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.

 

Looking south-east on Milwaukee Avenue from Chicago Avenue, Chicago. 1910

Looking south-east on Milwaukee Avenue from Chicago Avenue, Chicago. 1910

The Chicago Bread Riot of 1872.

The Bread Riot began in the winter of 1872 due to the worst depression of the 19th century. Thousands of people marched on the offices of the Chicago Relief and Aid Society on LaSalle Street, demanding access to the money donated by people of the United States and other countries after the Great Chicago Fire.

A lot of people who came out to protest for food assistance were herded into the LaSalle Street tunnel and beaten by police.

The LaSalle Street Tunnel was Chicago’s second tunnel under the Chicago River completed on July 4, 1871, dating this colorized photograph as being taken before the Great Chicago Fire occurred the night of October 8, 1871. The entrance on the north side of the Chicago River was Michigan Street (Hubbard Street today) and Randolph Street on the south side of the river. 

Compiled by Dr. Neil Gale, Ph.D.