Skip to main content

The Phantom Cinema Lady

Rex and Rio Cinema, Newcastle Under Lyme, Staffordshire Apparition 20th century

Imagine walking into an empty cinema, the only sound being the creaking of old seats and the faint smell of popcorn lingering in the air. It's a setting that's both familiar and unsettling, especially when you're the last one leaving for the night. That's exactly what happened at the Rex and Rio Cinema in Newcastle Under Lyme, Staffordshire, back in the late 1960s. A male staff member was locking up when he saw a woman walk past him towards the toilets. He called out to her to hurry up, but she seemed to ignore him and disappeared into the restroom. When he waited for several minutes and received no response, he knocked on the door and then entered to find it was empty.

Built in the early 20th century, cinemas like the Rex and Rio were once the heart of entertainment in towns across England. The Rex and Rio Cinema, in particular, was a popular spot in Newcastle Under Lyme until its demolition in the 1970s. The reported haunting took place in the late 1960s, a time when the cinema was still operational. The incident involved a solitary witness, a male staff member who was closing up for the night. His account describes a woman who seemed to vanish into thin air, leaving behind only questions about her identity and what might have happened to her. This ghostly apparition remains a fascinating, if unsettling, part of the cinema's history.

Historical Context

The Rex and Rio Cinema operated in Newcastle Under Lyme until its demolition in the 1970s.

Location

Location Details

Location Type
Cinema
Activity Types
Visual
Witness Credibility
Single Witness
Threat Level
Harmless
Accessibility
No longer exists
Date / Era
Late 1960s
Postcode Area
ST5

Nearby Haunted Places

Apparition 0 mi

Comfort Inn Ghost Encounter

Comfort Inn Inn, Newcastle Under Lyme

At the Comfort Inn in Newcastle Under Lyme, a rather unusual ghostly encounter took place. This Staffordshire inn has been home to a mischievous spirit known as Mr Drewrose, who had apparently been making his presence known for many years. It wasnt until a visiting medium picked up on a message from the ghost that the true nature of his haunting was revealed. It turned out that Mr Drewrose had been trying to alert people to a potentially hazardous situation - a large amount of petrol had accumulated under the building, posing a significant risk to the health and safety of guests and staff.

Inn Modern
Read Full Story
UFO 0 mi

Orange Ball Sighting

Over Wolstanton Marsh, Newcastle Under Lyme

Over Wolstanton Marsh, a place not typically associated with paranormal activity, a rather unusual event took place on a chilly February evening in 1985. A police officer, accompanied by three other witnesses, reported seeing a spherical orange object pass directly overhead, moving swiftly from north to south. The sudden appearance of this mysterious orange ball has left many questions unanswered, sparking curiosity among those interested in the unexplained.

Marsh Late 20th Century
Read Full Story
UFO 0.7 mi

Stoke Saucer Landing

on, Stoke

In the quiet Staffordshire town of Stoke, a most unusual event took place on a September evening in 1967. An empty field on a local estate played host to a remarkable UFO sighting, one that would leave a lasting impression on the six people who witnessed it. A saucer-shaped object, which changed colour from red to green to blue, landed in the field, glowing brightly as it did so. The object was seen by multiple people, and its departure was just as spectacular, taking off with a spin and disappearing over the horizon.

Field Modern
Read Full Story
Apparition 0.9 mi

Piano Cat Haunting

New Inn Inn, Stoke on Trent

The New Inn Inn in Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire, is home to a rather unusual ghostly inhabitant known as the Piano Cat. This phantom feline is said to roam the inn's premises, and its presence is often heralded by the sound of piano keys being struck without any human intervention. According to reports, the ghost cat would be appeased when a small amount of beer was left out for it, suggesting that this mischievous spirit had a taste for the finer things in life. The Piano Cat's antics have been documented over the years, with many claiming to have experienced its ghostly presence firsthand.

Historic Inn Victorian
Read Full Story
Apparition 1.3 mi

The White Rabbit of Etruria

Etruria suburb, Stoke on Trent

In the quiet suburb of Etruria, Stoke-on-Trent, a peculiar ghostly sighting has been reported. The White Rabbit of Etruria, as it has come to be known, is said to appear after the phantom cries and screams of a young boy. According to local legend, the rabbit is believed to be the ghost of a 14-year-old lad who was brutally murdered by another teenager in a dispute over a wager. The incident allegedly took place in the late 18th century, and since then, residents and visitors have claimed to have seen the apparition of a white rabbit in the area.

Suburb Late 18th century
Read Full Story
Apparition 1.7 mi

Phantom Horse and Cart

Aynsley Avenue, Clayton

Aynsley Avenue in Clayton, Staffordshire, is a quiet residential street that's home to a rather unusual ghostly sighting. One early morning in August 2009, a local man was walking his dog when he witnessed a horse and cart appear seemingly out of thin air. The man was so startled that he froze to the spot, unable to move or look away. The cart, driven by a weathered man, looked old-fashioned and surprisingly solid. As the vehicle passed by, the witness managed to compose himself and turned to follow, but to his amazement, it had vanished into thin air.

Residential Street Unknown
Read Full Story

Stay Nearby

Haunted hotels and accommodation near Rex and Rio Cinema