History of the Gaiety

[Guest kev]

I'm curious about the history of the Gaiety. How long has it been open? Who owns it? And who is Denise? Has it ever been raided by the cops? Why are so many dancers Canadian?

 

The last few times I was at the Gaiety was the late 80s. Back then, for $40 or so you could take your favorite dancer back to a private little room behind the rt side of the stage for a quick private session. The room was pretty scummy with cum all over the floor and walls but it was still a pretty hot scene--making out with your favorite dancer while listening to another hot dancer on the other side of the wall out on the stage. I assume this stuff went away when Rudy came in as Mayor, but does anyone know what happened to that little room and if its still used as I remember it. Anyone got any good stories to tell?

[ready4boi]

Buy the book when it comes out. lol. Seriously a book is being written about it. I know there was an off-off Broadway play that never made it to production that was based on an obvious Joey Stefano reference and how the place changed over the years. It was a little too controversial and got axed. Hmmm. The same thing happened with that short-lived gaiety site. Seems Denise doesn't want the public to know too much. I myself am afraid to open my mouth about what I know for fear who will shut me up. God I hope the feds aren't reading this. lol.

[johnnysneakers]

I am really interested in this bit of our history too. Two weeks ago I met a knowledgeable fellow patron who knew more about the place than I did. It is a piece of our history waiting to be told. I do hope someone will pull it all together for posterity. I am sure many of us could contribute something to it.

[Guest Raffy]

LAST EDITED ON Apr-12-01 AT 05:02PM (EST)[p]Can anyone just post when it opened? I moved to nyc in 1970 and i'm sure it wasn't around then, but i have no memory of it's beginning. I much preferred the Show Palace and baths and didn't spend much time at the Gaiety in my sweet and fleeting youth...

[johnnysneakers]

As an occasional visit to NYC, can you refresh my memory of the ShowPalace. Was it on 8th Ave, second floor? I remember going to some places but I am not sure of their names.

 

One of the reasons I ask is that Malik, the NYC Escort, told me he used to dance there. When did it close?

[Guest luha]

Does anyone know about that artist who draws images of the Gaiety ? He does it on a notebook, and with pen (?) or pencil (?)

I remember not too long ago he had a showing at a gallery in Soho.

[johnnysneakers]

I think it is high time that Denise gave out frequent flier points, just like everyother business these days. But imagine what we could call them?

[Guest luha]

Never mind frequent flier priveleges, how about a "revolving" pass wherein you can leave and come back without paying a new fee?

[Justice]

LOL. I second the motion.

[Guest kev]

Hey guys, these responses are great, but still no answers. Can anyone provide any facts. I would think at least NYObs would have some info.

[Guest eric922]

LAST EDITED ON Apr-13-01 AT 01:42AM (EST)[p]I remember going to the Gaiety in the late '60's/early '70's. The interior was pretty tacky even back then. Anyone go back further than this? I think the admission was $10.00 then.

[Guest ButchHarris]

Madonna and the Gaiety

 

FYI: About ten years ago pop singer Madonna [ http://www.MadonnaMusic.com ], along with photographer Steven Meisel [ http://meisel-style.com ], took pictures of Madonna with some of the dancers in the Gaiety for the now-out-of-print photobook "Sex."

 

Butch Harris, Publisher

WEBs and VIDs Online!

Gay Erotica's Best Click! ®

Web: http://www.ManNet.com

[NY Observer]

NYO is a Gaiety rookie, Kev. I've only been going a little over 2 years at this point. I don't have the historical perspective that many of the regulars do. I'm much stronger on recent history

[liubit]

I have very fond memories of Show Palace, the best being having Joey Stefano do a very prolonged and erotic "table dance" for me, with plenty of touching and stroking, all in public (at the time, I had no idea what a "private" was..). Yes, it was on Eighth Avenue, between 42 and 43, on a second floor. I used to go there when I first came out in the early 1990's. It fell prey to Giuliani's "Disneyfication" of 42 Street and Times Square. It must have closed around 1994. The building has been demolished ever since...The amount of cum those construction workers must have found in the ruins should have been enough to fill several buckets :9

[+ deej]

Ah, the Show Palace. I remember it well. It used to be a regular stop on my way to Port Authority Bus Terminal for the commute to New Jersey. Just mention of the place gets my juices flowing. I remember absolutely wonderful lap dances from headliners like Matt Gunther, Karl Thomas, Ted Matthews, etc.

 

I even managed to bag a few private shows with headliners over the years. Most memorable was the lovely Christian Fox (RIP). He'd made a few porn movies at the time but none had been released yet. Claimed to be str8, but shove a big dick up his ass and he went wild.

 

I remember wanting to stop in to see a specific headliner (don't remember who) and the next day the place was closed. Will never forget the feeling of abandonment standing on the sidewalk looking at the locked door. Fortunately, one of the regular boys was working the sidewalk and he was able to ease my suffering. ;-)

[Guest luha]

During the mid 80s, i think the entrance might have been even less than $10.00 - I remember going to the city with just that and having leftover money for transportation.

[Guest MrB]

>Never mind frequent flier priveleges, how

>about a "revolving" pass wherein

>you can leave and come

>back without paying a new

>fee?

 

 

 

Actually, she lets you leave and come back now if you tell her you're just going out for a smoke... that's something already. My God, did I just speak in her defence?

 

 

MrB

[johnnysneakers]

I am told there were rooms in the back of the theatre, where the seats are on risers now, just in front of the projection booth. There was a lot of action in these rooms, between clients I am told. This must be more than 20 years ago before I started going there in the late 70s.

 

In the 80s, it was possible to "meet" a dancer behind the stage in a small room to the right of the stage. It was long and narrow, and often several dancers would be "entertaining" patrons there. One entered via the locker/preparation room which was a real treat to see the guys preparing themselves for the show.

 

Also some 20-30 years ago, the Gaiety was advertised regularly in the Village Voice, with an ad that gave you a couple of bucks off admission, and that advertised the lounge where "boy meets boy". Was all very hot and enticing.

[Bilbo]

How did the pipeline get started to bring down all of those handsome Canadians y'all keep telling me about?

[Guest bluboy]

They also had these really sleazy back rooms or side room next to the stage..this was when they were on 8th Ave..and the very sleezy stuff that went on back there. At that time I was a young stupid but willing participant where I would think nothing of blowing 12-15 guys. Somehow I escaped diseases that given my behaviour I probably would have deserved...I have no idea how. There was a particulary buff blond dancer who I had had many sessions with. He today is still the most beautiful man I have ever seen. Do not know whatever became of him but for $60 bucks I would service him and he would plow me (unprotected- ofcourse). Many of the patrons were also good looking..a better looking crowd overall than the Gaeity today which is filled with the very geriatric crowd. I loved the Gaeity then and would have kept on going which is despite my naked hatred of the mayor I am a little grateful for his locking some of these places down..I did not have the discipline myself at that age...so Rudy may have saved my life. Enough controversy in this post to spark off a storm. Blu