Legends of the Ghosts of the Jorge Eliécer Gaitán Theater in Bogotá

The Jorge Eliécer Gaitán Theater is one of the oldest in Bogotá. Many claim it is inhabited by ghosts, and these stories have become famous urban legends in Colombia’s capital.

According to the tales and legends surrounding the theater, it is haunted by several spirits: a man with a pickaxe who digs at night, a vain woman who appears in the dressing rooms, and a tall man who wanders across the stage.

Legend of the Ghost of the Digging Man

This is the theater’s most famous ghost. His story has been known since 2003, when the sounds and heavy gasping of a man digging were heard for 17 to 19 consecutive days, always between 11:00 p.m. and 3:00 a.m.

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The event caused such a commotion that the theater staff called the police and the Sijín (the Colombian criminal investigation division). After investigating the site, authorities concluded that the noises were caused by a strange, unexplained energy.

Accounts from the staff claim that the ghost turns off the lights, blows on them, and once even pushed a female employee. However, being accustomed to his presence, she asked the spirit to respect her just as she respected him. Since then, the staff has learned to coexist peacefully with this entity.

The Ghost of the Owner of the Land Where the Theater Was Built

Another ghost said to appear is that of a man who allegedly owned the land on which the theater was built. According to the stories, he is a tall, elegant man wearing a top hat.

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There is even a photograph of this ghost. A pianist was trying to take a selfie, but a friend offered to take the picture for her. A while later, they reviewed the photo. Instead of the pianist, a huge shadow of a man in a top hat appeared in the image.

The Ghost of the Vain Woman in the Dressing Room

The other famous ghost people have heard of is a supposedly red-haired woman. She was apparently very vain and loved looking at herself in the mirror. Today, it is said that her loud laughter can still be heard echoing in the theater’s dressing room.

These mysterious ghosts are the most famous, but there are other tales and legends about different apparitions at the venue. Some mention children playing on the stage, or a man who died years ago in a workplace accident.

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Today, they even offer tours to show the exact spots where these ghosts appear in this old theater, which originally opened in 1938 under the name Teatro Colombia. Nowadays, the workers are so accustomed to the paranormal activity that living alongside the ghosts of the Jorge Eliécer Gaitán Theater has become an ordinary part of their daily lives.