12 Gay Street – The Phantom in the Top Hat

New York · United States · Hus · Scare 3/5

In the mayor's old speakeasy house on crooked Gay Street, a figure in evening dress and top hat walks through walls – and the puppeteer who lived there heard footsteps that never ceased.

The narrow 1827 townhouse on Greenwich Village's shortest, most crooked street has a crowded past: during Prohibition, Mayor Jimmy Walker ran a speakeasy in the basement and installed his mistress in the house. In the 1970s, puppeteer Frank Paris moved in – creator of the television marionette Howdy Doody. He and his partner reported unexplained footsteps on the stairs, doors swinging open, and sudden midnight scents of fried onions and violets. For decades, neighbors and visitors have described the same sight: a man in a cape, evening dress and top hat appearing on the sidewalk or inside the house before dissolving. The "Gay Street Phantom" has become one of the Village's most talked-about ghosts – elegant, silent, and always on his way somewhere.

FAQ

How scary is 12 Gay Street – The Phantom in the Top Hat?

12 Gay Street – The Phantom in the Top Hat has a scare factor of 3/5 according to Haunted Places’ verified ratings.

Where is 12 Gay Street – The Phantom in the Top Hat located?

12 Gay Street – The Phantom in the Top Hat is in New York, United States.