Portland'5 - Historical Happenings & Ghostly Encounters

Join us Sunday, October 27th at 4 p.m. for the 5th episode of the Portland’5 Podcast. Listen live at 99.1 FM in the heart of Portland – or online anywhere at PRP.fm. And shortly after the broadcast, check back here (or wherever you get your podcasts) for the Portland’5 Podcast, on demand, 24-7.

The Portland’5 Podcast is an exploration of Portland’s theatre community through the lens of its five iconic downtown venues.

Art matters. Art brings joy, inspires the mind, and unites communities. Art changes lives.

In this episode, it’s all about the history of two of the theaters we know and love. But since it is almost Halloween, we would be remiss if we did not have a few ghost stories to share.

First, we stopped at the Keller Auditorium to hear from Gage Rutherford, an Event Custodian Lead who just completed his History B.A. with a thesis focus on the Keller. He enlightened us on what the Keller (formerly known as the Civic Auditorium, and much more) has been through since its establishment in 1917.

Next, we talked with Melody Isom, an Event Custodian Utility Lead and close colleague of Gage, who had a frightful encounter with the paranormal in the Keller’s laundry room.

Heading over to the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, we heard from Scott Abts, Marketing & Promotions Coordinator for Portland’5, who regaled us with tales of a ghostly broom, a box office shoot-out, and what evidence of it remains to this day.

**After listening to this episode, be sure to check out the gallery of our spooky tour below.**

Guests

Gage Rutherford, Event Custodian Lead, Portland’5 Centers for the Arts

Melody Isom, Event Custodian Utility Lead, Portland’5 Centers for the Arts

Scott Abts, Marketing & Promotions Coordinator, Portland’5 Centers for the Arts

Host: Rebecca Webb, Co-Founder, Portland Radio Project

Gallery

: Gage Rutherford tells Rebecca about the spooky goings on in the Keller Auditorium restrooms.

: We descend to the dressing rooms.

: Gage explains what other seemingly inexplicable happenings occur at the Keller.

: A ghost! No, just producer Jenna.

: We ascend to the haunted laundry room.

: Melody Isom is content to stay put right here.

: Gage guides us to where the ghost was seen.

: The ghost was seen by Melody in this part of the laundry room

: The Keller Basement (formerly a morgue during the Spanish Flu epidemic), is now used for storage.

: We move on over to the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall.

: Scott Abts explains to us the history of the Schnitz.

: “Surprise” in all her glory.

: If you look right in between the fingers, you can just make out where repairs were made.

: The Schnitz ghost light.

~ Support comes from Portland’5, which provides its five iconic downtown theatres to local and national arts, music, dance, and education performances. For more, visit portland5.com~