THE STORY
Reported Haunting
Employees of the historic music hall have reported apparitions, including a mysterious figure in a blue cape, while ghost traditions also associate Sally Rand and Duke Ellington with the building.
The ornate building that became the Great American Music Hall opened in 1907 as Blanco's and later served as a restaurant, bordello, cabaret and nightclub before becoming one of San Francisco's best-known music venues. Employees have described numerous unusual experiences inside. One manager recalled seeing what appeared to be a person wearing a blue cape walk into a bathroom; after watching the only exit for several minutes, he entered and found the bathroom completely empty. Other longstanding traditions identify former performer and owner Sally Rand among the building's apparitions, while some employees also associate unexplained activity with musician Duke Ellington.