A 1923 Classical Revival civic hall where a caretaker's 1936 unsolved murder gave rise to the ghost named Malcolm
221 E Kiowa St, Colorado Springs, CO 80903
Research updated June 2026
Age
All Ages
Cost
$
Admission varies by event; some public events are free
Access
Wheelchair OK
Indoor civic auditorium on flat downtown block
Equipment
Photos OK
Est. 1923 · National Register of Historic Places (1995) · Classical Revival Civic Architecture · 1936 Unsolved Murder of Caretaker John Evans · Prohibition-Era Basement Speakeasy
The Colorado Springs City Auditorium opened in 1923 as the city's flagship public assembly hall, constructed in the Classical Revival style at a cost of $424,910. The building's stage carries a Latin inscription above it—"USUI CIVIUM DECORI URBUS"—meaning "For the use of the people and the glory of the city," a motto that reflects its intended civic function.
Through the early 20th century, the auditorium hosted concerts, theatrical productions, graduation ceremonies, and civic gatherings. In the 1940s, promoter Abe Marylander brought boxing and professional wrestling exhibitions to the hall, diversifying its programming well beyond its original cultural mandate. Over subsequent decades, the auditorium hosted the Harlem Globetrotters, trade shows, roller derby, mixed martial arts events, and musical acts ranging from classical to popular.
The building's most consequential episode for its paranormal reputation occurred in 1936, when caretaker John Evans was found murdered on the premises. The killing was never solved, and Evans's name became permanently attached to the building's haunted lore. A second spectral figure, referred to by staff and investigators as "Malcolm," has accumulated a separate body of reports unconnected to any specific documented death.
The Prohibition era also left a mark on the structure: the basement reportedly housed an informal speakeasy operation, a not-uncommon arrangement for civic buildings of the period. These layers—the unsolved murder, the shadow economy of the 1920s and 1930s, and decades of intense public use—have contributed to the auditorium's standing as one of the more atmospherically layered buildings in downtown Colorado Springs.
The City Auditorium was added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 7, 1995, and remains an active event venue operated by the city.
Sources
The auditorium's paranormal record centers on the 1936 death of caretaker John Evans, whose murder on the premises was never prosecuted or solved. Evans's presence is reported most often on the stage and catwalk, where phantom footsteps have been logged by staff working alone in the building after hours.
A second figure, referred to consistently as "Malcolm" across independent accounts, manifests primarily in the bleacher seating area. Malcolm's identity has no confirmed historical anchor—no documentary record ties the name to a specific death at the site—but the figure's persistence across accounts from different eras distinguishes it from generic building lore.
The basement, rumored to have functioned as a Prohibition-era speakeasy, generates its own reports: cold spots and a general unease described by visitors who have no prior knowledge of the basement's history. Shadow figures have been reported in the bleachers and the rear sections of the main hall during events when peripheral lighting is low.
The auditorium's active status as an event venue means most paranormal contact occurs incidentally rather than through organized investigation. Staff accounts, passed informally, form the most consistent thread—with recurring references to sounds from an empty stage and the sensation of being watched from the catwalk.
Notable Entities
Several local ghost tour operators include the City Auditorium as a stop on walking tours of downtown Colorado Springs. Tours cover the auditorium's 1936 murder history, the ghost named Malcolm, and Prohibition-era basement lore. Check local tour listings for current offerings.
The City Auditorium operates as an active civic venue hosting concerts, trade shows, and community events. Visitors can attend scheduled public events to experience the 1923 Classical Revival interior and its storied stage.
Every HauntBound history is researched from documented sources. We clearly separate verified historical fact from paranormal folklore.
Cripple Creek, CO
The Butte Theater on Bennett Avenue is a historic Cripple Creek opera house rebuilt after the April 1896 fires that devastated the city. Associated with the Imperial Casino, it has operated as a performance venue for more than a century and is reportedly haunted by a ghost named Jack, linked to the nearby fire department.
Springfield, MO
The building opened on October 8, 1916 as the Electric Theatre on a block that had been almost entirely destroyed by a major fire in 1913. It operated as the Fox Theatre from 1928 until 1982 and now houses the History Museum on the Square.
Washington, NC
Built around 1913 for proprietor C. A. Turnage — who incorporated the enterprise as New Theatre Inc. — the Turnage Theatre originally combined a shoe store on its ground floor with a vaudeville theater above. A separate 'talkie' theater was constructed behind the original structure in 1928. Adaptive rehabilitation in the 1990s restored the complex, and it now houses Arts of the Pamlico in a 32,000-square-foot facility with two theaters.