Phenomena Witnessed By Investigator Continued:
5/3/03
I went to get another cup of coffee and, upon returning, I invited whomever it was I sensed watching me to join me. A few minutes later, at 10:30am, I am sitting with my head lowered listening intently -- something touches my forehead and nudges me gently but enough to cause my head to raise without me having moved it slightly backwards. It happened very quickly, and again, it was in a non-threatening manner. I sat there for a while afterward waiting & wondering in complete amazement! The first one of the Bijou's employees who has witnessed phenomena showed up shortly afterwards & I talk to him about his experiences. He showed me his own photo taken in the lobby of for which there is no logical explanation for what was occurring in the picture. At 11:15am I ask aloud that the KSO equipment not be touched as I am crossing the stage. As I reach the steps, one of the music stands, located center stage left, is knocked over, as in defiance. Second Bijou employee (phenomena witness) shows up as well as touring Girl Scouts and a local acting class which I may have spooked. -- LUNCH BREAK -- I return between 1-1:30pm and the second employee phenomena witness and I talk about his experiences and he shows me several parts of the Bijou that are generally off limits to the public. We talk of the Bijou's history and several suspected ghosts which may be haunting the theater. At 5pm I go into the auditorium and sit in the back mid section of seats. I am sitting there with my eyes closed, considering taking a nap, when I hear the distinct sound of a chair moving in the lower right box seat section. From 5:30-10pm I break while the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra has a performance there. At 11pm we set up recorders in the catwalk and the basement and ask that no one be in this area during recording. We go to the top balcony to shoot photos and video. At 12am we set up the audio on the second floor and proceed to the third floor. No one wanted to stay on the third floor long. I grew ill with a terrible headache which disappeared as quickly as it arrived when I left the area. On the fourth floor, the first thing I notice is the smell of decay. We took several photos and video and after hanging out in there a while we set up the tape recorders. We had to go to the lobby to listen to the tape I recorded the night before around 2am. Everyone was shocked by what they heard. Around 3am several members leave. The remaining members go into the auditorium where I proceed to use most of the rest of my photos. At 3:45am I go retreive the tape and return to the auditorium. At 5am, as we sit in silence, we hear mysterious footsteps on stage and distant murmuring even though none of the living were talking. At 6am the last two members leave and I try to get some sleep only to be awakened by the sound of two mating pigeons. At 8:30am I wake up after getting little to no rest and take more pictures as I begin packing up to leave. It is my conclusion that the Bijou is occupied by a combination of residual haunting as well as non resididual (i.e. currently active) haunting.
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