Ohio's self-described 'most haunted theatre,' where organist Banks Kennedy was allegedly murdered in the basement in the 1930s
605 Market Ave. N, Canton, OH 44702
Research updated June 2026
Age
13+
Cost
$$
Ghost investigations $30–$40/person depending on session type. Regular theatrical performances have separate ticket pricing. Box Office temporarily closed for renovations through September 2026.
Access
Wheelchair OK
Historic theatre with interior stairs; some areas may be inaccessible
Equipment
Photos OK
Est. 1926 · National Register of Historic Places (1979) · Designed by John Eberson, prominent movie palace architect · One of northeast Ohio's longest-operating performing arts venues · Features original Kilgen Wonder Organ
The Canton Palace Theatre opened in November 1926, funded by industrialist Harry Ink and designed by John Eberson, one of the leading movie palace architects of his generation. Eberson built in the Churrigueresque style — Spanish baroque ornamentation applied with theatrical excess — and the auditorium features a garden-themed interior with a ceiling designed to simulate night and dawn, complete with embedded stars. Seating capacity reached 1,509.
Early programming blended silent films, vaudeville, stage productions, and community events. When sound came to cinema, the theatre adapted; today it still hosts the Kilgen Wonder Organ for silent film accompaniments, maintaining a tradition nearly a century old.
The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places on April 26, 1979. It operates through volunteer labor — 228 volunteers contributing more than 4,000 hours annually — and continues to serve as one of northeast Ohio's main performing arts venues. As of mid-2026, renovations have temporarily closed the box office through September 2026, though events continue.
Sources
Banks Kennedy performed on the Kilgen Wonder Organ at the Canton Palace Theatre after it opened in 1926. According to accounts documented by the Ohio Exploration Society, Kennedy was shot and killed in the basement in the 1930s, allegedly on the orders of a mob boss whose daughter Kennedy had been dating against the boss's wishes. The circumstances have not been confirmed in contemporaneous news archives available through open research, and the claim originates in local paranormal tradition rather than documented court or police records.
The second major haunting account involves a young woman reportedly murdered inside the theatre during the 1930s. Wikipedia's entry on the building references ghost hunters investigating her spirit, though no name or documented incident is attached to the account.
Team S.P.E.C.T.R.E. has conducted formal paranormal investigations at the theatre and runs regular public ghost hunts on site. The theatre openly markets these events and refers to itself as the most haunted theatre in Ohio. Investigators and tour participants report cold spots, visual anomalies in the balcony, and an elevated sense of unease throughout the building.
Notable Entities
Hosted by Team S.P.E.C.T.R.E., these regularly scheduled overnight investigations run from 10:30 PM to 2 AM and are limited to 30 participants. Guests 13–17 must be accompanied by an adult. Cameras and recording equipment are encouraged.
The Canton Palace Theatre continues to host live performances, film screenings including silent films with Kilgen Wonder Organ accompaniment, and community events. The building itself — with its Churrigueresque architecture and starlit ceiling — is worth visiting for its 1920s grandeur alone.
Every HauntBound history is researched from documented sources. We clearly separate verified historical fact from paranormal folklore.
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