The History of the Midnight Spook Show (Or Midnight Ghost/Horror Shows)

Movie theatres were truly a different place in America between the 1930's-1960's. Even though I didn't live in those eras--I constantly hear from older family members about how a movie theatre would not only have more of a pleasing aesthetic atmosphere (that is, far fewer seat-kickers, sticky floors and people talking during a movie)--but also doubled time as a place where you could see occasional live shows. Around Halloween time (and other times of the year), one of those live shows that would play movie houses in small towns--at times doubled with a horror movie--was something called "Midnight Spook Shows"...or the less-contrived title of a "Midnight Ghost Show." This was back in a time when magicians would travel the United States and play old (or then new) theaters to receptive audiences before the age of secrets were so readily available and the development of cynicism about being fooled.

With these ghost shows, most of them used old live theater special effects and various magic techniques that provided an effective and usually eerie experience for those who attended. And many of the performer/magicians/publicity masters who headed these touring shows became famous in their own right for making them a popular recurring tour...if pushing people's buttons at times. Most of that happened when these shows started calling themselves "Midnight Horror Shows" when blood and more gory effects were used on stage to keep up with those who needed more shocking images to be scared.