Which spooky Madison legend should inspire your Halloween date night?

Quiz Questions

• 1.
  What's your favorite kind of Halloween movie?

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  • A.
    A good monster flick
  • B.
    Something splashy with musical numbers
  • C.
    An old black-and-white classic
• 2.
  Which themed Halloween party sounds the most fun?

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  • A.
    Mobsters and Movie Stars
  • B.
    A Haunted Cabaret
  • C.
    Monsters and Mermaids
• 3.
  Which date night dinner sounds the most appealing?

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  • A.
    Pub fare with beer and/or cocktails
  • B.
    Candlelight and fine dining all the way
  • C.
    A picnic or homemade feast
• 4.
  Which historical celebrity do you find the most interesting?

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  • A.
    Harry Houdini
  • B.
    Al Capone
  • C.
    Loch Ness Monster
• 5.
  What's your date night budget?

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  • A.
    Don't care, as long as we have a good time.
  • B.
    Under $100.
  • C.
    The best things in life are free.

Quiz Outcomes

• 1.
  The Orpheum or Majestic Theater Ghosts

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  There’s no haunting like a theater haunting. The charismatic Majestic Theater, opened in 1906, has hosted vaudeville shows, silent movies, and even Harry Houdini. There have been multiple reports of a strange, shadowy figure wandering the building. In one case, a ghostly voice wished performers good luck before a show, then invisible hands pulled their hair. (Mixed messages, much?) The glamorous Orpheum Theater, named for the Greek hero Orpheus who journeyed to the underworld, opened in 1926. Visitors have reported an uneasy feeling in the downstairs restroom area, strange noises when no one is around, and apparitions dressed in clothing from the 1920s and 30s. This Halloween, we recommend catching a show at one of these beautiful, historic venues. Just have a look around for anything … unusual.
• 2.
  The Wonder Bar Ghosts

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  In 1929, Chicago bootlegger Roger “The Terrible” Touhy gave money to his brother, Eddie, to expand their business north into Madison. He opened Eddie’s Wonder Bar on Olin Avenue, which became a thriving hotspot for locals as well as gangsters such as John Dillinger, Baby Face Nelson, Al Capone, and others. Eddie disappeared sometime after selling the bar in 1948; legend says that he may have been killed and then hidden in a wall behind the fireplace on the second floor to cover up the crime. There’s no evidence of this, but there are stories of ghostly laughter and apparitions in 1930s-style clothing standing at the top of the stairs. This Halloween, we recommend a classy dinner at the Wonder Bar Steakhouse. Ask the staff about the history of the place and whether they’ve seen anything … spooky.
• 3.
  The Lake Mendota Monster

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  From 1860 to 1920, Wisconsin was rife with lake-monster sightings. Most of these were accused of killing livestock, except for the one sighted in Lake Mendota. Described as “a rather good-natured animal,” the serpent-like creature was spotted several times over the years, sometimes playing pranks on boaters. In 1917, a teenaged girl reported that it had tickled her foot while she was sunbathing on a dock. She called it a friendly-looking serpent with a “humorous” look in its eyes. This Halloween, we recommend a romantic stroll along Lake Mendota. Just keep your shoes on and your eyes open for strange ripples in the water.