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.