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The Plaza Theatre:
Are you a fellow El Paso-an? If you are, you know that downtown has multiple historic buildings, including The Plaza theatre. The Plaza Theatre was built in the year 1930, first opened on September 12, 1930. It featured its first stage drama, Richelieu, on February 10, 1934. The Plaza was once an “Opulent movie palace” Till 2006, when it was renovated into a performing arts center. Louis L. Dent bought the building, beginning its construction in 1929, under the Spanish Colonial Revival style. The theatre was designed by W. Scott Dunne and was built by H. Ponsford & Sons. The Plaza remained dormant for two decades; ghost stories began to attach to the historic building.
Former Vice President for the El Paso Community Foundation experienced paranormal activity. The story goes that he would constantly see a rag doll in its usual spot upon working in the Plaza Theatre. Until one day, the ragdoll isn’t found where it usually sits. He decides to search for the doll, only to find it in the projector booth, which is located two stories high.
The second sighting of paranormal activity is famously known as the “Smoking Man.” The man who passed died in the 1940s. He was a well-dressed man, seated in the second story of the theatre, also known as the mezzanine. He fell over the railing and met his untimely demise. A staff member recalled seeing the apportion in the seat; she said, “he looked at her, and said we all have our time to die. He was proceeding to jump headfirst over the railing.