1927. By 1940, the town was deserted. Everything on the property remained untouched until 1967, when Marta Becket and her husband moved in, renamed the property the 'Amargosa Opera House and Hotel,' and began renovations.
A year later in 1968, Marta gave her first performance to a small audience. Visitors were sparse and sometimes nonexistent, so Marta created her own captive audience by painting them on the theatre walls. Amongst them were Renaissance monks, a King and Queen, 'ladies of the night,' bull fighters, jesters, Native Americans, gypsies, wrestlers, and performers playing antique instruments. Seven years later, she completed the paintings, which included an exquisite sky on the ceiling complete with cherubs, doves and billowy clouds. Marta choreographed her own shows, designed her own costumes and props, and performed daily regardless if anyone showed up. She had completely created her own world; it was an homage to the past and remained impervious to the modern world. In 1970, a photographer from National Geographic magazine discovered the Opera House. Hoping to impress her disapproving father, Marta sent him a magazine subscription for National Geographic. Ironically, he died a day before receiving the issue in which her paintings were featured.
Marta's performances spanned the next 50 years, drawing visitors such as Red Skelton, Magician Criss Angel, The Ghost Hunters, and Cirque Du Soleil performers. Many hotel guests left screaming in the middle of the night, yet others experienced nothing unusual. Rich shared some of his experiences over 7 years of living there, including the "Lady in Blue" who sometimes appears on the colonnade, or the black cat who frequently appeared onstage when Marta Becket performed. The feline apparition once walked right past Marta Becket's feet in the middle of her ballet performance. The audience laughed heartily at how she was upstaged by a cat, leaving Marta bewildered. Afterwards, when the audience members explained how amusing this occurrence was, Marta told them she hadn’t seen anything . Another ghost known as "Boss Man" frequents the completely untouched "Spooky Hollow" area where miners slept. On one occasion, Rich arrived to the property sans his gun. Something whispered in his ear, "Mr. Cherub, where's your gun?"
People from around the globe made the pilgrimage for Marta's last official performance on February 12, 2012. I also attended, joining the line with my cousin and 2 friends for seating. There were Swedish TV producers, reporters from Las Vegas and people from Switzerland, Germany, and France. Marta was ushered into the theatre and seated on her throne. Visibly moved by the turnout, she said, "I've never had an audience like this before." I then realized how ironic it was that approximately 300 people were in attendance, exactly as many people as once inhabited this little ghost town during its exuberant heyday. Her wonderful, witty performance ended as powerfully as it began. She concluded, "The past is fragile. It has no one to protect it. I want to devote this theatre to preserving the past."
The Amargosa Hotel and Opera House is an inspiring beacon of freedom and artistic spirit. Whether you're an art or dance aficionado, or simply curious about hauntings, this deeply fascinating and enigmatic place is unlike anything you'll experience. It offers the unforgettable chance to step back into a bygone era and escape the modern world, even if for a bit.
The Travel Channel 'Ghost Hunters': http://www.travelchannel.com/shows/ghost-adventures/video/clowns-and-mannequins-oh-my