The Great Lafayette

Oh I just love stories about haunted theatres! In my research for my future dark city walk in Edinburgh, I stumbled upon the very haunted Festival Theatre. I became obsessed with the story of The Great Lafayette, the illusionist who died during a performance there. He still haunts the theatre, so let’s take a look at his story. 

The Festival Theatre in Edinburgh

19 Nicolson Street in Edinburgh has been a theatre site since 1830. The theatre has had several different names during the years: Dunedin Hall, the Royal Amphitheatre, Alhambra Music Hall, the Queen’s Theatre which was destroyed by fire, the Newsome’s Circus, also destroyed by fire and rebuilt and the later, from 1892, Empire Palace Theatre. The latter theatre was the theatre where The Great Lafayette had his fatal performance. The name was changed in June 1994 to the Festival Theatre. And as you can read, the theatre has had its fair share of drama through the years. Perhaps this is why The Festival Theatre is rumoured to be the most haunted theatre of Scotland!

Sigmund Neuberger

Sigmund Neuberger was born February 25, 1871 in Munich. His family emigrated to the USA, and this is where he learned his magical tricks and skills. His career started in mining camps and towns, where he learned and performed the craft of Vaudeville. The theatrical genre of Vaudeville is a form of variety entertainment. It was invented in France during the end of the 19th century, and it became very popular in the USA and Canada from the early 1880’s to the early 1930’s. Vaudeville changed during the years: from comedy acts to serious magic shows. Over the years, Sigmund Neuberger developed his talent and he grew to be the best-paid illusionist of his time. He adopted the stage name The Great Lafayette and he fared very well.

The most hated illusionist that ever lived

Of course there was a lot of hatred and envy in the world of illusionists. William Goldston, an illusionist himself, once stated that The Great Lafayette was the most hated illusionist that ever lived. He said that people were openly hateful towards him. Was that really true or was the man just jealous because The Great Lafayette made £ 44,000 each year. Back in the days, that corresponded to the income of multi-millionaires today. He even drove a Mercedes and he was very fond of diamonds, nice outfits and his expensive way of life. He did have one close friend: illusionist Harry Houdini. Harry Houdini was born in Budapest and, like Sigmund Neuberger, emigrated to the USA with his family. Houdini even gave Neuberger a puppy: a cross-bred terrier which he named Beauty. 

Spoiled little dog

The Great Lafayette never got married, people even claimed he was as gay as a pink elephant, but Beauty was the love of his life. He spoiled his dog to the core! She had a 5 course dinner every day and the illusionist had a cart made for her so she didn’t have to walk too much. She was also always prominently seated in the Mercedes. The Great Lafayette simply adored his dog, so he was devastated when she passed away on May 2, 1911. The illusionist and his dog were in Edinburgh where he would perform at the Empire Palace Theatre when Beauty was suddenly taken ill. Beauty was 15 years old when she passed, which is a good age for a terrier. The illusionist had her embalmed and draped her on his hotel bed where she was surrounded by lilies.

Buried in Edinburgh

Sigmund decided he wanted Beauty buried. He contacted the Piershill Cemetery in Edinburgh, but the cemetery refused to bury the dog in consecrated ground. The Great Lafayette, however, was used to getting his way. He bought an entire burial plot for £ 300 and had his beloved dog buried. There was one condition: the cemetery required that he also be buried there after his death. He agreed, even though he lived in London at that time. He had a plaque engraved for Beauty with the words: “The more I see of man, the more I love my dog”. 

The show must go on

Even now that the illusionist was in deep mourning, the show had to go on. He visited Beauty every day since her burial before rehearsing or performing at the theatre. Especially his “The Lion’s Bride”-finale was what people were most enthusiastic about. During that act, The Great Lafayette swapped places with a real lion! That was what this illusionist was so famous for: his stage performances with real animals. A horse was also part of his tour. His deep love for animals got him killed on May 11, 1911. And no, he wasn’t torn by the lion.

The Great Lafayette dies

The Great Lafayette died only 9 days apart from his beloved dog Beauty. The Lion’s Bride finale was once more a great success, but seconds after the curtain would fall, an oriental stage lamp fell onto the heavy stage carpet. It caught fire immediately. The fire separated the audience from the staff. The audience managed to escape the blaze safely, but 10 crew-members, including The Great Lafayette, perished in the flames. The lion and a horse also died. The ironic part is that the illusionist had initially made it outside safely, but when he discovered that his horse was still inside the burning theatre, he decided to go back for it.

After the fire

The fire in the Empire Palace Theatre burned for 3 hours. After the fire was extinguished, a search party entered the building. All they found were burned corpses. The illusionist was identified by his Pasha costume and cremated. The next day, however, a second man in a Pasha costume was discovered under a trap door in the basement. This was the body of The Great Lafayette: now he was identified by his diamond rings. The other man was his 25-year-old double who played in the orchestra.

The burial of The Great Lafayette

The Great Lafayette was brought to his final resting place amid great interest. His Mercedes was the first car in the funeral procession, carrying a Dalmatian, his other beloved dog. The remains of the real Great Lafayette were then cremated and his urn was placed between the paws of his beloved dog Beauty. Sigmund Neuberger died at the age of 40. He was Jewish, but Edinburgh’s rabbi refused to conduct any ceremony in which a man and a dog were buried together. So, this was done by the local minister. Today, you can find their grave in Piershill Cemetery.

The ghost of The Great Lafayette

It is believed that The Great Lafayette still haunts the theatre in which he died. The shining of the diamonds on his fingers are seen from time to time. The lion also still roams the theatre: a piercing lion’s roar has engulfed the empty auditorium on occasion. Dying in this horrible way certainly leaves a mark on both man and animal.

Are you interested in reading more stories about haunted places in Scotland? Please click here! 

Cover photo: Motortion via Getty Images
Sources: wikipedia, historic-uk.com, thegreatlafayette.com, edinburghnews.scotsman.com and capitaltheatres.com
Location: 13 – 29 Nicolson St. Edinburgh, EH8 9FT, United Kingdom