Ghost Hunter Explores Lyric Theatre's Unknown Paranormal Activity

CRESTWOOD, IL — Apparently the Lyric Theatre in Blue Island is just brimming with ghosts and paranormal investigator Neal Gibbons has spent the past several weeks measuring fluctuations in electromagnetic fields and recording electronic voice phenomena in the century-old building.

On Halloween night, Oct. 31, Gibbons, who owns and operates the ghost tour company Graveside Paranormal, will showcase his evidence of the haunting of the Lyric Theatre at a “SpookEasy.”

“The Lyric called and said they had some weird things going on. They asked us to come out,” Gibbons told Patch. “We started picking up stuff right away,”

Gibbons and Larry Eissler III, of the show “Expedition Entity” now streaming on PARAFlix, roamed the basement and attic of the building.

“Nobody has ever investigated the Lyric before. We’re hearing a little boy in the building that was not caught on our equipment,” Gibbons said. “We’re actually hearing it.”

The Lyric opened at 12952 S. Western Ave. in 1917 adjacent to the Grand Opera House in Blue Island’s bustling entertainment center. The first talkie shown at the Lyric was “The Terror” on April 1, 1929, according to the theater’s bio. Eventually the theater became a mecca for Southsiders looking to watch a movie in swankier surroundings.

A fire on Valentine’s Day 1960, during a matinee showing of the movie “Cash McCall,” starring James Garner and Natalie Wood, destroyed the theater. Fortunately, everyone was able to escape the blaze uninjured. The Lyric rose from the ashes and was rebuilt. It remained open until the late 1980s, when it closed again.

Other attempts were made to reopen the theater but the Lyric remained dormant during the 21st century until two longtime Blue Island families, the Garetto's and Cantelo's, restored and reopened The Lyric in 2022. Nearly every inch of the theater has been renovated. There's a magnificent 29-foot wide, 17-foot tall screen, along with state-of-the-art audio and visual features. The Lyric also offers live shows and two large banquet facilities for weddings and other functions.

“There’s a lot going on in Blue Island,” Gibbons said. “We did The Forge and found evidence of a presenting ghost. We also did Natural Law where we found a mischievous spirit, nothling malevolent. It’s always in the basement area of these places.”

Audience members will be treated to a full audio video presentation centered around recent findings at The Lyric, as well as other haunted places from Chicago to Kentucky where Gibbons has conducted investigations. In addition to the presentation, Eissler will offer a Paranormal 101 crash course, where audience members can come up to stage and use the equipment where paranormal activity has been detected.

Doors to the SpookEasy open at 7:30 p.m. with the presentation starting at 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 31, at the Lyric Theatre, 12952 S. Western Ave., Blue Island. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased online at Graveside Paranormal. This is an age 21 and over event. The Lyric offers a full bar and concessions. COSTUMES ARE ENCOURAGED.

Graveside Paranormal has a whole slew of events and tours coming up in October, including:

• Nightlife Tours, Oct. 11-12, Oct. 18-19, and Oct. 25. Includes eight ghostly stops on a comfortable coach bus, including stops along the way to purchase adult libations and use the restroom. Guests under 21 must be with an adult 21+. Bus departs 115 Bourbon Street, 3359 W. 115th St., Merrionette Park. at 7 p.m. Please arrive 30 minutes early to check in. Tickets are $55 and can be purchased online at Graveside Paranormal.
• Seance at the Roff House, 1 p.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 26: Join Graveside Paranormal at the the Roff House, 300 E. Sheridan, Watseka, IL, and the Old Watseka Courthouse Museum, 103 W. Cherry St., for an unforgettable day and night filled with ghost tours, haunted doll museum, vendors, captivating speakers and a legendary seance with Unfiltered with DeEtte Ranae at the outside grounds of the The Roff House, site of the first documented exorcism in the United States. Tickets sold in tiers. Visit EventBrite to purchase tickets.