The Gayety Theater and Soda Shop, 9205 South Commercial Avenue, Chicago.
The Gayety Theatre opened in 1908 as a vaudeville and a one screen motion picture theatre with 823 seats. The Gayety Theatre was located in Chicago's South neighborhood’s main retail district.
Next door to the theatre was the equally-popular Gayety Soda Shop.
The theatre was remodelled in 1937 to the plans of Chicago based architect Lawrence Monberg of architectural firm Monberg & Wagner.
In 1957, the Gayety Theatre switched from first-run features to Spanish-language films, reflecting the change in the populace of the neighborhood from heavily Eastern European to mainly Latino. It was from then on called the Teatro Gayety. A fire gutted the Teatro Gayety in May of 1982, and the theatre was demolished not long after, replaced by a restaurant.
Such a treat for us when our parents would take us to Gayety's for probably the best hot fudge sundaes ever created. My favorite part of the sundae was the whipped cream, nuts and cherry on top!
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Next door to the theatre was the equally-popular Gayety Soda Shop.
The theatre was remodelled in 1937 to the plans of Chicago based architect Lawrence Monberg of architectural firm Monberg & Wagner.
In 1957, the Gayety Theatre switched from first-run features to Spanish-language films, reflecting the change in the populace of the neighborhood from heavily Eastern European to mainly Latino. It was from then on called the Teatro Gayety.
Such a treat for us when our parents would take us to Gayety's for probably the best hot fudge sundaes ever created. My favorite part of the sundae was the whipped cream, nuts and cherry on top!
ReplyDeleteOh how I remember those sundaes and the hot fudge served in its own little glass cup with a pouring spout!
ReplyDelete