On this month's Morbidly Fascinating Page:

The Bird Cage Theatre Ghosts of Tombstone, Arizona

Bird Cage Theatre today at 535 E Allen Street, Tombstone, Arizona

Bird Cage Theatre in the late 1800s

Bird Cage Theatre when it was a coffee shop in the 1930s

History

The Bird Cage Theatre opened in December 1881 and was owned by Lottie and William "Billy" Hutchinson. The Hutchinsons originally intended to host family-friendly shows, but the economics of Tombstone required them to appeal to the miners. As a result, it became a saloon, brothel, and gambling hall.

It operated intermittently from December 1881 to 1894. When the silver mines closed, the theatre was also closed. It was reopened as a coffee shop starting in 1934.

In 1967, the Bird Cage Theatre passed to William Hunley. It has been open to the public ever since, making it a popular spot for paranormal enthusiasts.

Is the Bird Cage Theatre haunted?

In the “Town Too Tough to Die,” the Bird Cage Theatre may be the most gruesome attraction. Twenty-six people allegedly died within the building in shootouts, stabbings, and suicide. Featured in Ghost Hunters, Ghost Adventures, Ghost Lab, and Fact or Faked: Paranormal Files, it’s no secret that it’s a top spot for supernatural activity.

Who is haunting the Bird Cage Theatre?

“Painted Lady” Margarita

The most infamous murder involves “Painted Lady” Margarita, whose heart was reported to have been chiseled from her chest with a double-edged stiletto.

The grisliest murder at Bird Cage Theatre involved two madames. One, Little Gertie the Gold Dollar, was employed at Crystal Palace – a rival brothel. Margarita was her competing Painted Lady, the belle of Bird Cage. Grabbing a handful of Margarita’s hair, Gold Dollar stabbed her with the double-edged stiletto stashed in her garter. She hacked at Margarita’s heart.

It was a macabre moment, too morbid for Gold Dollar to stick around. She fled the scene as soon as the Marshall arrived. Little Gertie the Gold Dollar was eventually apprehended.

Gold Dollar’s stiletto was discovered a century later behind the Bird Cage Theatre. You can find it there on display today.

The Woman in White

Donovan's photo of the Woman in White (Ghost Patrol with Donovan)

The Bird Cage Theatre’s most peculiar ghost is the “Woman in White.” This apparition is said to appear as a “proper lady,” a rarity for a brothel.

She usually wears a white dress and bonnet and has been seen by just about everyone who has worked at the museum. She seems to be a woman of status, out of place in a rough place like The Bird Cage. One employee encountered her in the poker room when she entered through the stairwell and stood in front of the employee for a while, not reacting to her presence. Many others report similar experiences, where the Lady in White doesn’t acknowledge the presence of others. Despite being the most commonly seen ghost in the theatre, no one knows who she is.

Carmelia Gimenes

On August 17 of 1888, Carmelita Gimenes, a Bird Cage entertainer, poisoned herself by two teaspoons of arsenic. Dr. Willis gave Carmelita an emetic, but it was too late. Carmelita died at five o’clock the next day. She poisoned herself with a concoction of arsenic called “Rough on Rats.” The Bird Cage Theatre shut their doors that night out of reverence for Carmelita.

The Cowboy Ghost

There have been sightings of a ghostly cowboy who is said to frequent the poker room. He’s often seen sitting at a card table or standing at the bar.

The Black Moriah

The hearse known as "The Black Moriah" carried all but six of the deceased Tombstone residents to Boothill Graveyard. The hearse is trimmed in 24k gold and sterling silver and was the first vehicle with curved glass.

It was said that the Black Moriah had "a cowboy for breakfast every day." The Black Moriah is valued by the Ford Museum at over two million dollars. It was in use from 1881 to 1917.

The Nightly Ghost Tours always stop in this area of The Bird Cage Theatre due to the high amount of paranormal activity that seems to be connected to this hearse.

In Conclusion

The Bird Cage Theatre in Tombstone, Arizona, is a living relic of the Wild West, a place that witnessed both the exuberance and violence of a bygone era. Its notorious history, combined with the countless reports of ghostly encounters, has firmly established its reputation as a haunted hotspot. Whether you believe in the paranormal or not, the Bird Cage Theatre stands as a testament to the past, a place where history and legend converge in a captivating and eerie blend that continues to fascinate visitors from around the world. 

GHOST TOURS: The tours start at 6:15 and 9:30 PM

Tickets are available daily at The Bird Cage Theater in the town of Tombstone. Bring your camera and a sense of adventure to "The Town that Never Dies."

The tours start with a brief history of The Bird Cage Theatre, then we visit each room of the building where we share what type of paranormal activity has been documented. For a portion of the tour, we also go completely lights out.

Go HERE to find out how you can take the ghost tour.

AMATEUR GHOST PHOTOS TAKEN BY TOURISTS IN THE BIRD CAGE THEATER

Note: The Horror Zine cannot verify the authenticity of these photographs.

First: The most common sighting are Orbs

Other amateur ghost photos