Gaiety Burlesk

I think this is still open.

You are correct Robert.

I have a current guide which states the Gaiety Theatre still operates as New York's oldest gay burlesque. The status should now read; Open, Function; Live Performance space.

Is that the joint upstairs of the last remaining Howard Johnson's? What are they doing up there? I was eating in Howard Johnson's and the chandeliers were swaying and rattling - I was worried the ceiling was going to come down into my Fisherman's Platter...

closed this week

Alas another victim of the clean up and theme park-isation of new york, all the character has been drained from this once wonderful city.
No great loss architecturally, it was a sweaty room with little decoration, a screen was lowered and clips of porn films were shown, then the lights would go up, the screen would wobble up into the ceiling and a bored voice would announce "and now the delicious and tallented *whoever*" and some random guy would bounce (or be pushed) on stage and do a striptease, he would then disappear and there would be more film, then the same thing only this time the poor dancer would be naked and aroused and gather up dollar bills from along the catwalk, then the film would resume...
you could also meet the dancers in the lobby next to the grubby vending machines.
The Gaiety acheived its pinnacle of glamour when Madonna filmed her EROTICA pop video there and a photo session for her SEX book.
The decor could only be described as greasy mid-western cafe/lap dance bar, but what the place had by the bucket was atmosphere and an undercurrent of danger, of being mugged, robbed or simply sitting in something unpleasant.
So there we have it, a genuine piece of NY history, not neccessarily a cinema treasure but deserving of listing and recording.

Howard Johnson's will soon be joined The Gaiety as a memory only. The whole building is coming down and a retail box store will replace the Howard Johnsons/The Gaeity. There was a piece about this in this weekend's Times.

Slowly, but surely, the "old" Times Square is being erased. Soon, there will be nothing left of the Times Square I knew when I moved to NYC in '82.

the last ho jo to go

Surprisingly enough, the Times piece hardbop alludes to makes no mention of the building's imminent demolition. Jeff Sutton, the individual whose group, Wharton Acquisitions, recently bought the property, is quoted as saying that the closing of the Gaiety Burlesk "has nothing to do with me". Uh, Mr. Sutton, maybe we're grasping at straws here and maybe you had nothing to do with the exact day the Gaiety's ownership chose to close their establishment's doors for business, but I kinda think that if you're planning on redeveloping the land the Gaiety currently stands on, the closing DOES have something to do with you.

According to this web site - http://hojoland.homestead.com/locations.html - there are nine Howard Johnson's restaurants still in operation, including the soon-to-close Times Square location (the last HoJo's in NYC); one in Springfield, Vermont, which is shutting its doors for business this upcoming May 15th; and another in Millington, Maryland, which is currently up for auction on eBay. The remaining six - including one seasonal location in Asbury Park, NJ - are at least holding on... for now.

To the right of the Howard Johnson in Times Square, is a little stairway leading upstairs to a theatre called the Duffy Theatre. They were running a play titled "Perfect Crime" until last weekend. I understand they're moving to another Broadway address and a new 2nd floor theatre.

'Perfect Crime' has the distinction of being the longest-running play either on- or off-Broadway. (The Duffy Theatre, the only off-Broadway venue in the Times Square area located on Broadway, also once served as a burlesk house.)

Times Square is getting to look like a suburban shopping mall - just stand at the corner of 48th and Broadway looking downtown, imagine no cars in the streets and a roof at the 4th floor level, throw in a couple of potted palm trees and you have "The Galleria of Manhattan" - how depressing....

That HoJo's in Times Square is really an anachronism. It is like time has stood still. I think I may have been in there once, back in the 1980s. I think I went in and bought something just so I could use the facilities.

There are still places like HoJo's that are spread throughout the city. For example, if you ever go to the American Museum of the Movie Image in Astoria and take the N or W trains when you get off the train walk east (on your way to AMMI) down 36th Avenue and on the north side of the street, around 35th/36th Streets on the corner, there is an old luncheonette with one of those signs with the coca cola logo that were big back in the 40's and 50's. You don't see those often. I saw someone filming the luncheonette as a movie backdrop. There is also a barroom right next door that looks like it hasn't changed since 1936. The people in there look like they've been sitting in there since 1936 as well.

at one time there were 3 howard johnsons in time square. on the 3 corners

Yup, one next to the old Loew's State and the other was at 49th (?) btwn 7th & Bway...

Auto Age and HoJo Land are good web sites for HoJo's fans.

I'm going to make one last trip to the HoJo's in Times Square before it closes; I usually tend to forget to do such things and can't stand the increasingly abhorrent tourist trap the area has become but this is too worthwhile to miss.

People on this site and other places (New York Times, architectural writings, etc.) make statements about how the old Times Square is being destroyed and this new Times Square is somehow not as good as the old, etc, etc., blah, blah, blah.

I am sure that if you were to go back 50, 60, 70 or so years ago and more, you would find the same arguements made about Times Square and other areas of NYC (or any metropolitan area).

I know this is going to sound simplistic but areas change and keep changing IF they are in demand and considered valuable. Sure, to some, what's happening in Times Square may seem poor. But the area 20 years ago was in need of some kind of revitalization. Putting up office towers and inviting in tourism and chain stores may not seem to many to be the way to go. But it has worked to a degree.

Last week, I had to go down to 30th Street between 7th & 8th Avenues in Manhattan for a business meeting (a construction firm...). Anyway, afterwards, as I was leaving the office, I walked down the street and noticed how almost all the stores on this particular block were NOT commercial establishments but Mom & Pop like stores. In particular, there was a hobby shop there that was decent and the kind of store that used to be all over the city. I wondered how long a place like this was going to be around with the city changing so much.

So you see, I'm not saying I'm 100% in favor or in love with all the changes but this is what cities go through when they are considered viable. All this change means that NYC, despite all it's ups and downs is still a treasured city and commodity.

70 years from now when the demolition of the Morgan Stanley building is in the headlines because preservationists want it declared a landmark, people will say then what we're saying now: the old Times Square is being destroyed. It's all relative.

Several good points, CConnolly. I'm (obviously) not a big fan of the current Times Square, but compared to what I remember it being 10 years ago (and what I've read it described as 20 years ago) it is preferable; it's just not a part of the city designed to cater by-and-large to the average New Yorker... and, for what it is, that's O.K. - it's just not a place for me...

The worst thing that I do see in Manhattan that seems impossible to stop is the elimination of anything "organic", meaning "stuff" that arises from the people who choose to live in a neighborhood and either attract or create their own "thing". I know this sound ambiguous but what I mean is stores, restaurants, bars, galleries that are not corporate sponsered or ridiculously upscale. These 30 story condos they're building do not create a neighborhood. In fact, they've just completed tearing down a historic (albeit NOT landmarked) building across from the Crown Plaza Hotel. And what's going up in it's place? A condo building.

I liked a place I saw on the way out of the city, called the Lenox Lounge near 125th St. I wonder what it looks like inside.
If I'd known the Ho Jo's was closing, I would have taken some pictures inside. I did take a view of the neon on the outside.
As for the Duffy Theatre, they announced what names it went by as a strip club, but I forgot. It would be interesting to see Times Square pictures side by side, 1972 vs 2005 just to get an idea of what's long gone. I remember 42nd St from a visit in 1972 and it's not so scary anymore.
What was the relationship of the Gaiety Burlesk to the upstairs Duffy Theatre, if any? Were they originally one place?

The Howard Johnson's on Times Square IS like walking into a time-warp, it still has the late 60s 'Lamplighter Grill' decor. It has clearly seen better days and getting rather shabby, but it reminds me of my youth. Plus they have regular food - not this stuff from some far-flung corner of the planet that has been artfully draped across a plate in quantities that wouldn't keep a bird alive. So I guess I'm more comfortable in the time-warp. But that's another story -

I can add some info on The Lenox Lounge since I've been there many times, both before its fairly recent renovation and after. It has recently been renovated -- it is part of a redevelopment/empowerment district/zone (thanks to powerful Congressmen Charles Rangel) -- and businesses in this zone are eligible for tax breaks/federal money. The Lenox Lounge owners took advantage of this and renovated three or four years ago. The front of the room is a bar and the back a restaurant/jazz club. The room is an art deco gem.

Prior to the renovation the back room where the jazz is played had a zebra motif. Spike Lee used the LL for some scenes in "Malcolm X" and it is not uncommon for movies to use the LL as a backdrop, but off hand I can't recall any of the other films. The bar has been there for decades; Billie Holiday gigged there.

Getting back to Times Square, I think I attended a play at the Duffy Theatre in the late eighties/early nineties. It was some sort of play that ran for years and years and years. It was, if memory recalls, a clever murder mystery.

My friend just told me Howard Johnsons is closing. I never understood why they did not play on the retro fever so popular a few years ago and renovate this place.

To hardbop,
the Duffy had a play called "Perfect Crime" which ran there for about 10 years, they said. It had it's last performance at the theatre last Monday night, and they're moving to another location.

For those who are interested (and because of the thread that developed on this page a couple of days ago), a nice tribute to the Times Square HoJo's: http://www.nynewsday.com/news/local/newyork/nyc-dugg0427,0,269116.column

That's it! "Perfect Crime!" I think it has been playing for longer than 10 years if it is still playing. I remember one of the actors in the play I saw was Daniel Van (or Von) Bargan.

The question I still have, is the Gaiety Burlesk upstairs from the Howard Johnson, and therefore a part of the "Duffy Theatre" which was upstairs nextdoor on Broadway?

no, it's a seperate building from the Duffy, not that big and only 2 stories (the billboards make it look taller). Howard Johnsons occupies the entire first floor, the Gaiety occupies the entire second floor.

The Duffy was upstairs to the left of the Howard Johnson sign, second floor, http://framinghammass.info/timesquare.jpg

I meant to the right of the Howard Johnson sign. You can see the narrow space which was the stairway, the theatre was to the left of the stairs above HoJos.

In the picture, before the 'Chicago' billboard was there there were boarded-up windows on both the Broadway side and the 46th St. side. They were painted with signs for the Gaiety, which I assumed was behind the former windows.

This was not really a theatre, but converted from existing retail/office space. And it should not be confused with the famous Gaiety Theatre at 1547 Broadway, which did house burlesque for a time during its long history (1908-82). That Gaiety is probably best rememebered as the Victoria cinema, but its final name was Embassy 5.

The people running it explained that it had been a strip club for years before they took it over in the early 90's.

As I stated in the opening description, it was operating as a gay male porn cinema, known as the Gaiety when I went there in 1976 (my first ever visit to the USA). Male strippers entertained between the movies, some were the 'stars' of the films being screened and there was a private space provided, where you could meet them after their act (for a price).

Part of the building that housed the now closed Howard Johnson's slated to be demolished it appears the days of this venue could now be numbered.

Maybe the Gaiety should move to the theatre showing Naked Boys Singing. They can alternate their shows when Naked Boys is dark.

Maybe the Gaiety should move to the theatre showing Naked Boys Singing. They can alternate their shows when Naked Boys is dark.

In the late 1990's, preservations & Mayor Guiliani agreed to preserve as much of the "old Times Square" & Broadway theatres as possible. Very funny that the Duffy Theatre & Gaiety Theatre are being demolished. Was the agreement that they made, some sort of joke??? Developers of today have no mind of their own, since they insist on mimicing the current trends (i.e. of Times Sq). A solution is to restore these old structures, & if they desire a modern structure to rise, make an addition to the existing site (i.e. the theatre that housed Howard Johnson's). There are times when the NY Landmarks Preservation Commission fails, as many NYers would agree.

P.S. The theatre itself was first built around 1907. Around 1910-1915, it housed "Cafe Madrid" at its base, which was most likely a cabaret venue.

The entrance to the Gaiety Burlesk is just off camera to the right, the auditorium side wall is above Howard Johnson's on this photograph:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdunn/46697455/in/set-1019342/

I'll have to guess that the Duffy Theatre space was a partitioned section from the Gaiety, as it was up the stairs on the right of the HoJos.

It really doesn't matter what they do with Times Square now. The old Times Sqaure died with the destruction of all the great movie palaces along with the Astor Hotel on Broadway. The theatre district is mainly on the side streets of Broadway with a few exceptions like the Broadway Theatre,Winter Garden Theatre,Marquis Theatre and the Palace Theatre. The plus side to the redevelopment was the restoration and renovation of the 40 legit theatres in the Times Square area. The clean up of Times Sqaure helped the legit theatre business which is thriving helped in large measure by the huge number of tourists who now come to a safer and cleaner Times Sqaure. Its to bad we lost so many historic buildings in the process.brucec

Does anyone know anything about 203 West 46th Street? This used to be the location of Harlequin Rehearsal Studios. I've searched everywhere online and can't find anything on it.

One of the staff once told me that the building had once been owned by a theatre family.

Thanks to 'woody' for this never to be seen again shot:
http://flickr.com/photos/woody1969/78605129/in/photostream/

There's an ad for the Gaiety if you scroll down the page in the image below from 1982:

Symposium Night! Post 3/8/82

I wonder what the subject of the symposium was? I love all the info they pack into the small ad.

"Live shows! 5 boys 5 times a day!"

I think it also says "Dynamite Marathon with 14 boys and a SPECIAL Duo Treat!" for Fridays and Saturdays.

"FREE snacks and refreshments!" Gadzooks!!!

The intro at the top says this was also known as the Kings Cinema. There was also a Kings XXX male house on the south side of 50th Street between B'way and 8th.

here are three pictures showing The Globe Theatre, The Gaiety and the strand. I'm a bit confused so maybe someone can give some info on these theatres. It seems that a publicity parade for 20 mule train was taking place. In any case these are rare pictures of Times Sq.
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n94/irajoel/globetheatre.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n94/irajoel/gaiety.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n94/irajoel/gaiety2.jpg

Two of the photos are from different years. In the first photo, the movie on the Globe marquee, "Suicide Legion" is dated by Imdb as 1937. Photos two and three show "20 Mule Team". That movie is dated at 1940 by Imdb. Interesting photos.

This is not the same Gaiety. The two images above show the marquee for the Gaiety on Broadway that later became known as the Victoria. However, the one photo of the Globe marquee does show the north west corner of 46th and B'way where the Orpheum Dance Palace occupied the upper floors. The Gaiety Burlesk - whose doors were down 46th Street and would have been out of frame to the left in this shot - did partially occupy the Orpheum space many years after the image was captured.

How rude of me... I did mean to say "thanks for the images" all the same, ij.

here are four more photos. The photos are indeed from 1940. The movie Suicide Legion was made in 1937, but since it was British Im sure it was delayed because of the war in Europe. The other film shown is Saturday's Children which is also 1940, and the parade is a publicity stunt for 20 mule team a 1940 flick.
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n94/irajoel/lookingdownbroadway.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n94/irajoel/panoftheglobestrandandgaiety.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n94/irajoel/globegaiety.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n94/irajoel/pasttheastor.jpg

1975 stage & screen show
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a13/ChmnofBrd/Movie%20Ads/1975porn.jpg

Hmmm. Robert... That ad at the bottom for the twin bill of "Deep Throat" and "Devil in Miss Jones" at the Avon 7 just threw my listing of the Frisco Theater for a loop! The Frisco opened just a few doors down the block from the Avon 7 and was purported to have played that double bill continuously for about a decade. I have an image of those titles playing there from 1973 plus newspaper clippings from 1980 and 1982 listing the films still on the Frisco's grind.

Can you hear me scratching my head?

it's not a double feature - "Miss Jones" is playing at the Avon 7, and "Throat" is at the Love Theatre on 42nd St. I don't remember that one but that's what the ad says....

Great observation Dave. Both theaters were not running the same movie at the same time. Relax Ed, your safe! LOL

Wait. Before I get to relaxing... doesn't the little circle in that ad say "Giant Double Feature"?

Ed, it was not rare for that double feature to have multiple runs. The theatres owned the prints so they kept bringing them back. It is precisely the lack of consistent distributors that caused Variety to stop tracking the films and the reason for recent claims that DEEP THROAT may have grossed as much as 600 million dollars making it among the highest grossing films of all time. No one can prove it.

THE BIRTH OF A NATION is the other title with a similar dilemma. Both films are politically incorrect so their true effect on history is being denied and erased.

Ha! Excellent point, Al. Thanks for pointing that out.

It was a double feature after all. Start worrying again Ed. :) Another possibility, maybe the Frisco was closed for a brief time in 1975 and the Avon 7 ran those movies instead.

Here's another image from Woody's flickr page dated 12/2005 that follows up the earlier shot of his (1990's?) that KenRoe posted somewhere above.

Here's that earlier shot again to avoid having to scroll up.

I was last in the Gaiety in 2004, with my friend who lives back in NJ. The place was about half full. Silence reigned supreme while the boys were stripping, but my friend and I made noise and stuffed bills in the strippers boots--all they had on!--and had a lot of fun. Some of the strippers were just ordinary guys getting a few easy bucks, but a couple of them were really hot and seemed to enjoy showing off. By then there was no j/o, just flaunting of erections, and no touching of the strippers, by order of the "bored" voice over the speakers. I was only ever inside twice, but I'll remember it as a part of gay history in NYC.

Yep this place has gone as has the Howard Johnsons on the same block. The Duffy Theatre that was on the same block but directly on Times Sq has gone also but is now housed in the "Snapple' centre a few blocks up Broadway.I remember you entered The Gaiety up steep stairs right next door to th Broadway theatre- The Lunt-Fontainne. It was an interesting place for New Yorkers and tourists. Very small and in its last years very dirty and run down.The 'performers' i saw certainly didnt have their mind on the job and seemed pretty aggressive. Where do guys go know dare i ask?

and here is shot of the whole block including the Howard Johnsons
http://www.flickr.com/photos/woody1969/73329909/
just prior to demolition