Gayety Theater (Colonial Theater) 1923

The Colonial Theater, located at 141 South Ludlow Street, was Dayton’s premier vaudeville playhouse when it opened. As times got tough new management renamed the theater the "Gayety" in 1923 as seen here. Tired old burlesque shows and motion pictures did not bring in the patrons, and the Gayety closed in less than a year. It was renamed the Colonial Theater and remained open unitl 1964. Photograph courtesy of Dayton Metro Library.