Publix Theatre

This theatre was also known as the Paramount Theatre. And more info can be seen if you search for Paramount Theatre, Boston.

No, that can't be, William. The Paramount with its renovated facade and nothing else) is further up on Washington Street. The Publix was diagonally across from the Center. I believe it was originally called the Gayety and is still there in decrepitude. The cinematour.com site (q.v.) seems to confirm this. I have seen movies at both the Publix and the Paramount in past decades and they are not the same theatre.

You are right, Gerald, the Publix was originally the Gaiety, and is still standing. The BRA recently ruled to allow its demolition. As a matter of trivia, the stage door of the Gaiety/Publix is seen in the opening shot of "The Brinks Job". The Publix was last operated by E. M. Loew's.

The address for the Gayety/Publix is 659-65 Washington Street. The spelling was Gayety, with a "y", as evidenced by the exterior photos of painted wall-lettering in the www.cinematour.com photos. The theatre is only one block away from the beautifully restored Cutler Majestic on Tremont Street. Would that Emerson College could buy and restore this treasure as well. Alas, that is wishful thinking.

There is a very good website put up by Gaiety Theatre Friends who are trying to save that playhouse. Would you please put up a link?

http://www.gaietyboston.com

Thanks,

Lee Eiseman

Great site, Lee; though apparently it is still in the process of construction. I can remember going to the Publix in the late '70's, when it was in sorry disrepair, but I recall looking up at all the boxes and balconies and thinking how sad it was that such a beautiful theatre had fallen on such hard times. Keep up the good work!!!

I worked for EM Loew when the Pubix was still open and showing double features. It did a very good business as well as his Center across the street. I have been following the recent events with interest and if I were still in Boston would be carrying banners to urge its salvation. What an idal spot for a classic film/ art film/ local talent spot. I have leads for those who may be able to help. Let me know if you are interested. Joh Lelecas Ft. Lauderdale
jlelecas@aol.com

Does anyone know the current status of the fight to save the Gayety? I sent an e-mail to the gaietyboston.com site a while back but received no reply. I am very interested in the outcome and would really like to know how things are progressing.

An article just appeared in the Boston Phoenix about the opposition of mayor Tom Menino of Boston to the saving of the Gaiety/Gayety.
http://www.bostonphoenix.com/boston/news_features/editorial/documents/04193337.asp

Gerald, Thanks for posting the Phoenix article. The Gaiety is an absolute gem of a theater. At the moment I live out of state, however, I recall the building clearly. The mayor should work some kind of compromise here. The BRA can plunk condo towers in any number of other places. Most cities would be ecstatic to have this facility and work to preserve it.

And the Gayety Saga continues! Read it here.

what a shame,
a great theater that deserves to be saved, but is badly neglected.

It needs to be saved before it's too late!

Gerald: Timely and fascinating article about the Gayety in the Phoenix. Thanks. It's a case study. I've seen mayors in other cities become similarly obsessed with high rise condo towers, though this situation has the added factor of the Glass Slipper. Why bother have zoning and plans if they get thrown out the window? This theater is a gem, and it's a venue that could meet a market need.

The Gaiety Theatre opened on 23rd November 1908 as a burlesque house, the opening programme was Charles Waldron's "Tocadero Burlesquers". The architect was Clarence H. Blackall and it had a seating capacity of 1,700.

In 1919 it was re-named Gayety and continued as a live venue until 1931 when it was taken over by New England theatre magnet E.M. Loew who introduced movies to the building, while keeping some stage productions for a while. The 2nd balcony was closed in 1932. In 1949 it was re-named the Publix and continued as a movie thear until it closed in 1980, since when it has been shuttered and un-used.

A demolition permit has been granted, and depending on what happens with some litigation today, the wrecking ball could come as early as tomorrow ;-(

See here

and here.

Ron: Sad news to be sure. Thanks for the links. Tom

From today's Boston Globe:

Gaiety Theatre demolition on hold

The Massachusetts Land Court heard arguments that it should stop a developer from demolishing the defunct Gaiety Theatre, near Chinatown. The Gaiety's owner, Kensington Investment Co., recently was issued a demolition permit. But a Gaiety neighbor, the Glass Slipper strip club, asserted it would be harmed by the theater's demolition. According to the Glass Slipper, the city zoning code allows the demolition of theaters in the theater district only under special circumstances. But, Kensington's lawyers claimed the Glass Slipper failed to demonstrate that it would be harmed by the demolition. Kensington wants to replace the Gaiety and the Glass Slipper with an apartment building. Judge Keith C. Long said he would issue a ruling next week after Kensington agreed not to take any action until then.

From Chinatown's newspaper "Sampan":

Judge Holds Theater's Fate

Several issues are raised here. Why did the Landmarks Commission fail to give this theater landmark status? If this isn't a landmark, what is, particularly in the context of the theater district? Tearing down a structurally sound, architecturally significant theater in a theater district strikes me as a totally convoluted bit reasoning...save from the point of view of the developer.

Lee Eiseman of the Gaiety Friends sent a message to his mailing list today, saying that Judge Long denied the Glass Slipper's request for a temporary restraining order against demolition of The Gaiety Theatre. The Glass Slipper will immediately appeal tomorrow to the Massachusetts Court of Appeals. Kensington promised Judge Long that they will not begin demolition before 5 pm tomorrow (Wednesday, December 22).

There's hope--some anyway--going to the Court of Appeals. I was involved in a land use case in Massachusetts that went against us in Land Court and was overturned in the Appeals Court. The justices may see that the intent of the zoning here has been fractured beyond belief.

From today's Boston Globe:

Strip club loses bid to halt Gaiety's demise

A Massachusetts Land Court judge yesterday rejected a request by the Glass Slipper strip club to stop a developer from tearing down the defunct and dilapidated Gaiety Theatre nearby.

The theater's owner, Kensington Investment Co., said it will "shortly proceed with demolition of long-vacant buildings" it owns at 659-665 Washington St. near Chinatown. It declined to give a more specific timetable.

It was unclear last night whether the Glass Slipper would appeal the judge's decision. Calls to the Glass Slipper's attorney were not returned.

In denying the Glass Slipper's request for a preliminary injunction, Judge Keith Long wrote that the Glass Slipper had failed to demonstrate that it would be irreparably harmed by the Gaiety's demolition.

Long also wrote that the Glass Slipper had not shown that it's likely to prevail on the merits of its claim in an ongoing lawsuit that the Gaiety, as a theater in the city's theater district, can only be demolished under special circumstances.

Long, who toured the Gaiety recently, noted that the Gaiety has "not been used as a theater, equipped for use as a theater, or legally capable of being used as a theater under its certificate of occupancy since at least May 10, 1988."

Kensington wants to build an apartment tower called Kensington Place on land partly occupied by the Glass Slipper and the Gaiety. The Boston Redevelopment Authority has said it will seek to take the Glass Slipper by eminent domain if Kensington and the Glass Slipper cannot negotiate a sale.

Let's hope the Glass Slipper's attorney will file the appeal. They have legal standing since they're an abutter to the property. There's another legal avenue called a "ten taxpayers" suit where under certain circumstances ten citizens can file an appeal. It's another way of getting standing in the courts, though it's less often used. If the Glass Slipper appeals, let's hope that court works on a different theory than Judge Long. Some kind of landmark status for the building would have helped here. Land Court tends to be quite conservative. Overall, the Massachusetts court system works reasonably well, though--no matter what you might see on "Boston Legal." Maybe they should hire Danny Crane or Alan Shore. Bobby Donald may be looking for work.

Another message from Lee Eiseman:

Subject: last gasp
December 22 11:00AM

As I write this, Glass Slipper lawyer, Ken Tatarian is before a justice of the Massachusetts Court of Appeals asking for an emergency order to prevent demolition of The Gaiety.

If any individual or orgnization wishes to submit an amicus brief he/they must do so in writing within the next hour to the address below.

Please refer to Romano versus Boston Zoning Commission, et al, docket number 2004-J-603

Massachusetts Appeals Court
Three Center Plaza, 7th Floor
Boston, MA 02108
(617) 725-8106

Let's hope the Appeals Court links the zoning and demolition issues. A "ten taxpayers" suit might have helped here.

In so many cities, the local powers-that-be favor monster condominium projects in the downtown business districts. In the process, they destroy the older buildings which make up the character and fabric of the city.

It's not looking good. From today's Boston Globe:

Court denies appeal of Gaiety demolition

he Massachusetts Appeals Court rejected the Glass Slipper strip club's request to stop demolition of the defunct Gaiety Theatre. The Gaiety's owner, Kensington Investment Co., wants to construct an apartment building near the corner of Washington and LaGrange streets, land partly occupied by the Gaiety and the Glass Slipper. The Glass Slipper had asked the Massachusetts Land Court for an injunction that would spare the Gaiety. That request was denied Tuesday and the Glass Slipper appealed. Yesterday, the Appeals Court upheld the Land Court's decision. The Glass Slipper's lawyer said his client was reviewing his options. A Kensington spokeswoman said the developer was pleased with the result. She declined to elaborate on an earlier statement that the Gaiety's demolition "will shortly proceed." In Land Court, a lawsuit continues in which the Glass Slipper alleges that Kensington was wrongly granted special zoning for its housing development.

Ron--It's very disappointing that the Appeals Court failed to link the zoning and theater issues. It would be tragic to lose the battle over the Gaiety and win the zoning war. It's puzzling, but I'm a planner not a lawyer. I sometimes wonder if there's some weird mix of Puritanism and capitalism that wants to absolve lower Washington of its "Combat Zone" past while making a buck in the process. Can they take this to the Commonwealth's Supreme Court, or is the Appeals Court the last bite at the apple?

As of yesterday the theatre was still standing, but I don't think any legal impediments remain to prevent demolition. I'll try to walk by every few days and report any activity.

I have a booklet called "Boston Theatre District: A Walking Tour", published by the Boston Preservation Alliance in 1993. It says:

In 1909 Architect Clarence Blackall created this 1700-seat fireproof theatre out of steel and reinforced concrete. The curved first balcony seemed to be held up without visible support. Above it was a steep gallery. Twenty brass-railed boxes rose in three tiers at each side of the proscenium. The Gaiety is fronted by a six-story office building under which runs a long entry from Washington Street.

Preceding the Gaiety on the site were the Boylston Museum (1875-85), the World's Museum (1887-90) and the Lyceum Theatre from 1893 to 1907. The Gaiety became the Publix movie theatre in 1950, which closed in the 1980s.

That's too bad...here's my great Publix memory: a street person trying to sell me reefer in front of the building around 1990. For the record...I declined...looked like it was about to fall down at that time.

But, I don't think Boston has done badly. If you live in Houston or Cincinnati...I will listen to your complaints.

By the way...this is a great site. I haven't had the time to keep on preservation efforts much in the last ten years...and this makes it possible. Good job!

Responding to the very first comment above...

The Publix and Paramount were two separate theaters -- BUT, the Paramount has a logo on it that says "Publix Theatres". You can see it near the top right of the Paramount's (restored) façade.

Publix Theaters were a part of Paramount Pictures, which was known as Paramount-Publix Corporation in the 30's before reorganizing into Paramount Pictures Corp. The theater chain later was spun off into United Paramount Theatres, then bought by ABC, then sold off to other regional chains like Plitt Theatres. Many of the local Paramounts were operated by affiliated companies rather than direct subsidiaries of Paramount. The consent decree broke this system up and many local Paramounts became independent theaters or parts of smaller and unrelated chains. The last chain to operate the Boston Paramount was General Cinemas.

This chain was entirely unrelated to the Publix/Gaiety Theatre, which was last operated by E.M. Loew's Theatres (not to be confused with Loew's Theatres of NYC). It was E.M. Loew who renamed it the Publix Theatre.

I e-mailed Lee Eiseman to ask what the latest news is, if any. He told me that he heard the Glass Slipper was appealing to the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. But this is unconfirmed information for now.

When this theatre was still open as a double-feature second-run house in the 1970s, it never advertised in any newspaper. To find out what was playing here, you had to look in the (probably unpaid) fine-print listings in the Boston Globe, Boston Phoenix, or Real Paper.

The latest e-mail missive from Lee Eiseman of Friends of the Gaiety Theatre:

As of New Year's Eve I can report that The Gaiety has had another reprieve!

In a brief submitted to Judge Francis Spina of The Massachusetts Supreme Court, the lawyer for The Glass Slipper [a strip club next to the Gaiety, also threatened with demolition] argued that demolition of the theatre would deprive his client of the right to several substantial arguments in cases still open in Massachusetts Land Court.

Judge Spina asked Kensington Development for assurances that they would refrain from demolition until after Judge Spina decides the case which will be heard on Friday, January 7, 9:30 am at 1 Beacon Street 3rd floor. Kensington has assented to this request. The public and press may attend.

The Supreme Court has very high standards for accepting cases. They must believe that a message needs to be sent to the lower courts. There are some substantial legal issues here that need enlightened adjudication.

Starting Monday, I would like to have half-hour lunchtime vigils in front of the theatre every day through Friday. Please let me know if you will participate.

Thanks,
Lee

It's a relief that Judge Spina sees the links between the cases filed by attorney Ken Tatarian. This is why we have an appeals process.

I got another e-mail from Lee after submitting the above item. There will be one demonstration in front of the theatre this week (not one per day). It will take place at noon on Thursday, January 6.

Define irony: the banner I spotted hanging on a utility pole extension outside the Gaiety/Publix Theatre building (and, granted, these banners are posted throughout the area) while visiting family over the holidays, touting passersby presence in 'Boston's Historic Theatre District'. Interesting idea that, hanging one of those banners out front of a building so distinctly, at least in the eyes of Mayor Thomas Menino and the other supporters of the Kensington Place development, NOT a theatre...

And now it looks like the demonstration has been postponed to Friday, January 7 at noon, because of anticipated bad weather on Thursday.

The court hearing has also been postponed, to Tuesday, January 11 at 10 am, still at 1 Beacon Street, third floor.

A friend who works in downtown Boston just informed me that, earlier this afternoon, he saw construction-type (or, more aptly, given the situation, demolition) workers in the former Gaiety lobby space... an interesting sight, to say the least, given the circumstances and some of the illegal demo-prep done prior to the work-stop action issued against Kensington...

What a saga!!! And the irony of an attorney for a strip club taking up the cudgel to save the marvelous old Gaiety!! As an attorney myself I despair of the ultimate result, yet there is still hope. Also, a good dose of civil disobedience mught be in order should the bulldozers actually roll. I await continuing developments with great interest. This case has all the earmarks of a death penalty case, which actually is quite appropriate. God willing, our client will prevail.

Advocate

Today's Boston Phoenix has an update on the situation.

As per my message dated Nov 13, 2004, the headers need to be updated for the Publix Theatre.

Seats: 1,700
Architect: Clarence H. Blackall

The best way to get something like that fixed is to fill out the Contact Us form, specifying that this is a "Correction".

To All Concerned: I hope you get a good turnout for and coverage of the rally tomorrow. It might help if representatives of interested groups get to speak in a presentation at the theater site. Some thoughtful quotes in the papers and sound bites on radio and TV news could only do good. I share BillA's cautions; with land use cases, you just never know. It's one of the more arcane areas of law, which sometimes can work in your favor. At least the Supreme Court has agreed to hear it.

Have any of the papers taken an editorial stand in favor of saving the theater?

The weekly Boston Phoenix has, along with publishing the most comprehensive coverage. Neither of the dailies have taken an official position.

I'm surprised the Globe hasn't done so. I the eighties, they had a strong interest in city planning, even sponsoring conferences. I'd have hope that at least their architecture critic, Robert Campbell, might have weighed in on the matter.

I apologize for all the typos in the previous post. I meant to hit the "preview" button.

Did the demonstration take place? Was there any coverage by the press?

The demonstration took place and attracted about 40 people, many from Chinatown. I haven't seen it written up in the daily papers, but the Chinatown newspaper Sampan has posted a short video. (Warning: this is a 6 meg video file).

Sampan also published this article last week, shortly before the demonstration:
A Third Life for the Gaiety? Also chech out their Timeline of Recent Events.

And here's an editorial from Sampan: The Gaiety Deserves a Fair Trial

Ron--Many thanks for the Gaiety updates. Thank heaven for coverage by the "Sampan" and the "Phoenix." Those and other postings provide a timely chronicle of the unfolding fate of this theater. They make a real case study in urban planning.

The very latest from Lee Eiseman:

Subject: last word

Tuesday, January 11, 2005

Tonight on WGBH 2 at 7:00 PM, Emily Rooney's Greater Boston, will feature a 10 minute segment on the plight of The Gaiety Theatre. [I believe this show repeats at midnight -- RN]

Unfortunately I must also report that Judge Spina of the SJC has rejected the standing of the Glass Slipper to request an injunction against demolition. His decision begins, "I have failed to conclude that the petitioners will suffer irreperable harm if an injunction does not issue..."

Thus, the remaining impediment to demolition of The Gaiety Theatre will be removed without a trial on the merits of the case ever having been heard. There now appears to be no further recourse.

Though this may be of little consolation to Gaiety Friends, the appeals process remains open to challengers of Kensington Place.

It's time for some dedicated folks to get out onto the site in shifts and physically prevent demolition. Dramatic confrontations like that get big news coverage and might result in some kind of compromise with the developer. There might be a few arrests, but I doubt there would be any prosecutions.

Well, I guess that isn't going to happen, is it? I just had to make the suggestion, though.

I don't know if the "ten taxpayers" suit can be used anymore in Massachusetts, let alone in this case. It was a way of getting standing when other avenues failed. Certain rules used to apply. I imagine residents or business owners in Chinatown might have qualified. I guess it's too late now, though. Too bad WGBH came in so late in the game. Also too bad that Boston is killing the downtown with these outlandish highrises. Actually, the outland would be a good place for them.

I actually think the high-rises are good for downtown -- the more people live there, the more they will patronize local entertainment venues. However, a theater should never be sacrificed for this purpose if it's still usable.

High rises should be on the periphery of downtown districts, rather than in them. If they must be built within them, historic continuity and low rise buildings should be retained in the mix, like the Gaiety and its commercial block. Otherwise, you have a very sterile, canyonized district, particulary with the narrows streets in and around Downtown Crossing. And perhaps I judge too harshly. Maybe the Kensington is part of what will be an enduring urban design. I'm ready to be convinced. Downtown Boston thrived for years with residential areas surrounding it on Beacon Hill, Back Bay, and the North and South Ends, and with people coming in on the extensive public transit system. Will they be drawn by the lifeless buildings that are the exclusive enclaves of the wealthy few? I'd rather have them build another condominium tower in the Prudential Center or over the Mass. Pike than plunk the thing on Washington Street. Let them come in on the Green or Orange Lines.

Sampan is on the ball - they've already posted this story to their web site:

Theater's Days are Numbered

They also posted a copy of the justice's decision allowing demolition:
Page 1
Page 2
(warning: each page is a 2 Meg JPG file)

From today's Boston Herald:

Gaiety may be goner after SJC nix

and Globe:

Bid to stop Gaiety's demolition rejected
(2nd item)

And from tomorrow's Boston Phoenix:

Strike three for a historic landmark

Looks like it's over, folks. The only remaining question is when the bulldozer arrives.

It's a very sad day for Boston when you lose a historic theater in a designated cultural district, a theater which has been listed by the Commonwealth's register of historic places. Thanks to all here, and particularly Ron, for posting updates.

It is safe to say that the theater will be torn down to make way for a high-rise. The interior has been destroyed so unless someone with deep pockets come forwards this theater will be history. It is sad. Do you really think that Guiliani gave a damn about saving New Yorkers from porn shops? Times Square was an area that many people avoided like the plague. But suddenly someone decided that the time was ripe for developing the area.

How can local or state government seize property by citing eminent domain? I just read the definition and it doesn't seem to hold water. Yet local governments are seizing property all the time and then turning them over to developers. How does that benefit the public?

Even if the theatre is torn down, which seems quite likely, the main zoning lawsuit still has to go to trial. A judge could ultimately decide that the developer needs to replace the Gaiety with a new theatre in any new construction.

Kensington owns the Gaiety Theatre building, so eminent domain is not involved there.

However, Kensington does not own the neighboring Glass Slipper, which the city proposes to take by eminent domain and then re-sell to Kensington.

Doesn't the city have to show that the Glass Slipper is structually unsound in order to seize it under eminent domain?
Kensington should incorporate the theater into its plan.

Eminent domain can be used fairly broadly for "the public good." Also, buildings can be condemned as being structurally unsound without eminent domain. The owner just has to take the building down. In eminent domain, there's a process of determining fair market value and compensating the owner. The owner can appeal if he thinks the value is too low. As Ron observes, Kensington owns the Gaiety, and they're quite happy to a demolish it.

the latest from Lee Eiseman of Gaiety Theatre Friends:

January 19, 2005

Recent Gaiety Developments

As Kensington moves toward demolition by erecting staging along the north wall of The Gaiety, City Councilors and Ritz Tower plaintiffs make motions in two venues.

Yesterday at 1:00 PM Boston City Councilors Chuck Turner and Felix Arroyo filed an appeal with The Boston Zoning Board of Appeal to reverse the demolition permit for The Gaiety on the grounds that the issuance was in violation of section 38 - 21 of Boston Zoning code. This section protects theaters in the Midtown Cultural District from demolition unless the Zoning Board of Appeal grants a change of use. Should a theater be demolished illegally or legally in this district it must be replaced on site or another existing theatre restored. The prospect of a requirement to replace The Gaiety should give Kensington pause before commencing demolition, and would encumber the permitting and financing of the proposed tower project.

In another venue, the three plaintiffs in the Ritz Tower who were denied standing in Land Court to sue against irregularities in the PDA process will be filing an appeal this week in Massachusetts Appeal Court.

Unfortunately, neither action seems likely to save our theater.

According to several Globe and Herald articles I've found in the archives, the Publix closed as a movie theatre in 1983 (not 1980 as stated in a comment above). It was never a porn theatre; in its final few years, it shows kung-fu exploitation films.

Also, it was apparently called the 'Victory' between 1945 and 1949, when it became the Publix.

R. Newman wrote:<<Also, it was apparently called the 'Victory' between 1945 and 1949.>> That's interesting. Where my grandmother lived, they gave that same name to the local hardware store, all in celebration of the end of WWII, I'd guess.

The former Republic Theatre on 42nd Street in Times Square, as was the Gaiety in Boston, was also renamed the Victory post-WWII, a name it retains to this day, albeit in present time as the New Victory Theatre, a slight revision inspired by not only its own rebirth as a renovated venue for family-geared theatrical productions, but the new, overall reconsideration of the block it resides on as well.

Any word on pending appeals by Ritz Tower plaintiffs?

I, myself, can't believe the saga of the Gaity has gone this far, this should be a protected theatre, a landmark...with the restorations of the Paramount, and the Opera House...I'd figure Menino would be all for restoring this magnificent theatre...with the zoning laws, how could this happen?? Payola?? I do not call this progress...at all..I've written letters to Mayor Meninno, and Gov. Romney, too...sure can't hurt...at this stage...time to write more letters to the Boston newspapers...Great site...by the way..Thanks..Mike Brown

I looked through some old microfilms of the Boston Globe, from 1966, 1970, and 1975. The Publix and the Stuart were neither listed nor advertised in any of the issues I looked at. Just about every other downtown theatre that I can think of had either a listing or an ad, usually both.

I'm curious what would motivate someone to patronize an unadvertised downtown movie theatre. Was walking by it and looking at the marquee the only way to know what was playing there?

I looked in the former storefront window of 663 Washington Street, and saw a large pile of rubble inside, which wasn't there a few weeks ago ;-(

I don't know why they're bothering to demolish the interior before they take the whole building down.

Ron: Sad to hear of the interior demolition. Isn't there an appeal still pending on the Publix? The city officials should be utterly ashamed of themselves for allowing this act of civic vandalism. t

There's an appeal pending regarding whether the developer can build the apartment tower that he wants, but not about whether he can demolish the building now on the site.

Ron: Thanks for the update, depressing as it is. t

Unfortunately, I think the Publix/Gaiety has had several strikes against it:

- The façade is quite ordinary, and not at all memorable -- unlike the Paramount, Modern, and Opera House down the street
- There has been no sign or marquee outside it for many years, so people don't walk by it and notice an empty theatre
- It has not had live entertainment in the memories of most people now living
- As a movie house, it was unadvertised in the local newspapers, and did not show premieres or first runs. The movies shown, at least in its final decades, were often third-run and third-rate. So people don't have fond memories of attending it.

Add all of these factors together, and it's hard to generate a groundswell of opinion for saving it, much as it deserves to be saved.

Ron: You make good points. Also, from what I could see, it lacked much of a lobby. It was the auditorium itself that made it worth saving--acoustics, sight lines, overall architecture--and that was a tougher sell. No one had been inside for a couple decades. Your excellent research is telling about its years as a movie house that was below the radar.

The latest from Lee Eiseman of Gaiety Theatre Friends:

The Zoning Board of Appeal of The City of Boston has scheduled a hearing as to whether the demolition permit issued by Boston Inspectional Services for The Gaiety Theatre is legal. The hearing is being held upon the appeals of City Councilors, Felix Arroyo and Chuck Turner as well as the Asian American Resource Workshop.

While this action may not be successful in preventing the demolition of the the Gaiety, it will lay critical groundwork for future lawsuits on the question of whether significant reparations will be required. Article 38-21.2 of Boston Zoning code provides for the replacement of any theater demolished within the Midtown Cultural District. IT'S CRITICAL TO ESTABLISH TO ADDRESS THE ZBA THAT 38-21.2 CRITERIA FINDS THAT IT IS STILL A THEATRE AND ITS LOSS WOULD HURT THE CULTURAL DISTRICT. 

We have to line up testifiers to address each element in Article 38-21.2 about what theatres are worth saving, and we have to cite Article 80C.9, "Nothing in this Article shall limit the power of the ZBA to grant exceptions...."

Please plan to come prepared to testify on March 29 at 12:30 in room 801 at Boston City Hall.

Ron: Thanks for this update. Will this pending appeal prevent demolition until March 29 or when the ZBA makes their decision, whichever comes later (I hope)?

The following is some history that I found on the Gaiety:

"659-665 Washington Street was built in 1908 as a multi-purpose building combining stores, offices and the Gaiety Theater. The theater was built to accommodate traveling burlesque productions and was used over the years for a variety of entertainment purposes also including vaudeville, musical revues, early silent movies, striptease, and second-run and Chinese movies.

On opening night, November 23, 1908, all 1700 seats were filled, with several hundred more standing patrons. The opening show was the Trocadero Burlesquers, produced by Charles H. Waldron, with the well-known Irish comic Frank Finney as author and star. Performances were held twice a day, at 2:15 and 8 p.m., at popular prices from 10 cents in the gallery to one dollar for the boxes. In 1919, the spelling of the theater name was changed to "Gayety.

The storefronts have been used over the years for a men's clothing shop, restaurants, a night club, and an adult bookstore. Small businesses rented the offices, including a tailor, jeweler, music teacher, embroidery shop owner, hat trimmer, dentist and optometrist. The building has been largely vacant since 1986, when it was purchased by Kensington Investment Company to hold for development. In 1988, a zoning variance was granted to allow a retail food store and food storage. A meat market/grocery store serving the Asian community operated here for about a decade, until 1998, and since then the building has been completely vacant. The theater has not been used since circa 1980".

lostmemory: Thanks for these comments. It brings out again the Gayety/Publix paradox: a first rate auditorium hidden in a building dominated by small business rentals. Interesting the relatively recent variance for the food store. Ironically, if the theater survives, having that retail/office rental space would be good source of income and encourage smaller businesses that would serve the area. This is what city planners should encourage.

The very latest from Lee Eiseman:

At 9:20 this morning, after a brief staging process on Lagrange Street, the wrecking ball began the final demolition of the Gaiety Theatre.
 
The appeal in the Zoning Board of Appeal and the cases in Massachusetts Land Court will nevertheless proceed. Whether Kensington Investments and the City of Boston will make reparations for their offenses remains to be decided.

Ron: A very dark day for the City of Boston. Has the Globe noted the theater's demise? Tom

I don't see anything in today's paper, but I'll keep looking. When I walked by the building yesterday afternoon, it was not yet obvious to me that demolition had begun.

Ron: In your research, did you note if the Globe architecture critic, Robert Campbell, ever weighed in on this subject? He should have, if he did not. Tom

This I don't know. I remember that he opposed demolishing the Pilgrim Theatre ten years ago -- mainly because the owner at the time had no development plan at the time and was going to put in a parking lot.

When I walked by the Gayety this afternoon, I saw no signs of any demolition activity. The exterior of the building appears untouched, though it is very obviously being prepared for demolition.

However, I talked to the operator of the parking lot on Lagrange Street, and he told me that the street had been blocked off yesterday by the demolition contractors. He expects them to return tomorrow and close the street again. Two buildings are to be demolished -- the Gaiety Theater, and another structure on Lagrange that has signs reading "Club New Orleans" and "Good Times".

Gaiety Theatre Friends
For Immediate Release March 28, 2005

The Boston Zoning Board of Appeal (ZBA) will hold a hearing on appeals challenging the issuance of a demolition permit for Boston’s historic Gaiety Theatre.

Two Boston City Councilors, Felix Arroyo and Chuck Turner, and the Asian American Resource Workshop are the appellants.

The hearing will be held on Tuesday, March 29, at noon, in Boston City Hall Room 801.

The public and press are invited to witness and/or participate in this hearing.  Please plan to come and demonstrate your support. While spoken testimony will be limited, everyone who attends will learn about the issues and receive photos of the theatre.  All interested parties should submit written comments to the ZBA, at the hearing or in advance by fax 617-635-2918.

Possible outcomes include reversing the demolition permit, or mandating a replacement or substantial renovation to another existing theatre.

Members of the Appellants Groups will meet with the Press after the hearing.

More information about The Gaiety:
http://gaietyboston.com

Contacts:
Lee Eiseman, 617-241-7848 or Shirley Kressel, 617-421-0835
info@gaietyboston.org

SUMMARY OF LEGAL ISSSUES

Boston Zoning Board of Appeal regarding appeals to reverse the Inspectional Services Department demolition permit # 1965 issued for the Gaiety Theatre, 659-665 Washington Street, Ward 3, BZC # 25978 & 25989 (3/29/05).

ISD should not have issued the demolition permit because the Zoning Board of Appeal has not made the findings required in Boston Zoning Code Article 38-21.2.  Article 38-21.2 prohibits Change of Use or Occupancy of any theatre in the Midtown Cultural District without specific ZBA findings that the change will not ³unduly diminish the historic character of the Midtown Cultural District as a cultural, entertainment, and theatrical showcase.² The ZBA has not yet reviewed this issue nor made these findings. Nor has any court ruled on any of the issues here presented, although Massachusetts Land Court ruled that certain appellants lacked standing to sue in that venue to prevent demolition.

The developer acknowledges that the project is subject to Article 38-21.2 but seeks to avoid the Article¹s theatre protection provisions by asserting that the Gaiety is not legally a theatre.  However, this is refuted by ISD¹s own records, including the demolition permit itself, which classify the Gaiety as a theatre.  History and common sense also contradict this claim.  

When ISD issued the demolition permit, it reportedly assumed that the project¹s designation as a Planned Development Area overrides all zoning, including Article 38-21.2.  However, Article 80C-9 of the Zoning Code, which allows the creation of PDAs, states: ³Nothing in this Article shall be construed to limit the power of the Board of Appeal to grant Zoning Relief for Proposed Projects in Planned Development Areas...²  

If ISD issued the demolition permit in violation of the Boston Zoning Code, the ZBA must reverse it.  If the ZBA subsequently decides to grant a Change of Use or Occupancy after considering evidence regarding the criteria set forth in Article 38-21.2, the code requires that the developer build a replacement theater or rehabilitate an existing theater.

An alternative development proposal preserving the Theatre would provide more construction jobs, more permanent jobs, and more economic development (related businesses, jobs and customers) than the current proposal, and would bring residents and tourists to the area to make a vibrant 24-hour neighborhood.  The revitalized Gaiety Theatre could become an economic engine that is part of the city¹s ³creative economy.²

I could not attend yesterday's hearing, but I've posted articles about it here, from today's Boston Globe and Boston Herald. I expect to see another article in tomorrow's weekly Boston Phoenix.

I found this article from the Globe,
and this from the Herald
It all sounds somewhat less than encouraging.

Ron: Woops, sorry. I failed to see that the word "here" in your message above is in blue and a clickable link.

The Publix Theatre marquee is visible in this July 1972 photo from the Bostonian Society Library, described here. The marquee advertises a double feature of "Pretty Maids All In A Row" and "Sweet Nov". In the top background, the word "GAYETY" is faintly visible, painted on an exposed brick wall.

To the left of the Publix, a storefront appears to have been crudely converted into the "Cinema X Twin", with "Cinema 1" and "Cinema 2" marquees.

Here's a second photo, taken at the same time from a different angle. (Description here.) This one shows more of the faded painted signs on the theatre's side wall. You can see the words GAYETY, BURLESQUE, TWICE DAILY 2:10 and 8:10, and even COLUMBIA -- not sure what that's doing here.

Thanks for these photos. I'd forgot what Washington Street looked like then.

And here's anothr photo of Washington Street, looking south from Boylston, taken June 3, 1934 and described here.

The Gayety Theatre vertical sign and marquee are visible on the right side of the street. On the left, you can just barely see part of a vertical sign that says OLYMPIA. That sign belongs to what was later renamed the Pilgrim Theatre.

Yet another Publix Theatre photo, this one from 1954 and described here. The marquee advertises Randolph Scott in "A Stranger With A Gun", and Abbott and Costello in "Africa Screams". I believe the side of the marquee facing the street has an "E.M. Loew's" logo on top.

The same theatre in 1947, but this time the vertical sign and marquee read "VICTORY" instead of "Gayety" or "Publix". Photo is described here.

Another 1947 Victory Theatre photo, described here. The marquee advertises "Call of the Jungle" and "Dynamite".

Thanks for finding and linking all of the excellent photos, Ron. I started
exploring the site, and found a nice photo of National Screen Service which used to provide us with posters, stills, and pressbooks. I remember placing orders with Ann Morton who worked there for many years.
http://rfi.bostonhistory.org/boston/full/002824.jpg
as you look at the building, take a left onto Peidmont St and you are on the site of the Cocoanut Grove. I believe it's now a corner of a parking garage.

I believe that the Radisson Hotel (originally Howard Johnson's 57 Park Plaza) and the Stuart Street Playhouse (originally Sack Cinema 57) now stand on, or at least near, the former site of the Cocoanut Grove.

Yes, the parking garage south west corner has a plaque.

Ron: Thanks for these great photos--a real study in urban history. Dwodeyla: I recall seeing the National Screen Service building when I made a pilgrimmage to look for the plaque for the Cocoanut Grove. It's an interesting, isolated, slightly off-beat section of the city which has avoided getting demolished for high rises...so far.

Articles about the zoning hearing, and first-person accounts of it, are being posted as comments on this thread.

Tom N, I used to walk around the Bay Village in the late sixties between classes at UMass Boston when they were located at 100 Arlington. (Also to find a parking place). It was also known as the film district, as Columbia, Universal, and MGM kept their offices there. If you search the web site that Ron is using, for Church St, you'll see a couple of pictures of those office buildings. I couldn't find a picture of the building across the street from National Screen Service, but Theatre Merchandising was located there. (They delivered concession merchandise to all the theatres around Boston).

dwodeyla: Interesting comments. Do any studios/distributors still have offices in Boston? Do the theater chains now handle most of their own service operations?

Fox also had an office in the Bay Village section. I don't think any of the film distributors still keeps an office there.

Regarding the issue brought up a couple of times about the Publix never advertising in The Boston Globe in the 1970s and earlier, I think they advertised in the Boston Record American, a tabloid-type paper like the N.Y. Daily News. The idea must have been that tabloid-readers were their real audience. I came upon this ad in the Boston Record American for July 21, 1969. I don't know if they continued advertising there in the 1970s, but in the 1960s they did.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y60/italiangerry/Cinemas/Publix-1969-ad.jpg

Thanks for posting that ! You're right, I should expand my microfilm research to more papers than just the Globe.

Universal was the last studio to have an office in the Bay Village section in Boston. (A former colleague's husband worked for them.) I think they (Universal, that is) pulled up stakes sometime in the late '90s.

Ron,
Forgive any trivia here, but this sort of thing intrigues me. In that terrific photo of 1947, linked above, the film might most likely have been the 1941 "Mr. Dynamite" rather than "Dynamite" (1929...unlikely) or the 1949 "Dynamite" (not yet made.) "Call of the Jungle" hails from 1944. So this was probably a revival B-film double-bill culled from a Boston exchange. Notice that the word "Dynamite" is to the right of the Victory marquee. A sign obscures the left side which would have provided enough space for "Mr."

But hardly earth-shattering!

This discussion thread has a photo of the theatre building as it appeared yesterday, still standing but boarded up. There's more scaffolding on other walls that you can't see in this photo.

Ron: It looks like they've removed most of the windows. :-(

Dismantling of the Club New Orleans building, just west of the Glass Slipper on LaGrange Street, is well underway. A bulldozer is on the site, so I expect they'll soon finish with this building and move on to the Gaiety. Some workers yesterday afternoon were standing on top of the Gaiety scaffolding on Washington Street, removing old retail signs and probably other stuff from the front façade.

A photo taken last Sunday. The Gaiety/Publix is the six-story building with the boarded-up windows and scaffolding. You can still see some very faded advertising on the side wall.

I believe the two-story building in the foreground is also supposed to come down, but not yet, since the retail tenants are still operating. The Glass Slipper and Club New Orleans buildings are not visible in this photo; they would be behind the camera position and off to the left.

Ron: Thanks for the excellent picture. What is the current legal status of the Gaiety/Publix? Is any form of appeal pending, or have those avenues been exhausted? T.

The Zoning Board of Appeal denied the March 29 appeal, as expected by everyone. There are still court cases pending, at least by the Glass Slipper and probably by others, but I'm sure they will not be heard in time to save the Gaiety. At this point, I'm not sure there is still anything here to save.

A big question that remains is whether the Cultural District zoning requires the developer to replace this theatre after demolishing it, or to make a substantial payment towards restoration of some other theatre in the Cultural District.

By the way, at the far right edge of that photo, you can just barely see the gleaming white façade of the Paramount, a theatre that's getting a lot more love these days than the Gaiety.

From Steve Bailey's column in today's Boston Globe:

Kensington Place on Lower Washington Street was supposed to be the final nail in Boston's Combat Zone, displacing the shabby Glass Slipper from its home on LaGrange Street. As they say, never mind.

The strip joint's co-owner, Nicholas Romano, is negotiating to move across the street to a four-story building next to Centerfolds, the only other strip club left in the Zone. The deal, if completed, would bring an end to a lawsuit by the Glass Slipper challenging the proposed housing tower. The city would compensate the Glass Slipper owners for taking their club by eminent domain and for their relocation costs.

''We are actively working with the Glass Slipper owners to come to a favorable eminent domain solution," says Susan Elsbree, a spokeswoman for the Boston Redevelopment Authority. ''We expect they will look to keep their business in that area that is zoned for adult entertainment." Romano didn't return my call.

Ron: Thanks for these updates. I guess that's it for the Gaiety. I'm still astonished that, as far as I know, Robert Campbell, the Globe art critic, didn't weigh in on this one. He's written columns on the urban character of Washington Street. T.

Yesterday, I watched them demolish most of the Club New Orleans building on LaGrange Street. They may have even finished the job yesterday; I left around 2 pm. There are two large holes in the south façade of the Gaiety. I'll try to return there over the next few days and report on what's happening.

Some demolition photos of Club New Orleans, along with a photo of two new gaping holes in the Gaiety's south wall. You can also clearly see where the (still-standing) Glass Slipper is located relative to the Gaiety.

Ron: Interesting images. Thanks They put things into perspective. The Glass Slipper building looks like it might actually date to the late Federal period, but I could be wrong. Do you know if the Boston Theater, where Cinerama used to be, is still more or less intact? T.

The RKO Boston Theatre has its own listing here. I've never been inside, but people who have say that a concrete floor seals off the former balcony from the main floor, which was subdivided into two cinema screens. At night, you can peer inside one of them from the side door at 38 Essex Street, and see a few rows of seats.

Someone who did manage to get inside took these photos in 1997:

http://cinerama.topcities.com/boston.htm

In its subdivided state, it closed around the same time as the Publix. Its building is in fine shape and in no danger of being demolished, but most people don't even know that it contains this large, unused theatre.

Ron: Glad to hear that the Boston theater still hangs in there. I forgot the "RKO" part of the name.

Demolition of the Gaiety has begun. I don't know if it started yesterday or today, but when I walked down LaGrange Street tonight at 9:15, I saw that big chunks had been taken out of the roof and the south wall.

Ron: A very, very sad day for the City of Boston. Thanks for bearing the news, dreary as it is. T.N.

You asked about the Glass Slipper building at 15 La Grange Street. According to a 1978 newsletter from the City Conservation League (an organization that I believe no longer exists), this was built in 1830.

Ron: The glass slipper building dates to 1830! The American Federal period is generally considered to be from 1790 to 1830, so it's definitely late Federal. In any other city, this building would be considered worth protecting. Sad the loss of the City Conservation League, though it might still be around in some form under another name.

On this site you can find the PDF file of the Boston Landmarks Commission report that recommended against landmark status for the Publix/Gaiety. There are lots of photos, some in color.http://www.cityofboston.gov/environment/pdfs/gaiety.pdf

After reading that report, you will also want to read the Gaiety Theatre Friends' responses to the Landmarks Commission

http://gaietyboston.com/pdf/gtf_landmarksreport1.pdf
http://gaietyboston.com/pdf/gtf_landmarksreport2.pdf

I don't know how long the gaietyboston.com web site is going to stay around, now that the theatre is lost. So get these reports while you can.

Demolition is now far enough along that it's sadly time to change the Status to "Closed/Demolished".

Some demolition photos taken today, from the La Grange Street side.

The Gaiety is history.

I've submitted a news item to Cinema Treasures, but I suspect it won't run until Monday.

The Publix is the fifth downtown theatre building to be demolished in the past 30 years. I hope it is also the last. The others:

Gary (originally Plymouth) - demolished circa 1978 to make way for the State Transportation Building

Astor (originally Tremont) - demolished circa 1983 after being first converted to a "juice bar" and then abandoned. The site remained empty for a decade and a half, but eventually one of the Ritz-Carlton Towers, including the new Loews Boston Common multiplex, was built here.

State (originally Park, then Hub, then Trans-Lux) - demolished in 1991, soon after a proposal to redevelop the site, "Commonwealth Center", financially collapsed. This site also became part of the Ritz Towers complex.

Pilgrim (originally Olympia) - demolished in 1996 by the property owner after strong encouragement from the city, which wanted to eliminate what it considered to be a undesirable X-rated use. It became a parking lot for most of the following decade. A residential tower called "Park Essex" is now rising on its site.

Evidently the city feels the only way to purge Washington Street of its "Combat Zone" image is to tear down older buildings and replace them with sterile high rises. Well, they're getting their wish. Unfortunately a lot of urban history is getting tossed into the dumpster in the process. I read the .PDF files of the responses to the Landmarks Commission. They were well written. They make the Landmarks Commission look like a bunch of fools. Interesting how the city allowed the Gaiety building to fall into disrepair. Where was Code Enforcement?

Tho I've never been in the Gaiety, I feel like I've lost an old friend...to see the wrecking ball tear down the walls is very sad.. I can't understand how Mennino can be for the preservation of the Paramount, the Majestic, and the Opera house, and thumb his nose at all the protesting of the tearing down this great old theater..and after seeing pictures of the inside...I, like lots of other people, had hopes of trying to save the Gaiety...why couldn't this tower/apartments be built OVER the theater?? I feel that was the perfect plan..and I must thank Ron Newman...your knowledge of Boston and it's theaters histories are truly amazing...thanks for all your time spent, for a good cause...and ALL the people in Friends of the Gaiety...for your efforts...we DID try and do the right thing...now to get Kenningson to build a replacement theater..Lee Eiseman, thank you for all the updates sent to my email...I guess the fight isn't truly over yet...tho this has been a sad week...

Mike: Well said.

Another demolition photo, from the Boston Phoenix.

Demolition continues, slowly. Here are some photos taken late Friday afternoon, April 29, including some of the surrounding neighborhood. (Scroll down to "Posted: Sun May 01, 2005")

No work was going on over the weekend.

From yesterday's Boston Phoenix:
Showing next Thursday: The Gaiety’s demise

Next Thursday, as part of an Asians in Action fundraiser, Overshadowed: Boston’s Chinatown gets its public premiere. The three-part documentary was made by a 10-person Emerson College journalism class. The first section of the half-hour film discusses high-rise developments in Chinatown, like the Kensington; the middle tells of the Gaiety’s demise; and the final segment profiles Da Zsong Lei, an aging Chinatown resident facing a 25 percent rent increase that could price him out of his apartment.
...
The filmmakers were able to shoot footage of the half-wrecked theater, whose missing wall provides a view of the internal performance space that activists thought was worth preserving. "People were just stopping in the street, looking and taking pictures, asking ‘what is that building?’" says Kim.
...
Overshadowed: Boston’s Chinatown will be shown at an Asians in Action fundraiser, which will include Asian art, food, music, and a charity poker tournament, on May 12, at Tonic, 1316 Comm Ave, in Allston. A $20 suggested donation will go toward a community center in Chinatown. E-mail Anh Nguyen at anguyen_thi@yahoo.com for more information.

They've started eating away at the north wall. I guess they're saving the Washington Street façade for last.

It looks to me like there are still seats in the upper balcony.

A couple more demolition photos, from the web site the Chinatown newspaper Sampan:

photo 1

photo 2

A couple more demo photos from last Saturday. Scroll down to "Posted: Sat May 14, 2005".

They sure are taking their time. Demolition began four weeks ago, and they still haven't touched the Washington Street front facade.

An elegy for the Gaiety

Yet more demolition photos. I don't know anything about the person who posted these. He's continuing to add more.

And even more photos.

Ron: Wow, those postings on the ArchBoston forum are amazing. I hope they aren't in architectural preservation. tn

Death of a Theatre. I don't know who this person is, but he managed to get inside the Gaiety in February, just before demolition, and take these great photos.

(By the way, I found this via Technorati, which searches only blogs and therefore finds a lot of stuff that Google misses.)

Ron: thanks for this cool link and also the search engine. Interesting the view of the balcony seats with the wire hat racks underneath--from an age when most men wore hats, even those in the second blacony. Also interesting: the scaffolding that might have been there for repairs and the details of the muses (I think that's the term) which decorated the interior. Tom

Ron, do you know if any of that great decorative plasterwork, in particular those beautiful female faces, were salvaged prior to the Gayety being torn down? What a waste if they were just destroyed with the rest of the theatre.

Sorry, I really don't know anything about this.

Ah, where's Robert Redford and his plan, and money...to preserve or build theatres, when you need him...sounds like the Gaiety might have been right up his alley...

Robert Redford had planned to build a Sundance Cinema on Lansdowne Street across from Fenway Park, on the site of a parking garage. That plan died in 1999 or 2000 along with the entire Sundance Cinema scheme, a victim of General Cinema's bankruptcy.

More than a bit ironic that posted on the front of the building was a sign reading 'This is not a theater' when anyone walking around the corner onto LaGrange Street could clearly see that it was a theater which was being demolished.

I talked to a construction worker this morning. He said that demolition will continue for at least another month. It's a slow process because they need to protect adjoining buildings from damage. The Washington Street front will likely be the last wall to go.

He also said that they were making some effort to save the plaster faces, but that they were seriously deteriorated. They made "rubber casts" of the faces and are storing them in a warehouse. It sounds like the developer wants to use either the originals or reproductions as part of the decor in the new residential tower.

Across the street, workers are fixing up 20-22 La Grange Street, next to Centerfolds. Presumably they are preparing it to become the new site of the Glass Slipper, so that the current Glass Slipper building at 15 La Grange can also be demolished.

Homage to the Gaiety, a poem from today's issue of the Chinatown newspaper Sampan.

According to Donald C. King's new book The Theatres of Boston: A Stage and Screen History, E.M. Loew changed the Gayety's name to Victory in September 1946, then to Publix in 1949.

Demolition continues to proceed slowly. The front wall on Washington Street is heavily scaffolded but still standing.

Gaiety, R.I.P. Let's get on with life. Old building, served purpose. Property tax revenue from development.

The sad thing is, that due to pending lawsuits, we won't even get the benefit of big tax revenue because it is likely that it will be years before anything is built there. So not only is the theater lost, but the thing it was demolished for might never be built!

Demolition is either at a crawl or a total standstill. There's nothing left of the interior, but they have yet to even start removing the front (Washington Street) wall.

Since this is a forum for the appreciation and preservation of theaters, the more we study and understand the demise of the Publix, the better equipped we are to save theaters in the future. The irony is that that the theater might well have been saved in conjunction with new development that would generate tax revenue. The sad fact is that this was a building in a district with historic and architectural significance, and one which could have could have lived on, contributing to the cultural life of Boston. You can plop a condominium tower just about anywhere.

A friend who works in downtown Boston told me he spotted on Wednesday afternoon an environmental services van within the LaGrange Street side of the demolition site, a sighting which might provide, in some terms, a possible reason for the halt/crawl in the work being done. He also mentioned that some demo work has been done on the northwest corner Washington Street portion of the building, a portion which, as the photo accompanying that misbegotten article from today's Boston Herald discussed on the Modern Theatre page on this site, captured, is shrouded in protective netting.

Has the wrecking ball finished its work on the Publix?

No. The Washington Street façade has been reduced to two stories, and you can see blue sky through the front windows, but demolition is still not finished. Much of the north wall is also still standing, some of it even taller than two stories.

Almost as nice as The Pilgrim!

People on the ArchBoston.com forum (see this thread and this one) say that the Gaiety's last wall was finally demolished over the last few days. I haven't had a chance to take my own look yet.

Ron: thanks for the update. The articles on collusion in the Gaiety's demise make it clear why the theater never had a chance. What a sorry tale.

This week's Boston Phoenix has a long article about the Glass Slipper, the neighboring strip club that had a prominent role in the Gaiety Theatre saga.

While I could be wrong, this article on the Glass Slipper seems to run longer than anything the Phoenix did on the Gaiety/Publix.

No, this article on the Gaiety, from a year ago, was even longer than the Glass Slipper article.

Ron: Exellent article. Thanks!! I'm glad to be proven wrong. t

My grandparents had weekly season tickets to the Gaiety when it first opened. Charlie Waldron was associated with the theatre in its first days. It was part of the Columbia Wheel (circuit). Columbia went out of business gradually from 1928 to 1932, so the large ads for the Columbia shows painted on the Publix and which were in good condition right into the 1980s and still readable in the 1990s are a tribute to the quality of the paint used ! I went to the Publix often in the late 1950s and 1960s. They did not advertise in the newspapers at that time. It was stictly a walk-in audience. They opened at 830AM, a half-hour earlier than the other downtown houses. I believe the admission was 35 or 40 cents in the morning circa 1960.There were 2 recent films and shorts. They got good houses, consisting of students between classes, highschool students skipping school, people on business goofing off, etc. The manager was a no-nonsense woman who patrolled the aisles with a big flashlight as a club. I never saw any trouble in there. The balcony was never open in the mornings. I stopped going after 1968 or so. The house showed "action" movies in the 1970s, but no XXX. It closed for good in the spring of 1983, around April.

There is an ad for the New Gayety Theatre in the Boston Post for Wednesday, Feb. 25, 1931 stating that the theatre would reopen on Sat. Feb. 28th. This may have been after E.M. Loew took it over. The ad states that there will be Vaudeville and Talking Pictures, continuous from 9 AM, with new shows on Sunday, Monday and Thursday. Admission: 15 cents and 25 cents.

This 1895 map shows part of downtown Boston. Near the top left of the map, look at the left side of Washington Street, halfway between Boylston and Lagrange streets. You will see the "LYCEUM THEATRE", which I presume was torn down in order to build the Gaiety.

This 1928 map shows at least 11 downtown Boston theatres. West is at the top of this map.

The GAIETY THEATRE is on the west side of Washington Street, between Boylston and Lagrange streets. If you look carefully, you'll see that it had a very narrow entrance onto Washington Street, flanked by two storefronts that took up most of the street frontage.

It's interesting: the 1928 map shows the outline of the long, narrow, lobby/corridor that led past the flanking retail stores to the auditorium. Also interesting: the configuration of the tracks in the Park Street station.

Yes, the Lyceum Theatre which is on the 1895 map was torn down for the construction of the Gaiety. Note that the Lyceum was smaller and did not extend as far back as the Gaiety did. I believe that the Lyceum presented burlesque and minstrel troupes and vaudeville. It opened in 1892. There were retail stores on either side of the entrance for the Gaiety/Publix. The boxoffice was on the left side, just in from the street. Then you walked uphill to the foyer doors where the ticket-taker was stationed. As for the tracks in the Park Street Station, that's another hobby altogether! There is a library in the State Transp. Building (Stuart and Charles streets); or you can contact the Boston Street Railway Assoc., an enthusiast group who have published all sorts of interesting books and maps.

The MGM Theatre Photograph and Report form for the Publix has an exterior photo dated May 1941. The theatre was named "Gayety" then. Movies posted on the fancy, glittering multi-bulbed marquee are Alice Faye and Betty Grable in "Tin Pan Alley", plus "The Lone Wolf Keeps a Date". Above the marquee is a sign which reads "All Seats 10 cents & 15 cents". Some time between the taking of the photo and the completion of the report, the theatre switched to a live Burlesque show policy. I don't know if they also showed films (probably). The Report states that the theatre is on Burlesque; that it does not show MGM product; that it's in Poor condition; and has 570 seats on the main floor and 400 balcony seats; total: 970 seats (not including the 2nd balcony and the boxes.)

The entire city block that contained the Gaiety/Publix has now been demolished. The last two buildings to go were the Glass Slipper on Lagrange Street, and a two-story retail building just south of the theatre on Washington Street, whose most recent tenant was a Vietnamese gift shop.

The Glass Slipper has moved across Lagrange Street, to a building immediately abutting Boston's other strip club, Centerfolds.

An article (with site photo) in the Business section of today's Boton Herald points out that it is now 2 years since demolition began on the Gaiety/Publix Theatre and there is nothing on the site but an empty gravel lot.

Ron S.--Thanks for the Herald reference. Such an irony that the Glass Slipper lives on, evidently with an assist from city hall. The demolition of an important theater in a historic district for theaters defies logic. The loss of the Publix/Gaiety still hurts. This is why no demilition ever should take place until a project absolutely, positively is ready to roll.

The documentary Preserve Me a Seat, chronicling efforts to save the Gayety (as well as the Indian Hills in Omaha, DuPage in Lombard, IL, and Villa in Salt Lake City) will be shown on Friday, September 14 at the Portage Theater in Chicago, IL as part of the "Preserving Palaces" documentary film festival, along with Uptown: Portrait of a Palace. The festival continues Saturday, September 15 with The Wizard of Austin Boulevard, Loew's Paradise Theatre, and Memoirs of a Movie Palace. A theatre preservation discussion panel will follow the films on Saturday night. For complete information, visit www.portagetheater.org.

Thanks for posting the screening of this documentary. Will it be available on DVD or shown on PBS?

It is available on DVD at apartment101films.com. The panel discussion at the Portage will be filmed for inclusion on a 2-disc special edition DVD release in the future.

Correction to the above: the panel was not filmed.

Here is a July 2005 op-ed about the issues concerning the theater's demolition:
http://tinyurl.com/2zwn3t

The Christmas week attraction at the Gayety in Dec. 1921 was the revue "Maids of America" with Bobby Barry on stage. Performances at 210PM and 810PM. On Sat. Dec. 31st, New Years Eve, there were 3 shows at 2PM, 7PM and 930PM.

I went by the site of the Publix today and there is still nothing there but a brick-strewn empty lot. The Billboard trade paper of Sept 8, 1906 mentions the Lyceum Theater which was located on this lot and was demolished to make way for the Gayety/Publix. There is a report of the new Fall season in Boston theaters and it says that the Lyceum opened for the season the previous Monday with Bob Manchester's Vanity Fair Company. There were a variety of vaudeville acts including "The Wang Doodle Four". A man named Bacheller was the manager, and the report says that there have been "big houses" .

Just on a historical note, this interesting 1928 map (link pasted below) reveals that a nearby parking lot on Lagrange Street (that lot has been there forever, I can remember it even circa 1976) was once the location of a police station; it certainly would have come in handy during the Combat Zone era! Which leads me to wonder: Can you imagine the kind of nightly festivities that would have taken place in the huge vacant Gaiety demolition site, back in the Zone's heyday? The mind fairly boggles. Woo-hoo!!!

http://www.communityheritagemaps.com/boston1928/restored/boston11.jpg

The main webite for other similar maps is:http://www.communityheritagemaps.com/boston1928/

Here is a 1971 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/cfhpoq

1968 Night Photo

The city of Boston had some big theatres.Growing up in near by Waltham Mass i can remember taking the T into boston on Saturdays with buddies from school to go to the movies.Those old theatres where so big and so nice.The list is to long to name them all.But i loved getting up Saturday and meeting my buddies and taking the subway in town.I left Waltham Mass and moved to Florida and i came back to live here and i took my frist trip down town Boston.I could not beleave my eyes most of the Theatres are gone.I waish sometimes i never went back to see the places i spent alot of my young life.I guess things change and when you go back.Its not the same.I did go to the Publix theatre many times when i was young.I loved it so big and just a great place to watch a movie.Atleast we can still remember in our mines that we did enjoy The publix and all the theatres that where in the city of Boston Mass.

Photographs taken inside the Gaiety Theater (Publix Theatre) just before and during demolition:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/50992596@N00/sets/72157623531283261/with/4446901857/

please contact me if you would like more information:

nvargelis [at] yahoo . fr

if you have problems with the link, do a search for my user profile "nvargelis" on flickr.com and go to the set "Gaiety Theater"

I moved to Boston in 1967 and lived there til I went off to college in 1972. Not knowing anything about "the combat zone" or what was or wasn't a good section of town or a bad one, I thought nothing of going to the Publix or the Center theatres on a regular basis - 50 or 75 cents admission and it was always a decent double feature. After a couple of years of doing this , I came home one night and my parents who knew where I had been were very upset, they had heard that the Publix was arun down filthy movie theatre with a "bad element". I told them that it was a bit run down but they had double features and the price was right. They then forbade me to go there again - not explainging why. Of course the next time they had a double feature that I wanted to see I went, but now that they had told me it had a bad element, that was all that I could see - the audience was kind of grungy and the seats were broken and the restrooms had an element of danger. I didn't feel safe. My rose colored glasses were off. `and while the Center was a rather utilitarian theatre, the Publix and the Paramount were clearly once very classy places fallen on hard times.

I went to the Publix many times and never felt any danger in there. But I stopped going around 1968 and am not familiar with it after that. It wasn't that grungy then. There were fairly large audiences, mostly all male. I never went there at night; always during the day. There were 2 feature films, fairly recent, plus shorts. And the price was well under $1. I don't think that the area was called the "Combat Zone" until the 1970s when Billinuk was a patron.