"Shorty" Our creepiness rating 💀💀💀💀💀
The theatre itself says technicians, performers, staff and audiences have long reported unexplained happenings and shadowy glimpses attributed to Shorty; it runs tours "led by" him. Source: Capitol Theatre, 2025. KATS radio reports staff saying Shorty was a technician at the theatre: KATS, 2022.
Facts below are drawn from the linked sources.
Real history
Designed by B. Marcus Priteca, it opened on April 5, 1920 as the Mercy Theatre. Fire gutted the auditorium on August 11, 1975; it was restored to its 1920s look (Wikipedia).
Ghost stories
These are reported legends, not verified events. The creepiness score (1–5) is Spook Atlas's own editorial rating, not a measurement.
Then and now
Public access
Open to the public Operating venue with ticketed events and "Shorty's Tour", per the official website. Last checked: Oct 31, 2026.
Explore more
- More places in Yakima and Washington
- More haunted & abandoned theaters
- Nearby: B Reactor (Hanford Site, WA), Lester (King County, WA), Melmont (Pierce County, WA), Wellington (Tye) (King County, WA)
⚠️ Please read: This information may be outdated and conditions change. Verify access with the owner or operator before you go. Spook Atlas does not encourage trespassing. Entering private, closed or condemned property can be illegal and dangerous. Report a correction.
Reader experiences
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