Drive-By
Auditorium Theatre Exterior Visit
View the 1928-1930 Masonic Temple facade. Interior access is limited to ticketed performances.
- Duration:
- 30 min
Photo coming soon
Theater / Performance Venue
West Herr Auditorium Theatre
The 3,000-seat former Masonic Temple of Rochester, dedicated in 1930 and acquired by RBTL in 2004, is where cast and crew have reported an elderly apparition backstage and a 'lady in a red coat' in the lobby.
885 East Main Street, Rochester, NY 14605
Wheelchair Accessible
Research-Backed · 4sources
Age
All Ages
Cost
$$$
Cost varies by Broadway tour and event; tickets per show.
Access
Wheelchair OK
Indoor theater with ADA accessible seating areas.
Equipment
No Photos
Est. 1930 · Built 1928-1930 as the Masonic Temple of Rochester · Houses original Wurlitzer 4/23 theater organ with 1,619 pipes · Purchased by Rochester Broadway Theatre League (2004) · Adjoining Auditorium Center acquired by RBTL (2023)
The Masonic Temple of Rochester was built at a reported cost of $2,225,000, with its cornerstone laid in 1928 and the completed building dedicated on May 24, 1930. The complex housed multiple ceremonial meeting rooms and offices for the Masonic order, plus the centerpiece 3,000-seat Auditorium Theatre. A magnificent Wurlitzer 4/23 theater organ with 1,619 pipes — including trumpets, clarinet, saxophone, drums, strings, and marimbas — was built into the proscenium arch and remains a featured architectural element.
Ornamental plasterers added a distinctive whimsy during construction: small images of squirrels and acorns are hidden throughout the ceiling and trim work, an inside joke that has become part of the building's identity.
The building was sold by the Masonic order to a privately owned entity in 1989 and was converted to a mix of office space, meeting rooms, and banquet halls. The portion containing the theatre was purchased by the Rochester Broadway Theatre League (RBTL) in 2004, which since then has operated it as a top live-entertainment destination, hosting touring Broadway productions, concerts, and special events. In 2023, RBTL acquired the adjoining Auditorium Center portion of the building, consolidating control of the complex. The venue is now branded as the West Herr Auditorium Theatre under a naming-rights agreement.
Sources
- https://rbtl.org/history-of-the-auditorium/
- https://rocwiki.org/Rochester_Auditorium_Center
- https://www.rochesterauditoriumtheatre.com/rochester-broadway-theatre-information/
- https://www.hauntedplaces.org/item/auditorium-theatre/
Apparition of an elderly man backstageFigure in a red coat in the lobbyDisembodied voicesFootsteps during empty rehearsalsObjects moving on their own
Per HauntedPlaces.org, the theater is described as 'a haven for ghosts, with witnesses having noticed things moving backstage and spotted an apparition of an elderly man.' The same source notes 'ethereal figures, including an elderly gentleman and a lady in a red coat' have been described by visitors, with the elderly gentleman 'often hanging around backstage' and reportedly moving objects.
GhostQuest.net's Rochester roundup cites the venue among the city's most-reported haunted properties, and the listing notes disembodied voices and footsteps heard during rehearsals when the auditorium would otherwise be empty. The Masonic-era origin of the building, with its many ceremonial spaces above and around the auditorium, is invoked in regional folklore as a source of the activity, though no specific person is named in primary sources.
Notable Entities
Elderly male apparition (unidentified)Figure in a red coat (unidentified)
Plan Your Visit
1 way to experienceSources & Further Reading
Every HauntBound history is researched from documented sources. We clearly separate verified historical fact from paranormal folklore.
Similar Destinations
Photo coming soon
Theater / Performance Venue
The Crump Theatre
Columbus, IN
The Crump Theatre's front building dates to 1871, with the theatre itself added behind it in 1889. Crump's New Theatre opened October 30, 1889, after John S. Crump purchased the property following the burning of his earlier opera house a block away.
$ All Ages (event-dependent)
Family: Low
Theater / Performance Venue
New Amsterdam Theatre
New York City, NY
The New Amsterdam Theatre at 214 West 42nd Street opened on October 26, 1903, designed by architects Henry Herts and Hugh Tallant in an exuberant Art Nouveau style immediately dubbed 'The House Beautiful.' From 1913 to 1927 it served as the home of Florenz Ziegfeld's Follies. After decades as a movie theater and subsequent abandonment, The Walt Disney Company undertook a $34 million restoration beginning in 1995, reopening the theater in 1997.
$$$ All Ages
Family: High
Theater / Performance Venue
Palace Theatre
New York, NY
The Palace Theatre at 1564 Broadway opened on March 24, 1913, designed by Kirchhoff & Rose for vaudeville impresario Martin Beck. For decades it was the most prestigious vaudeville house in America. After vaudeville's decline it was used for film and limited live productions; Judy Garland's record-breaking 19-week run beginning October 16, 1951 is the theater's most famous engagement. The Palace reopened in 2024 after a multi-year renovation that raised the auditorium 30 feet to permit ground-floor retail.
$$$ All Ages
Family: High
Frequently Asked Questions
Is West Herr Auditorium Theatre family-friendly?
An active Broadway-tour and concert venue. Family-friendliness depends on the show. Overall family fit: High.
How much does it cost to visit West Herr Auditorium Theatre?
Cost varies by Broadway tour and event; tickets per show.
Do I need to book in advance?
Yes, reservations are required.
Is West Herr Auditorium Theatre wheelchair accessible?
Yes, West Herr Auditorium Theatre is wheelchair accessible. Terrain: Indoor theater with ADA accessible seating areas..