Gayety Theatre
405 E. Baltimore Street,
Baltimore,
MD
21202
No one has favorited this theater yet
They Gayety Theatre opened February 5, 1906 as a burlesque theatre, although movies were featured in later years, when during the 1960’s it screened ‘X’ rated adult films. Sadly, a fire on December 21, 1969, destroyed much of the theatre, leaving only the lobby and facade totally intact.
Today, the lobby of the theatre is an adult video and book store. The marquee is still in place and the front facade is still intact and has been renovated. I believe that I read some where that the theatre is the Hustler Club but won’t swear to it. When I am released to travel again I am planning a trip to the Annapolis/Baltimore area and will check the theatre out.
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater
Recent comments (view all 9 comments)
Photo and information here:
http://tinyurl.com/co99s2
This is the Gayety Theater on January 25, 1906.
I went by it in the 1950s but never went into it. It was a typical Burley theater of that period. Very popular with sailors ! The entrance was brightly lit and rather garish. The nearby area was honky-tonk. I’m fairly certain that it showed movies in between stage shows at that time.
Here is an article from 2000 about the red light district where the Gayety was located:
http://tinyurl.com/djognl
Here is a photo circa 1935:
http://tinyurl.com/oltnj4
Gayety Theatre from the Jack Coursey collection.
View link
From LIFE Photo Archives, 1944; is that the Baltimore Gayety in the far background?
View link
From the photo one of the two theatres was more than likely the Gayety, the Gayety was at 405 E. Baltimore and the Embassy was at 415 E. Baltimore and it looks like there are two theatres in the photo.
Chuck….Your intro is right on the money. One of Larry Flynt’s Hustler Club‎s is located in this building.