Gaiety Theatre

310 Main Street,
Danville, VA 24541

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Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on April 21, 2011 at 3:54 am

Trade Journal The Moving Picture World published the following item in its issue of October 3, 1908:

“Danville, Va.â€"The Gaiety Theater, owned and managed by Mrs. E. R. Shepherd, of Richmond, Va., opened its doors to the public on September 14th, played to standing room the first night and has been turning away business ever since. The building is handsomely fitted up, the decorations being most artistic and restful. The chairs are all of the Hardesty automatic folding and revolving type and the seating capacity 300. The house is devoted exclusively to moving and talking pictures. Jas. F. Jackson, recently of Music Hall, Webster, Mass., has been secured as electrician and operator. He is a licensed operator, a member of F. A. T. S. E., No. 144, Boston, Mass., and he is making some of the crank-turners here sit up and take notice.”
The reference to “talking pictures” must have meant that the house was equipped for the Gaumont Chronophone system, or one of the other early sound systems available in 1908. This page from Silent Era has an extensive list of early sound films.

jthack132
jthack132 on March 8, 2005 at 3:57 pm

The North Theatre is now open. The next show is OUR TOWN, presented by the Galielo Theatre Guild. The show time is 7 pm on March 11th and 12th.

ghamilton
ghamilton on March 7, 2005 at 4:28 pm

What’s the story on the theater acroos the river and up a block that contained a florist shop for many years?

deleted user
[Deleted] on February 3, 2005 at 6:50 am

I would recommend that you search the local newspaper archives for advertisements for this theatre. Since you believe this theatre was operating in 1908 I would suggest that you start with that year.

jthack132
jthack132 on February 3, 2005 at 4:34 am

Business Directories written by the City of Danville only mention the Gaiety Theatre once and that was in 1908. I have searched the blueprint archives at City Hall and have not come across any records of the theatre. Those blueprints and records span from 1833 to 1980. According to the City of Danville, the City was not required to keep copies of the building blueprints, so it is possible they were just thrown away.