6 Of The Most Hair-Raising, Haunted Places Around L.A.

The Silent Movie Theater

Location: 611 N Fairfax Ave, Los Angeles

History: For many years this quaint theater nestled on Fairfax Avenue was the only place to watch long-forgotten silent films. The Silent Movie Theatre opened in 1942 and was visited by the likes of Clara Bow, and Charlie Chaplin. After being shut down since 1979 numerous years, Laurence Austin reopened the venue in 1991 because he believed it was important to continue its legacy. The theater still features vintage flicks and hosts numerous private events.

Haunting: This story begins in the evening of January 17, 1997 when Austin was greeting guests per usual nightly routine as they entered his theater. Unbeknownst to Austin, one of the greeted guests was a hired hitman, 19-year-old Christian Rodriguez armed with a .357., who would murder him later that night.

Before the second short film was about to start, Rodriguez entered the lobby claiming he wanted to purchase some tickets for a future show. He approached Austin who was sitting in the ticket booth and shot at him in cold blood. The mystery was unraveled by LAPD which revealed Austin's young lover was set to inherit $1,000,000 from the theater owner upon his death and hired Rodriquez to murder him. Since his death, some claim to see a large red blood stain appear then disappear where Austin was killed. His ghost is sometimes seen loitering in the lobby with the employees as well. Austin's passion for the historic theater is believed to be the reason his ghost continues to linger the premises.

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