Gaiety Theatre (New York)
Encyclopedia
The Gaiety Theatre was a Broadway theatre at 1547 Broadway in New York City from 1909 until 1982, when it was torn down.
An office building above the theatre has been called the Black Tin Alley.
It was designed by Herts & Tallant and owned by George M. Cohan
. The theatre introduced revolutionary concepts of a sunken orchestra (the previous configuration had the orchestra on the same level as the seats in front of the stage) and also not having pillars obstructing sight lines for the balcony.
It opened on September 4, 1909 with the Fortune Hunter.
The theatre's biggest hit was Lightnin'
which played for 1,291 performances starting August 16, 1918. It would become a silent film.
which had performances by Ann Corio
, Abbott and Costello
and Gypsy Rose Lee
. In 1943, Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia cracked down on burlesque, and it became the Victoria, which initially featured vaudeville
performances including Stepin Fetchit
.
leased the theatre for movies and in 1949 Edward Durrell Stone designed a remake of the interior which was expanded to 1,050 seats.
A sign on the roof of the theatre went across the neighboring Astor Theatre and was said to be the largest in the world. While originally advertising movies, it would later be best remembered as an advertisement for Budweiser
.
In 1982 it was torn down to make way for the New York Marriott Marquis Hotel.
. Among them were Harry Pace
, W.C. Handy, Clarence Williams (musician), Perry Bradford
, Bert Williams
, and Will Vodery
. Andy Razaf would pick up his mail there.
An office building above the theatre has been called the Black Tin Alley.
It was designed by Herts & Tallant and owned by George M. Cohan
George M. Cohan
George Michael Cohan , known professionally as George M. Cohan, was a major American entertainer, playwright, composer, lyricist, actor, singer, dancer, and producer....
. The theatre introduced revolutionary concepts of a sunken orchestra (the previous configuration had the orchestra on the same level as the seats in front of the stage) and also not having pillars obstructing sight lines for the balcony.
It opened on September 4, 1909 with the Fortune Hunter.
The theatre's biggest hit was Lightnin'
Lightnin'
Lightnin' is a 1925 comedy film directed by John Ford. It was based on a successful play that played 1,291 performances starting in 1918 at the Gaiety Theatre...
which played for 1,291 performances starting August 16, 1918. It would become a silent film.
Minksy's
In 1932 it became a Minsky's BurlesqueMinsky's Burlesque
Minsky's Burlesque refers to the brand of American burlesque presented by four sons of Louis and Ethel Minksy: Abraham 'Abe' Bennett Minsky , Michael William 'Billy' Minsky , Herbert Kay Minsky , and Morton Minsky . They started in 1912 and ended in 1937 in New York City...
which had performances by Ann Corio
Ann Corio
Ann Corio was a prominent American burlesque ecdysiast and actress. Unlike others in her profession, Ann Corio did not have a stage name.- Biography :...
, Abbott and Costello
Abbott and Costello
William "Bud" Abbott and Lou Costello performed together as Abbott and Costello, an American comedy duo whose work on stage, radio, film and television made them the most popular comedy team during the 1940s and 1950s...
and Gypsy Rose Lee
Gypsy Rose Lee
Gypsy Rose Lee was an American burlesque entertainer famous for her striptease act. She was also an actress, author, and playwright whose 1957 memoir was made into the stage musical and film Gypsy.-Early life:...
. In 1943, Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia cracked down on burlesque, and it became the Victoria, which initially featured vaudeville
Vaudeville
Vaudeville was a theatrical genre of variety entertainment in the United States and Canada from the early 1880s until the early 1930s. Each performance was made up of a series of separate, unrelated acts grouped together on a common bill...
performances including Stepin Fetchit
Stepin Fetchit
Stepin Fetchit was the stage name of American comedian and film actor Lincoln Theodore Monroe Andrew Perry....
.
Victoria
It was transformed into a movie theatre in September 1943. In 1944 United ArtistsUnited Artists
United Artists Corporation is an American film studio. The original studio of that name was founded in 1919 by D. W. Griffith, Charles Chaplin, Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks....
leased the theatre for movies and in 1949 Edward Durrell Stone designed a remake of the interior which was expanded to 1,050 seats.
A sign on the roof of the theatre went across the neighboring Astor Theatre and was said to be the largest in the world. While originally advertising movies, it would later be best remembered as an advertisement for Budweiser
Budweiser
Budweiser is a German adjective describing something or someone from the city of České Budějovice in Southern Bohemia, Czech Republic.Beer brewing in České Budějovice dates back to the 13th century...
.
Embassy 5
In 1980 it was renamed the Embassy 5.In 1982 it was torn down to make way for the New York Marriott Marquis Hotel.
Black Tin Alley
The office building above the Gaiety was popular among black composers who were not allowed in the Brill BuildingBrill Building
The Brill Building is an office building located at 1619 Broadway on 49th Street in the New York City borough of Manhattan, just north of Times Square and further uptown from the historic musical Tin Pan Alley neighborhood...
. Among them were Harry Pace
Harry Pace
Harry Herbert Pace was an African-American music publisher and insurance executive, and the founder of Black Swan Records....
, W.C. Handy, Clarence Williams (musician), Perry Bradford
Perry Bradford
Perry Bradford was an African American composer, songwriter, and vaudeville performer....
, Bert Williams
Bert Williams
Egbert Austin "Bert" Williams was one of the preeminent entertainers of the Vaudeville era and one of the most popular comedians for all audiences of his time. He was by far the best-selling black recording artist before 1920...
, and Will Vodery
Will Vodery
Will Vodery was an African-American composer, conductor, orchestrator, and arranger, and one of the few black Americans of his time to make a name for himself as a composer on Broadway, working largely for Florenz Ziegfeld....
. Andy Razaf would pick up his mail there.