Bob Mavity: 32 Years with the Ghosts of the Grand

Show Notes

For 32 years, Bob Mavity knew the Piedmont Grand Opera House in Macon, Georgia, from top to bottom. He knew the stage, the balconies, the rafters, the hidden spaces, and what the theater sounded like when everyone else had gone home.

And sometimes, Bob says, he wasn’t alone.

Carrie Genzel sits down with the Grand’s longtime former technical director to explore more than three decades of unexplained experiences inside one of Macon’s most historic theaters.

Bob shares stories of massive stage lights moving on their own, figures appearing in empty balconies, music heard when no one was there, and encounters with Randy, the Grand’s best-known spirit.

But Randy’s story is more than theater lore. Bob reveals how someone from Randy’s past unexpectedly came forward, adding another piece to a story that had been passed down for decades. Carrie also shares what the Echoes of the South team learned when they were given the rare opportunity to investigate the Grand.

Then Bob takes us through the theater itself, revisiting paranormal hot spots, backstage spaces, and the places where he witnessed activity over the years.

Along the way, we uncover another layer of the Grand’s history, including Harry Houdini and the discovery of hardware beneath the stage revealing that more than 20 trapdoors once existed there.

After 32 years, Bob didn’t simply work at the Grand. He became one of the people entrusted with its stories.

**Location**

Piedmont Grand Opera House

Macon, Georgia

🎥 **Watch Our Original Macon Beyond Investigation at the Grand**

Watch the investigation referenced in this episode:

Macon Beyond is produced in partnership with Visit Macon.

👻 **Investigate the Grand With Us**

Macon Beyond: Spirits & Song

October 17, 2026

Join us at the Piedmont Grand Opera House for an evening inside the historic theater, including dinner on stage, live music from Nest of Singing Birds, and a paranormal investigation of the Grand.

Tickets are on sale now:

https://thegrandmacon.com

🎭 **Explore the Piedmont Grand Opera House**

Learn more about the historic Piedmont Grand Opera House in Macon, Georgia.

https://thegrandmacon.com

🌎 **Share Your Story**

https://echoesofthesouth.com/story-map

**Featuring**

Bob Mavity

Former Technical Director, Piedmont Grand Opera House

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heavybob

**Special Thanks**

Special thanks to Julia Morrison, Executive Director of the Piedmont Grand Opera House, for welcoming Echoes of the South into The Grand.

**Echoes of the South**

Host & Creator: Carrie Genzel

Website: https://carriegenzel.com

Website Design & Development: RiviWeb Digital LLC

RiviWeb Software Solutions

Original Music by Sequential Sound

Produced by Arcwell Productions LLC

Some stories refuse to rest.

Stay Close.

About the author

Echoes of the South

Echoes of the South™ is the editorial voice behind submitted stories, field notes, and curated content featured on the site. While individual contributors will be highlighted as the project grows, this profile currently represents community submissions and developing investigations that reflect the spirit of the platform: thoughtful storytelling, regional history, and the mysteries that continue to echo across the South.

More posts