The Grand Theatre in London, Ontario, is reportedly haunted by the ghost of Ambrose Small, one of the most mysterious figures in Canadian history. Small was a wealthy theater magnate who owned theaters across Ontario, including the Grand. On December 2, 1919, Small sold his theater empire for $1.7 million and was never seen again. His disappearance remains one of Canada's most famous unsolved cases — no body was ever found, and theories range from murder by his wife to mob involvement to voluntary disappearance.
Since his vanishing, Small's apparition has been reported at several theaters he once owned, with the Grand in London being one of the most active. Staff and performers describe seeing a well-dressed man in early 20th-century clothing watching from the wings of the stage or seated in the owner's box. The ghost seems benevolent, observing performances with an air of professional interest. Other phenomena include the sound of footsteps in the office area and doors that lock and unlock on their own.
The Ambrose Small mystery has been the subject of books, documentaries, and police investigations for over a century, and his ghost's continued presence at the Grand Theatre adds a supernatural dimension to one of Canada's enduring cold cases.