Comstock Theatre- Al Gershbach
The Frances Frazier Comstock Theatre plays host to another ghost named Al Gershbach. Al has no known affinity to the school, as a student, staff member, teacher, or even as an attendee to one of the plays. As the story goes, one year the staff of the theatre noticed a strange name on the list of crew that they didn't recognize. Believing this to be a prank by the printing crew, they were surprised to hear that the name was on the list of crew members they themselves had given. It was handwritten at the bottom. They left it on the program and the play was a success. If Al, as that was the name on the program, is not listed somewhere, it is believed the play will be a dud. Al himself often causes mishap if his name is not mentioned, but otherwise is believed to be harmless [1].
Al has been spoken to via Ouija boards by curious students and has reportedly revealed the existence of the ghosts in Hoyum Hall and Old Main, and had warnings for the latter. He made no mention of Dolly. While he is credited with randomly moving objects, he usually only shows up if he is not put on the program. Falling lights and injured cast members are his ways of telling he is not happy with the play. No serious injuries have ever been blamed on his presence [2].
An amusing story about him takes place several years after his arrival. An administrator not fully involved in the play was reading the cast and crew names out on stage to thank them individually. When she reached Al's name, the crew explained the superstition. Amused, she thanked him anyway, and asked if he could come on stage. At that moment, a white piece of paper, apparently resting on the catwalk, fluttered down onto the stage. The entire crew, as well as the audience, watched in rapt silence [1].
Citations
[1] Nicole Wesley, “Halloween has come and gone, but Concordia’s ghosts are here to stay,” Concordian, November 3, 2006.
[2] Concordia College Archives, Ghost File. Vic Quick “Research Assignment,” December 6, 1996.