on the theater’s rooftop. Dubbed the Midnight Frolic this show was surrounded by a garden atmosphere. There was a glass dance floor where the men below could look up lady’s skirts.

The female dancers in this review performed on stage nude--clad mostly in balloons. The male audience would pop these balloons with the end of their cigars.

Vargas' portrait
of Olive.

During this time one man who romanced her, Alberto Vargas convinced her to let him paint a portrait of her. He entitled the picture “Memories of Olive.” She is nude from the waist up and is holding a rose.

One of the men who frequented the Midnight Frolic was Jack Pickford. He was the younger brother of the famous silent film star, Mary Pickford. He also starred in the “shorts” or short films.

He pursued Olive for eight months, the two often danced on the rooftop’s glass floor. They eloped in 1916. It was a love match but a tumultuous affair. Jack was a womanizer and both he and Olive drank a lot. They partied hard and fought harder.

They became fodder for the Hollywood gossip columns.

Her role as The Flapper

Olive independent from her husband signed a film contract. She then worked in Hollywood and appeared in more than 20 silent films. In 1920, she played the title character in the film, The Flapper. This was the first time this term was used.

Olive and Jack's
last journey
together.

In the same year the couple decided to take a second honeymoon. Jack had been discharged quietly from the navy in 1918, during the First World War. He was accused of bribery and procuring shady ladies for various officers.

One night, returning to the Hotel Ritz, after partying hard, the couple was drunk. Jack was asleep in the bedroom while Olive restless found herself in the suite’s bathroom trying to find something to help her sleep.

Her eyes landed on a large blue flask. Thinking the liquid inside would help her-- Olive drank it down. She yelled out as it burned her throat awakening Jack.

In Part ll of Olive Thomas: New Amsterdam Theatre stories about Olive’s ghost at this theater are shared.

The Iconic Brooklyn Bridge

This magnificent bridge still rises over the East River in New York City because its designer, Augustus Roebling, had the foresight to make it 6-times stronger * than was considered necessary 146 years ago.

Work began on the bridge in January of 1870. It wasn’t completed until 13 years later in May of 1883.

The bridge’s two distinct towers reflect the neo-Gothic style. At the time it was the largest suspension bridge in the world.

John Augustus Roebling

Before construction began Roebling’s foot was crushed while he surveyed the site. His toes had to be amputated, which resulted in an infection that took his life.

His 32-year old son, Washington Roebling took over. He, like his father, was injured on the site. 
The underwater work on the two towers was accomplished by floating two caissons—two giant boxes where compressed air was pumped in.

Emily and Washington Roebling

Many workers became ill with “the bends” while working in these two boxes. Washington Roebling was one of these victims. Shortly after construction began, he experienced a paralyzing injury from decompression sickness.

Workers inside a caisson air-lock box during construction.

After this, he was confined to an apartment that had a view of the site. His wife Emily, who had studied Mathematics became an expert when it came to the “strength of materials.”

From New York side
during construction.

She for the next 11 years conveyed her husband’s wishes to the engineers on-site and supervised and exerted a daily influence over the work.

In all, 27 workers lost their lives during this construction.

During construction of the bridge.

The opening ceremonies for the bridge were held on May 24, 1883. Thousands of people attended to celebrate what was then called the New York and Brooklyn Bridge.

This bridge provided a land passage between Brooklyn and Manhattan. Before its completion, the only way for commuters to get between these two boroughs were overcrowded and unreliable ferries.

Six days after the opening ceremonies, a rumor spread the bridge was about to collapse. This caused a stampede where 12 people were trampled to death.

The bridge was viewed with a suspicious eye after this. It wasn’t until almost a year later on May 17, 1884, when P. T. Barnum inadvertently squelched the belief that the bridge was unstable.

To announce the arrival of his famous circus, he paraded his most popular attraction Jumbo, along with 21 other elephants across the Brooklyn Bridge.

This bridge today is a treasured landmark. Renovations began on it in 2010, which took four years, and cost $508 million. The bridge's classical architecture today is highlighted at night with floodlights.

* Inferior wire or cable was shipped, necessitating 250 additional cables being used—so the bridge is actually 4 times stronger—but this worked, for many suspension bridges of the time collapsed—not having been designed to withstand or “give” to wind forces.

Another interesting fact about the Brooklyn Bridge is that it is haunted. Some of the activity that has been reported is downright creepy.

Many people escaped
Manhattan by walking
across the Brooklyn Bridge
on 9/11.

Hundreds of thousands of people have walked across this bridge in its history. Many have reported unusual sights and sounds.

A common occurrence is people calling the police to report “jumpers.” They all heard the sounds of screams and splashing water below them. Thinking it must be a suicide attempt, they called the authorities.

But when the police arrived, no one was in the water. Some believe what these witnesses actually heard are the sounds of the people being trampled after the stampede.

But this does not explain the sounds of splashing water. They might be instead connected to the many suicides that have taken place at the bridge.

Another common sight, at night, is dark figures or shadow people walking in front of people as they cross the bridge. These figures are sometimes seen floating mid-air, and then they disappear around corners or just vanish in front of witnesses.

By far, the most compelling sight is of a man who has no head. This figure has been seen countless times and is said to wander the bridge.

New York Times article
about accident.

There is documented evidence to back up these reports. Two of the 27 men who lost their lives during construction were riggers that had the misfortune to be standing in the wrong spot at the wrong time.

One of the heavy cables snapped and whipped out where it killed both men. One of the two had his head sliced right off.

Depiction of the accident.

August Belmont’s Subway Car

August Belmont, Jr.

August Belmont, Jr. was a New York banker, bon vivant, financier, and owner/ breeder of the famous thoroughbred Man o’ War. 

He put the money up for the first New York City subway line.

This line, the IRT was built between 1902 and 1904. It ran from City Hall to 14^th street. Belmont loved this project, and it is said he sometimes worked alongside various construction crews as this railroad was being built.

Even today along this line witnesses report hearing Belmont’s voice shout, “work harder” along this original track.

Once this subway was complete, Belmont had the Wason Manufacturing Company out of Brightwood, Massachusetts, build him a private railroad car—this was to avoid riding in the inevitable overcrowded subway cars.

He arranged for a direct line from the Grand Central Terminal to Belmont Park racetrack on Long Island—Queens. This famous racetrack was named after him * for his passion in life was breeding thoroughbreds.

* Various sources cite August Belmont, Jr. as the inspiration for the name for this track others state it actually was named after his father--Belmont. Sr.

The Mineola

He called his private car the Mineola. He and his guests rode in luxury. The train car contained a galley, with a stove that served steaks. Drinks were also served-- notably chilled Champagne. He often conducted business on his roll-top desk in a Mahoney lined study.

The Mineola was also adorned with silk drapes and a reclining couch.

His wife once noted with humor that, “A private railroad car is not an acquired taste . . . One takes to it immediately.”

This car was in use until 1919. The Mineola now resides at the Shoreline Trolley Museum in East Haven, Connecticut.

It still contains the roll-top desk, the steal 600-volt coffee urn, the unbroken Tiffany glass that adorns the Empire ceiling and the sand used to flush the car’s toilet facility.

There is an effort underway to restore the Mineola to its original beauty.

Witnesses report seeing this car in the spring months—when the ponies run—still making its way down New York’s original subway track.

According to Tom Ogden in his book, Haunted Greenwich Village: Bohemian Banshees, Spooky Sites, and Gonzo Ghost Walks, one witness even entered this car as it stopped at Astor Place. Ogden states this was most likely a time slip as opposed to a traditional haunting.

In another post here, several other time slip encounters are described.

New York City: Morris-Jumel Mansion

This large house in Washington Heights is the oldest standing home in Manhattan. Today it is run as a museum.

Morris-Jumel Mansion

Rodger Morris, a British Colonel, first owned the mansion. He had his 8500 square manor designed in the neo-Palladian style. This elegant house sat on 100 acres of thickly forested land. It had magnificent views and was the envy of all who lived in the colony.

During the Revolutionary War he and his family fled. George Washington then used the mansion as his base during the Battle of Harlem Heights.

In 1810, a French wine-buyer by the name of Steven Jumel and his wife Eliza bought the home.

Eliza Jumel had been an actress and prostitute in Rhode Island before their marriage. Steven did not find out about this until several years after they married.

Eliza Jumel

Eliza was a colorful character who caused a stir wherever she went. On a visit to Paris she befriended Napoleon and became infamous for being kicked out of France for being too wild.

Back in New York she enjoyed spending her husband’s money. Steven Jumel died in 1832 when he supposedly fell from a carriage. Shortly after his death rumors spread that Eliza actually had something to do with it.

Within months of Steven’s death Eliza married Aaron Burr the former vice-president and the man who killed Alexander Hamilton in a duel--more about this and places Burr’s ghost is seen is here.

Burr squandered Eliza money in several controversial land deals and she promptly divorced him. After this she became a recluse.

It is said that when Charles Dickens met Eliza as an old woman it was she who inspired him to write the character of Miss Havisham in Great Expectations.

She died in 1865 but many believe she haunts the Morris-Jumel Mansion.

Several people who have visited this house museum state they encountered her ghost. She is heard tapping her cane on the floor during the day and witnesses state she spoke to them through an old grandfather clock that stands in the mansion.

Front of Morris-Jumel mansion.

One favorite story told by the curators happened in the 1960s. A group of school children arrived early one morning to tour the mansion. As they stood on the steps waiting impatiently they were noisy.

An elderly lady wearing a purple old-fashioned dress came out on the porch and yelled at them to “shut up.”

As they entered the museum they asked their tour guide about this old lady. None of the staff knew anything about her.

The children became exited in one room when they spotted a portrait on the wall. It was a picture of Eliza Jumel. The children stated that was the women who had yelled at them.

An interesting side note to this haunting is about a séance that was held in the mansion in the 1960s.

The participants supposedly talked to Steven Jumal during this session. He told them that he had not died from a carriage accident.

He stated a pitchfork stabbed him instead. Eliza had then undone his bandages leaving him to bleed to death. So Eliza had murdered him after all.

Eliza’s ghost is not the only one to haunt the house. A more fanciful story told is about one painting in the mansion.

This picture depicts several Revolutionary War soldiers. It is said if a person stands alone in this room they must be cautious for one soldier in this picture has been known to step out of this painting and accost visitors.