Lore Episode 281: "The Silver Scream" – Detailed Summary
Released June 2, 2025
Introduction
In episode 281 of Lore, hosted by Aaron Mahnke, the spotlight shines on Hollywood’s most opulent yet haunted landmarks. Titled "The Silver Scream," this episode delves into the eerie tales surrounding iconic locations like the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel and the Pantages Theater, intertwining real historical events with ghostly legends that linger to this day.
The Cursed Production of "The Omen"
Aaron Mahnke opens the episode by recounting the ominous events that plagued the 1975 production of "The Omen," a film centered around the Antichrist. Mahnke narrates a series of uncanny accidents:
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Plane Strikes by Lightning: “[00:13]...producer Mace Neufeld's plane was also struck by lightning on the way to the set. Newfield survived, only to nearly perish a second time when the hotel where he was staying was bombed by the IRA.”
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Tragic Plane Crash: “...the crew's small plane, given to another group at the last minute, crashed, killing everyone on board.”
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Fatalities on Set: “...the animal handler, brought on for a day to help calm some particularly unruly baboons featured in a zoo scene... was mauled to death by a tiger.”
These incidents seemed to mimic the suspenseful twists of a horror movie, culminating in the tragic demise of the special effects supervisor, John Richardson, who was decapitated in a car crash shortly after the film’s release.
Mahnke poignantly concludes, “[00:13]...it sounds like a sequence out of Final Destination, and it doesn't end there.”
Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel: A Nexus of Glamour and Ghosts
Transitioning from cursed film productions, Mahnke delves into the rich history of the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, an epitome of 1920s opulence situated on Hollywood Boulevard. Opened in May 1927 by cinema legends like Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford, the hotel quickly became a magnet for celebrities and creatives alike.
- Grand Opening Extravaganza: “[05:00]...movie stars wafted through the 300 guest rooms dripping in silk and pearls. Celebrities like Clara Bow and Will Rogers and Gloria Swanson mingled and drank.”
Despite its grandeur, the hotel’s illustrious past is marred by ghostly legends, particularly those stemming from the infamous first Academy Awards held in its Blossom Room in May 1929.
Haunted Blossom Room and Eternal Award Waiters
The channeling of greed and disappointment during the first Oscars seems to have left a spectral imprint:
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Ghostly Nominees: “Some Academy members might still be there, waiting anxiously for an award.”
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Notable Specters: “...a gentleman wandering through the Blossom Room at odd hours... wearing a 1920s style tuxedo,” and “...a second tuxedo-clad spectator... playing the ballroom piano before vanishing into thin air.”
Mahnke highlights the room's mysterious cold spot: “a mysterious 30-inch circle in the Blossom Ballroom, which is inextricably 10 degrees colder than the rest of the space.”
He further explores the dark origins of the Academy Awards: “[08:00]...Louis B. Mayer...founded the Academy in an effort to prevent film industry members from unionizing. All that glitz and glam began as a way to suppress workers' rights.”
The Haunted Pool and the Ghost of Caroline
Another spine-chilling legend surrounds the Hollywood Roosevelt’s rooftop pool, created in the 1950s:
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Supernatural Swim Sessions: “Security guards... have spotted figures swimming at hours when the pool is closed to guests.”
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Spectral Encounters: “...the guard's hand passing through a human figure's head.”
The most frequently sighted apparition is Caroline, a five-year-old girl reportedly drowned in the pool. Despite the absence of historical records confirming her tragic end, guests describe her as a lively child: “she doesn't look like a ghost. On the contrary, she looks like a living girl.”
Ghosts of Hollywood Legends: Montgomery Clift and Marilyn Monroe
Mahnke recounts the tragic stories of Hollywood stars Montgomery Clift and Marilyn Monroe, whose restless spirits are said to haunt the Roosevelt Hotel:
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Montgomery Clift: “[14:00]...Clift was one of the most successful movie stars of his generation... after a horrific car crash, his devastating injuries led to a decade-long struggle with addiction, culminating in his death at 45.”
Clift's ghost is said to linger in the halls, relentlessly bugling: “Guests will call the front desk begging that something be done about the incessant bugling wafting through their rooms.”
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Marilyn Monroe: “[22:00]...spent two years living in the Roosevelt Hotel. Her former room, now the Maryland Suite, is the site of numerous ghost sightings.”
A notable incident: “In 1985, hotel employee Suzanne saw the reflection of a blonde woman in a mirror—believed to be Monroe despite the likelihood of pareidolia.”
Mahnke poignantly remarks, “[23:30]...Clift may have failed to save Monroe in life, but perhaps now they're saving each other in death.”
The Pantages Theater: Opulence Turned Haunted
Shifting focus, Mahnke explores the Pantages Theater, another Hollywood relic teeming with ghost stories:
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Architectural Splendor: “[27:00]...the Pantages, opened in 1930, boasts a two-story art deco design with lavish interiors, including massive chandeliers and grand staircases.”
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Alexander Pantages and Howard Hughes: “...the ghostly man in a hat is believed to be either Alexander Pantages or Howard Hughes, both of whom had significant ties to the theater.”
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Haunting Incidents: “...painters and electricians restoring the theater reported encounters with a man in a hat who vanished upon being looked at directly.”
Additional ghost tales include sightings of Howard Hughes and a helpful ghost guiding a wardrobe assistant during a power outage, as well as the ethereal voice of an aspiring singer from the theater's mezzanine.
The Last of Hollywood’s Movie Palaces
Mahnke contextualizes the Pantages as the final representative of Hollywood's grand movie palaces, standing as a testament to a bygone era of glamour:
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Enduring Legacy Through Adversity: “[35:00]...the Pantages survived the Great Depression, World War II, and the technological shifts in cinema, but remains haunted by its illustrious past.”
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Symbolism of Ghost Stories: “...these ghost stories don’t reflect what the dead want, but the desires of the living, longing for the lost grandeur of the past.”
Conclusion: The Eternal Haunting of Hollywood’s Opulent Past
Aaron Mahnke concludes the episode by emphasizing how these haunted locations embody the enduring allure and the dark undercurrents of Hollywood’s golden age. The opulent theaters and hotels, once bustling with life and stardom, now serve as haunted reminders of the transient nature of fame and the lingering spirits of those who once thrived within their walls.
As Mahnke eloquently puts it, “[38:00]...what is the Pantages Theater itself but a ghost? Miraculously, the past is resurrected... the silver screen is bright, dancing with players who have long since crossed to the other side.”
Notable Quotes
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Aaron Mahnke on "The Omen" Production: “[00:13]...it sounds like a sequence out of Final Destination, and it doesn't end there.”
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On the Haunted Blossom Room: “[08:00]...Louis B. Mayer...founded the Academy in an effort to prevent film industry members from unionizing.”
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On Ghost Stories Reflecting Living Desires: “...these ghost stories don’t reflect what the dead want, but the desires of the living.”
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Conclusion by Mahnke: “[38:00]...what is the Pantages Theater itself but a ghost? Miraculously, the past is resurrected...”
Final Thoughts
"The Silver Scream" masterfully intertwines Hollywood’s radiant past with its haunted present, offering listeners a chilling exploration of the supernatural tales that continue to echo through the halls of its most illustrious landmarks. Whether these spirits are figments of collective memory or true spectral entities remains open to interpretation, but their stories undeniably enrich the enigmatic allure of Hollywood’s golden age.