Gayety Theatre

Chicago, IL

9205 S. Commercial Avenue

, Chicago, IL 60617 United States

(map)

Status:	Closed/Demolished
Screens:	Single Screen
Style:	Unknown

Function:	Unknown
Seats:	823
Chain:	Unknown

Architect:	Unknown
Firm:	Unknown

Circa-1950 postcard view of the Gayety Theatre

Photo courtesy of the public domain

The Gayety opened in 1908 as a vaudeville and motion picture theater, later changing over to movies only.

The Gayety was located on Commerical Avenue, the South Chicago neighborhood's main retail district. Next door to the theater was the equally-popular Gayety Soda Shop.

In 1957, the Gayety switched from first-run features to Spanish-language films, reflecting the change in the populace of the neighborhood from heavily Eastern European to mainly Latino. It was from then on called the Teatro Gayety.

A fire gutted the Gayety in May of 1982, and the theater was demolished not long after, replaced by a fast food restaurant.

Contributed by Bryan Krefft

YOUR COMMENTS

During the late 40s and early 50s, the Gayety was part of the Illinois and Indiana (II) Theatres circuit.

posted by Bryan Krefft on Nov 21, 2003 at 8:01pm

In the 1945 Film Daily Yearbook, the Gayety is shown to have seating for 759.

posted by Bryan Krefft on May 19, 2005 at 7:55pm

An undated exterior view of the Gayety Theatre and next door Gayety's soda shop can be seen here.

posted by Bryan Krefft on Mar 28, 2006 at 3:54pm

The style of streetlights would place the photo in the late 1970s or early 1980s. The ice cream shop remained open for a brief time after the theatre closed. I remember going there circa 1980.

posted by PAUL FORTINI on Apr 26, 2006 at 4:46pm

Here is an undated photo when the Gayety was showing Spanish films:
http://tinyurl.com/2stbtg

posted by ken mc on Jan 27, 2008 at 5:30pm

1960 yellow pages listing:

Gayety Theatre
9205 S. Commercial

Spanish Pictures Only
Peliculas En Espanol Solamente
SO 8-0327

posted by ken mc on Nov 25, 2008 at 8:52pm

This theater is listed in a 12/1/1974 Chicago Tribune article about the Spanish-language movie houses of Chicago as the Teatro Gayety.

posted by Bryan Krefft on Nov 26, 2008 at 10:19am

Was there another Gayety Theater at 82nd & Exchange? I remember walking there with my sisters when we were very young in the mid/late 1960's. We would go to the Sunday matinee and then stop at the Pepe's taco stand on the way home. It changed to an all Spanish format in the 70's. I could swear it was named Gayety's but I could be wrong.

posted by Marc O. on Feb 24, 2009 at 10:42pm

Marc, you're thinking of the Chelten Theatre, which has a page on Cinema Treasures here.

posted by Bryan Krefft on Apr 11, 2009 at 4:48pm

After the fire:

http://americanclassicimages.com/Default.aspx?tabid=141&txtSearch=chicago&catpageindex=3&catpagesize=25&ProductID=26114

posted by Life's too short on Apr 13, 2009 at 3:20pm

Note: Please read our comment policy before posting. Comments which are off-topic, obscene, spam, or personal attacks will be removed. Help us keep the discussion productive!

Search

Theater Guide

Add Your Cinema Treasure!

Newest Theaters

Recent Comments

Updated Theaters

Gayety Theatre

YOUR COMMENTS

Notify me when someone replies to my comment?