A Pair of Paranormal Tales
Editor’s note: Rebecca Yerger is well known as a historian who writes about Napa County’s lively past, but once a year she takes the month of October to specialize in another of her other keen interests, the ghost stories she uncovers investigating what she calls “Napa Valley’s other spirits.” Throughout October, she makes appearances throughout the valley, sharing her tales for those brave enough to listen to them. This week she shares two of her favorites with Napa County Times. Look for a collection of her ghost stories, coming in 2026.
With the arrival of All Hallow’s Eve season the number of ghostly encounters rises. These accounts number in the thousands if not more. The experiences vary widely from ghastly to frightful. But regardless of their individual nature all intersections between the living and otherwise are spine-tingling for the mortals, including the two following featured local ghostly tales.
Fright at the Uptown Theatre
In the days when the Uptown Theatre was a movie-house, its patrons had atypical and unexpected entertainment experiences. A visit to the iconic 1937 Art Deco building in Napa offered more than feature films and popcorn. Its resident spirits acted out numerous paranormal performances to both the delight and fright of their mortal audiences.
A tragic accident during the late 1940s destined one poor soul to eternally inhabit the Uptown. As a participant or organizer of a springtime pageant or program, a woman fell down the stage steps and sustained a fatal head injury.
Following her death, she made her spectral appearance clothed in a white dress and apron. Her hair was in a tight bun. When she materialized, this female apparition could be seen at stage right. Those human beings who were in close proximity to the ghostly woman have stated a heavy, almost overwhelming, air of sadness accompanied the unidentified entity.
Although this female apparition has left a lasting impression upon those who have seen or sensed her, she has never attempted to interact with or frighten her mortal audience. Her behavior was the exact opposite of a male ghost referred to as “Charlie.”
While living his former human life in Napa, Charlie was a regular Uptown patron. He was known by both his fellow movie-goers and theatre employees for causing problems. Often times described as exceedingly grumpy, Charlie was always making a scene. He would complain loudly if someone dared to sit in his favorite seat or if someone was smoking. And if there were children present, Charlie would yell at the top of his lungs for them to “Shut up! You brats shouldn’t be allowed in here. You’re a nuisance and always too noisy!” He would have this outburst even if the children were behaving perfectly. Regardless of his hostilities towards everyone, Charlie was granted total access to the entire building, including the projection booth, by the Uptown management.
His deplorable behavior worsened as he aged. As Charlie was nearing the end of his life, he developed a severe incontinence problem. He would also, as a rule, fall asleep in that seat and snore extremely loudly. But only the manager was allowed to wake him because of his unpredictable behavior.
However, his days of intimidating everyone within the Uptown as a mortal ended in the early 1950s. Late one night as the ushers were checking the theatre after the last showing, they found Charlie slumped over in his soiled seat. He had died from a heart attack.
While most individuals sighed with great relief that Charlie would no longer ruin their Uptown Theatre movie experience, he was far from gone. Shortly after his death, the local movie-house became plagued by a hostile entity.
Apparently, there was an irritable ghost roaming about the place. This unseen entity would sneak into the projection booth and scare the staff by tapping them on their shoulder. They would whirl around to see nothing. It would also enter the men’s room and do the same thing at the most inopportune time for the mortal, that is! It also roamed the main theater, where it really stepped up its terrifying spectral assaults.
Although invisible, his presence was undeniably obvious. The apparition emitted a wretched stench of old urine as well as a dense almost suffocating air of hostility. But the final piece of evidence leading to the revelation of this entity’s identity was when he boomed, “Get out of my way!” The ghost was definitely Charlie.
As he yelled that order, he would push the living patrons, startling them as they felt his invisible and icy cold hands on their backs or shoulders. He did this as if he was trying to barge through some great and invisible crowd of theatre patrons. As in life, Charlie ruined more than one entertainment experience at the Uptown Theatre.
Even though Charlie was the most notorious paranormal being at the Uptown, there were other odd occurrences at this local movie-house. But, most of these strange happenings were known only by the employees and management. On a regular basis they would hear unexplainable footfall on the steps leading to and from the theater seats. Hushed, disembodied voices whispering indiscernible messages were frequently heard throughout the building. But the most startling, actually frightening, phenomenon were the lights being turned on and pinball machines being played when the Uptown was closed for the night — to living souls, anyway!
The second of this pair of paranormal encounters made even a grown and sound-minded man shiver with fear.
Stags Leap manor
Set back from Silverado Trail and hidden from plain view is the spectacular late-1800s Stag’s Leap Manor. Its formidable native stone edifice evokes thoughts of the mystique and mysteries of old world castles, villas and chateaux. Akin to those European bastions of frightful spectral world encounters, Stag’s Leap Manor has its own paranormal terrors.
For many years, actually decades, sane, healthy and upstanding individuals have spoken about their unsettling to distressing experiences while visiting, staying or living in the Manor. While unpleasant to experience, most of these encounters have involved tolerable occurrences, such as objects vanishing or being moved, faint and odd sounds, intense cold spots and a sense of some invisible presence. But in contrast to one mortal’s fairly recent experience, these encounters were nothing!
The unfortunate soul was an employee of the winery once associated with the manor and its estate. On one occasion, he had been invited to stay the night at the manor by the resident and owner of the grand property. He had been extended that invitation because it had been a late night on the job and his drive home would have been much too long.
In the beautifully decorated and grand upstairs guest room, he slept very soundly until about 2 or 3 a.m. At that hour, he was jolted awake by an odd and very loud noise. After regaining his senses and bearings, he decided to get up to investigate the source of that noise. Leaving his extremely comfortable bed and venturing into the hallway, he initially thought he was still asleep and having a bad dream, possibly even a nightmare.
Standing before him, near the top of the second-floor stair landing, was a young woman. She was quite a sight with her colorful, circa 1920s, possibly 1930s, era dress and accessories. But he was stunned to realize he could see right through her!
After regaining his senses for a second time, he spoke to the ghostly young woman. He asked her if she was OK and needed some help. He also inquired as to her identity. The full apparition, with a facial expression, glare and body language filled with fury not seen in this world, replied in a most unforgettable and terrifying manner.
All the horrified human would say regarding her response was, “She spoke in reply with a request of me that was unspeakable and humanly impossible!” So demonic was her demand and tone, he was scared for his life. Not knowing what else he could do; he ran back to his room and into bed to wait for the morning. Each second between that horrifying encounter and the dawn seemed like an eternity.
When day break finally did arrive, he quickly got up, dressed, gathered his personal effects and left the manor. Being exhausted and distracted by the encounter, it was a very long day! Although concerned about potential nightmares, he slept soundly in his own home and bed that night.
If that night of fright was not enough, this mortal was yet to endure more interaction with the paranormal world. Having to return to the manor to complete a task for work, he found himself alone in the residence and in the office located in the downstairs area. He was seated at the massive antique desk. While sitting there, three acorns dropped into his lap. Startled, he looked to see if there was a hole in the ceiling or some logical way allowing for this oddity to happen. But there was none! He quickly placed the acorns in the desk drawer, wrapped up his work and left the office and manor.
A second acorn occurrence for this man took place about two months later. Once again, he was alone, in the office and at the desk. When he opened the desk drawer, the acorns were gone!
He reasoned it away by allowing himself to think someone, some mortal, had discovered and removed the three acorns. It was foolish to have entertained such a kind thought! Seconds later, the acorns were dropped onto his shoes from out of nowhere. Again, he gathered the acorns up and placed them in the desk drawer. But this time, he wisely thought is was most prudent to leave ASAP!
The third and final acorn incident he reported happened a few weeks later. The circumstances were the same as before. But once he discovered the acorns were once again missing from the desk drawer, he immediately pushed himself away from the desk to leave. But, as he did so, the three acorns dropped right in front of him from no logical place. However, having learned his lesson, he picked up the acorn trio, walked outside and disposed of them. With that, the acorn hauntings ended — at least for the moment!
May your encounters with the paranormal this Halloween season be a treat not a trick!
