by Meredith Biesinger, Magnolia Tribune
(Photo from Tupelo Community Theatre)
If you have ever been inside an old theater after the audience has gone home, you know it can be a little unsettling. The empty seats, darkened stage, and occasional creak from somewhere you can’t quite identify are enough to make your imagination run wild.
At Tupelo’s historic Lyric Theatre, however, some people insist those strange noises aren’t simply the building settling.
For decades, the downtown landmark has carried a reputation as one of America’s most haunted theaters. And while the Lyric has welcomed generations of moviegoers, actors, and audiences, there is one particular character who supposedly never left.
His name is Antoine.
Before getting to Antoine, though, it helps to know a little about the building itself.
The Lyric’s history dates back to 1912, when R.F. Goodlett secured financial backing to construct a vaudeville theater known as The Comus. For nearly 20 years, it entertained audiences with live performances before the M.A. Lightman Company purchased the property in 1931 and converted it into a movie theater.
The renovation also brought the familiar marquee that remains a recognizable part of downtown Tupelo today.
During its years as a movie house, the Lyric became a favorite gathering place for local residents. Generations spent Saturday afternoons watching movies there, and according to one popular story, a young Elvis Presley even experienced his first kiss in the balcony.
But another chapter in the theater’s history would eventually give the building an entirely different reputation.
On April 5, 1936, one of the deadliest tornadoes in American history swept through Tupelo, leaving widespread destruction and hundreds of people dead. The Lyric was among the buildings left standing, and in the aftermath, it reportedly served as a makeshift hospital and morgue.
It is this tragic connection that has fueled much of the theater’s ghostly folklore.
According to one version of the legend, Antoine was a young boy who was injured during the tornado, brought to the theater for treatment, and died there.
Another account suggests Antoine was actually a caretaker who worked beneath the stage, shoveling coal to heat the building. Some versions of the story even claim he lived in a small apartment somewhere inside the theater.
Nobody seems to know where the name Antoine originated, much less whether either account is true.
But that hasn’t stopped people from talking about him.
Over the years, theater employees, performers, and visitors have described unusual experiences inside the Lyric. There have been reports of footsteps in empty hallways, lights flickering without explanation, mysterious glowing shapes, and what some describe as the giggling of a small child.
Now, an old building making strange noises isn’t exactly unusual. But hearing a child laugh when you’re supposed to be alone? That might be enough to send even the biggest skeptic looking for the nearest exit.
When Tupelo Community Theatre acquired the building in the mid-1980s, it also inherited Antoine’s reputation. His story became part of the theater’s identity, shared among volunteers, actors, and audiences who have spent time inside the historic building.
In 2001, the Lyric was reportedly named one of America’s six most haunted theaters, adding another distinction to its already colorful history.
Whether the building is actually haunted is anybody’s guess. There is certainly no shortage of people willing to share their experiences, and just as many who believe every strange occurrence has a perfectly reasonable explanation.
Either way, the stories have become a fascinating part of Tupelo’s local folklore.
And each October, Tupelo Community Theatre has a little fun with that reputation.
The theater’s annual Haunted Theatre attraction transforms the historic building into a Halloween experience, complete with dark passages, unexpected scares, and plenty of reasons to keep an eye on what’s happening behind you.
This year’s theme, “Conjure of the Blood Moon,” brings another round of Halloween excitement to downtown Tupelo.
The attraction is scheduled for October 9–10, 15–17, 22–24, and 29–31. Thursday hours are 7 to 10 p.m., while Friday and Saturday hours are 7 to 11 p.m.
Tickets are $18, and the experience is not recommended for children younger than 12. Additional information and tickets are available at tctlyric.com.