The Phantom of Stage 28

By Crusader1307

 Sound Stage #28 held the honor of being the oldest constructed and free standing Set in Film History. Occupying a portion of Universal Studios, The Stage was built (interior) to resemble The Paris Opera House of 19th Century France. Why? The Stage was to the main set of Universal Studio's soon to be Classic Film – ''The Phantom of The Opera''. Shot and released in 1925, The Silent Film would serve to showcase the talents of ''The Man of 1,000 Faces'', the great Lon Chaney Sr. Master Make-Up Artist and Creator of many techniques still in use, Chaney could make Himself ''resemble'' just about anything and anyone. Celebrated for many years, it was a throat infection from a bout of Pneumonia that would kill The Actor in 1930 at only 47. But perhaps, Chaney's ''Spirit'' lived on.....at least that is what many hundreds of Staff and Technicians thought for many years – especially when it came to the strange ''goings on'' on Stage #28. Many hundreds of later Films and Television Shows have been produced on The Stage, which was always very active thru the years.

But oddly, much as in the Classic Tale of ''The Phantom'', it was reported for many years that ''Something'' was ''Haunting'' Stage #28. People have reported ''seeing'' a ''shadowy figure in a dark Cape'', lurking among the ceiling light supports – or even in the shadows of The Studio Stage and Storage Rooms. The ''Shadow'' seemed to like being around Make-Up Supplies, for many ''felt a malevolent Presence'' often in The Rooms used for Make-Up Storage and preparations. Could the ''curious'' Spirit of Chaney still be lurking in His old Set? Not anymore. Stage #28 stood until 2014, before having to be torn down. But who knows? Maybe is is ''at rest'', or planning to make another ''appearance'' in a new structure ''someday''.......