The boundaries between the living and the dead blur in this riveting conversation with death collector and entrepreneur Josh Balz, who shares the chilling history of his century-old Ritz Theater in Scranton, Pennsylvania. From the moment construction began in 1906, tragedy marked this historic venue when a worker was crushed by falling steel. Over decades, performers like Harry Houdini, Lucille Ball, and George Burns graced its stage—but some spirits never left the spotlight.

Josh recounts spine-tingling phenomena experienced by staff and visitors: the phantom projectionist who died of a heart attack and still operates his equipment, the mysterious little girl in white whose identity remains unknown, and the inexplicable sounds of metal stage rigging moving within solid brick walls. Most compelling is his theory that buildings choose their owners, not the other way around, as both his haunted home and theater came to him through strange twists of fate.

The conversation delves deeper into Josh's fascinating relationship with death. Despite owning human remains, vintage medical specimens, and a bed made from a casket, he maintains certain boundaries—refusing to mess with Ouija boards or attend séances out of respect for the dead. His philosophy reveals a delicate balance: honoring those who've passed while living among their artifacts and possibly their spirits.

Bobby and Jake explore the unseen energies that might attach to objects, buildings, and people, asking whether collecting pieces of death means inadvertently collecting pieces of restless souls as well. As the episode concludes, plans emerge for a special ghost hunting event at the Ritz, inviting listeners to experience its paranormal activity firsthand. Subscribe now and join us in uncovering the supernatural stories hiding in plain sight.

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