Gaiety history

[Snowboy2488]

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[ValleyDwellerNorth]

Here are some helpful links on the subject. Some of this may repeat the great info you already found. Enjoy. Some of these sites quickly mention the G. Others do go into a brief history.

 

VDN

http://www.libidomag.com/nakedbrunch/archive/gayvue05.html

http://www.sallys-hideaway.com/A_History.html

http://www.princesssuperstar.com/press/features/janesexdiary.shtml

http://www.randomhouse.com/boldtype/0302/behrman/excerpt.html

http://inthegutter.blogspot.com/2004_06_01_inthegutter_archive.html

http://newyork.citysearch.com/review/7189036/editorial

http://www.unzipped.net/features/0209/U0209_fleshdance.asp

http://www.villagevoice.com/bestof/2001/detail.php?id=2773

[athlguy1]

I started onto the Times Square Burlesque scene sometime in the mid to late ‘80s when I moved closer to NYC. At the time I recall several theaters within the general vicinity that sported different male talent and atmosphere. Some of my memories:

 

The Gaiety – The format of the show, and the theater have not changed since the mid ‘80s. Each dancer would do their first set as a strip act, followed by the nude set. The performers used to hang around in the theater during the shows and offer a backstage show. The backstage shows were generally anywhere from $40-$60 for what mostly was body worship and masturbation. If you wanted something more it could be negotiated but also for a higher price. After several performers offered a backstage pass to some undercover talent, the backstage shows ceased and it moved entirely to the off-site private shows which exist today. They started at $125 generally and were much like what you can have today. During my early years there the talent was mostly American, sometimes imports from Florida or California, but quite a bit of local talent. My favorite was Vito – a shorter Italian performer with a nice tight body and great personality (side note: anyone remember him or know what happened to him let me know!!). Also, at the cusp of his decline, you could have a private backstage with Joey Stefano – former gay porn performer. The Gaiety was always the place to find the more upscale performers.

 

Show Palace –Closer to Times Square on Eighth Avenue, was the Show Palace, across the street from the Show World. You had to climb up to the second floor, pay $8 cover at the ticket booth. Originally they would offer a weekly headliners who did a few shows a day. First saw the likes of Gino Colbert (during his performer days), Lon Flex, Domino, and Jim Bently among others perform there. The headliner shows were for about 20 minutes and consisted of stripping followed by a passing through the audience for a quick feel and tips. The regular shows were also about 20 minutes long, mostly by latinos or blacks, a quick strip and then masturbation show, they would come to stage with an ample supply of baby oil to help during their show. Sometimes there were 2 guys at once. They would all come back for a finale and then pass thru the audience for tips and a quick feel. In between shows the performers would sit on bar stools outside of a buddy booth and you could hire them for a buddy booth show (you on one side of the plexiglass and the performer of choice on the other, with a phone/intercom to chat with). There were 3 theaters two or which showed porn, the main one was where the live shows were. The stage was about 8 feet square, 2 feet off the ground mirrors on one wall and seats on the other 3 sides. One memory that sticks with me about this place (well several actually) was that the music was so loud in the main theater you had to be careful where you sat or your eardrums would get blown out. Another weird memory, there were also security cameras in the main theater monitored by the gentleman in the ticket booth, you would occasionally have the music interrupted and the voice from the ticket booth would prod the performer to return to the stage (when he was spending too much time getting tips from the audience) or ask them to move the show along and strip a little faster. The Show Palace eventually succumbed to NYC’s eminent domain and the building was raised in the interest of progress. I think it now houses a Mexican Chain restaurant on the first floor and businesses or apartments on the upper floors.

 

Eros – A former broadway theater turned gay burlesque show on eight avenue by the Milford Plaza hotel. The building still exists but it has been turned into an upscale times square restaurant for the theater crowd…if they only knew what took place there I wonder how they would feel about their meals. This place was set up more of a classic theater, with seats on either side of an aisle sloping down towards a stage…after all it was originally a broadway theater. The stage was quite elevated, and when the shows were not going on they showed gay porn films. Again, mostly latino and black performers, not necessarily the best bodies, but an occasional hot one. The performers ranged from decent to street talent with drug addictions. Each performer would come onto the stage for about a 5 minute strip while music blared and a color wheel lit up the stage for them as well as Christmas lights hanging on the stage and a few foot lights at the front of the stage. The performers would strip, work themselves hard if they could and wave their goods at the audience from the edge of the stage. After about 5 or 6 performers they would all return to the stage for the finale, usually in nothing but shorts and sneakers and would pull down the shorts for the audience to have one final look at the goods. Once the finale was over the guys would leave the stage and make their way up the aisle collecting tips and offering a private show in the downstairs dressing rooms. There were 2 dressing rooms downstairs, which the performers paid a cover for the week for. For about $40 you could get a private show with the performer of choice in one of the dressing rooms. The rooms were in the basement, and you often had to wait your turn in the hall with your chosen performer until the previous client and performer were done. Generally waiting was ok, because you got some good time admiring your performer both visually and physically. The private shows were probably a bit more interactive than what you get today at the Gaiety or even the backstage shows of the past at the Gaiety. If you had an interest in more than one performer a 3-way could easily be arranged for an additional price. The performers would return to the back of the theater and wait to see if anyone lese wanted a private show, when everyone seemed taken care of they would retreat to the dressing rooms or leave until the next performance. Also, if you found someone in the audience who you liked, you could retreat to the hall downstairs or the bathroom for a little more privacy and intimacy. Since most of these performers were local times square talent, offsite privates were rare unless you had a hotel room or place to go. My most vivid memory (and again there are several) of this place was how filthy (maybe seedy is a better word) it was, yet I guess for some that added to the ambiance. Like the Show Palace the Eros Theater fell victim to the Disneyafication of times square and is a multi-story restaurant for the theater crowd.

 

There were other places which I’m sure others will recall, but I hope this gives you a glimpse of the past.

[athlguy1]

A funny thought, but do you know how they do tours of the stars homes or historical places? Well wouldn't it be interesting if one of the tour bus companies did a "Histrical Tour of NYC's former Sex Attractions"? Both gay and straight...they could hit places like 42nd Street between 7th & 8th Avenues, Christopher Street, the Adonis, etc. For some a walk down memory lane, and others a glimpse at the vestiges of times gone bye. I'd take the tour!

[Arik]

I really found this post quite fascinating so I thought I would share some of my history with the G.

 

The first time I saw the Gaiety, I was in 8th grade. I was in Catholic school and our class field trip was to see Beatlemania somewhere around 1978-79. We were parked on some street in Times Square when one of the wits in the class pointed out the “Gay-ety” sign to one of my more feminine male classmates.

 

Ten years later, a man I call my fairy godfather, dragged me through Times Square to the Show Palace and to the Gaiety in order to “further my Gay education” (I had just come out). Times Square was still rather dicey at that time. At the G I was told by my fairy godfather not to look at anyone or talk to anyone and under NO circumstances was I to go into the lounge area. I was the youngest person in the theater until the dancers came out which made me rather popular with a few of them. One hot blonde jock stuck his sweaty head in my face and I didn’t quite know what to do so I gave him a peck on the cheek and a pat on the head (have times changed, lol). The dancers were quite hot including a spiky blonde and a dark haired guy in a jock strap who moved and tried to get hard on stage and shrugged off the fact he could not. Years later I found out these two were Tony Davis (who seemed to be in every gay porno from 1989-1992) and Joey Stephano. There was sex going on in the darkened back of the auditorium (I think), one old man was obviously and desperately tossing his todger with no effect and I did see a few of the patrons dive face first in the laps of the dancers perched on the edge of the stage. Quite the education.

 

About 6 years ago, I was at the G when a presidential motorcade through Times Square (it was Clinton, possibly heading to 8th Avenue to buy porn or a hooker) halted traffic and the police would not let anyone leave any of the buildings, including the G, for well over and hour and a half. I was stuck inside when Denise swung open the doors on the right side of the auditorium to watch the motorcade go by. Now that’s a viewing spot! Times Square from the second floor of the Gaiety! Denise seemed very amused by the situation. She and I started chatting and I found out that they had just survived the Giuliani passed zoning laws for sexual establishments within a few yards; that they G had been around at least since 1969 or earlier and Denise had bought the place from the original owner; and that they have a 99 year lease and no plans to go anywhere. Denise was so affable, that I always say hello to her when she’s at the G, although I doubt she remembers me each time, and compliment her on the show when merited for which she is very appreciative.

 

I have a fondness for the G not only because it’s a temple to Adonis (and a place of business) but because of its’ place in gay history. How many places from the Stonewall Era, especially ones with a sexual nature, are still around and running? How many gay strip joints in Times Square, or in New York City, are still in operation? For me the Gaiety is a fun place to be invisible, to have some no-mind time, watch hot hot hot naked guys prance around and soak (wallow?) in a little history. If you see me there, I am the guy who touches the stage with the flat of my hand while someone is naked on stage to get all those good gay sex vibes. (Now if they would just bring Matthew out of retirement!)

 

Hope this was not too self indulgent.

 

-Arik

[Guest Fisher]

Arik loved your post … let me share my memories:

 

When I was in high school in the late 1970s, I would go with my sister and her friends from our suburban home to NYC to see Broadway matinees. We would go on Wednesdays during school breaks. I remember waiting on line for discount tickets on the center island between 46th and 47th Street. On the top of the large billboard at 46th and B’way (above Ho Jo's) was a smaller series of posters advertising for the Gaiety it featured a shirtless man in a top hat and dancing stick. I didn’t know what the Gaiety was at time. I thought possibly it was some “nudie” play similar to Oh Calcutta! But seeing those pictures always got me hot. }(

 

Several years later when I was in college (closeted, shy, and unsure of myself), I was reading The Village Voice and saw an ad for the Gaiety. After several months of debating, I gained enough courage to explore. I went down to the city – walked by the Gaiety at least ten times – finally went in – sat down (it was between shows) – I was 20 … a man of about 70 sat down next to me and put his hands down my pants – I screamed, stood up and ran out of the Gaiety. :o

 

After I graduated from college, I moved away from the NYC area. I moved back in 1995. Older and wiser I decided to try the Gaiety again. In the Spring of 1995 I walked up those steps for the second time in my life. The admission price back then was $10, but $2 off coupons could be found in The Village Voice. Among the dancers at my first show were Brett Derubbo, Tory Daniels, and Rocky. There was no back room in 1995; however, you still touch the dancers when you tipped them (their calves, thighs, chest, but not their dick). My first private show was with Travis from Toronto – he was studying to be a fireman and would come to the G with his friend Lance. I liked Travis …saw him five times in 1995. The first porn star (although a minor one) that I saw at the G was Rick Boxer. :9

 

Nearly ten years later, numerous private shows, and seeing many porn stars I still enjoy the Gaiety. :+

 

-Fisher

[Arik]

Cool story Fisher. I wish I had seen Rocky when he danced.

 

Speaking of Rocky...does anyone have the Gaiety pics from Madonna's sex book? If so could they post them? (This sounds like a job for VDN-Man!)

 

-Arik

[camshaft9]

I am proud to say that I was at the G every saturday night for about

2 years in the early 80's. It was spectacular. First off, smoking was allowed. Not just tobacco. It could be a veritable opium den. All the dancers got high in the back of the screen. If you had a regular guy you were allowed to go in the back. You'd get high with the guys and then go off to the left of the stage which was a long alley-like corridor. You might be alone or you might be one of several twosomes. All were engaged in very fun activities. And yes, Joey Stephano was around. I did go back with him once. Who couldn't love that face? The price for these activities was $50 to $60.

The Adonis was a huge old movie house on 8th avenue around 52nd Street. It was constantly busy even though it had 3 floors.

The Show Palace was indeed at the corner of 42 and 8th, on the second floor. There were two rooms. One for the dancers and the other for movies. Sex was to be found everywhere. With the dancers, with other audience members. I met Jim Bentley. He was absolutely beautiful and a very nice guy. Ditto for Bo Sommers. We had a great time at my apartment.

Lastly, there was a place called The Follies on 7th avenue. They had live dancers and a new porn performer every week. I saw the immortal Lance, and began an affair with Johnny Dawes. A sweeet boy from Columbus Ohio who happened to love sex. Unfortunately, both guys passed. This was the downfall of all that free love and sex. Soon after Guiliani hit town and all these places began to slowly disappear. The deuce (42nd Street) was never the same. It was a subculture that was dangerous, exciting, and very alive. Now it's a

mall from Paramus New Jersey.

The G remains as the sole reminder of those times. Go. And have fun guys. :7