Mayfair Theatre
22 E. 5th Street,
Dayton,
OH
45402
22 E. 5th Street,
Dayton,
OH
45402
1 person
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Hurtig and Seamon
Previous Names: Gebhart's Opera House, Park Theatre, Lyric Theatre
Nearby Theaters
Originally opened as Gebhart’s Opera House on March 12, 1877. In 1889 following a refresh it reopened as the Park Theatre. It was closed in December 1906. It was taken over by the Hurtig & Seamon chain and was remodeled, renamed Lyric Theatre on September 2, 1907 presenting vaudeville and later went over to movies and closed in 1933. It then became a burlesque theatre, renamed Mayfair Theatre in June 1933. The Mayfair Theatre did switch back to B movies in 1949 before going back to burlesque in 1950. The Mayfair Theatre closed on December 1, 1968.
The Mayfair Theatre was to be razed on January 20th 1969 but caught fire on January 19th, 1969.
The goddess of Liberty that stood over the Mayfair Theatre was saved and is housed at the Dayton Art Institute.
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Recent comments (view all 13 comments)
Concerning Lakeside Amusement Park way out in the SW area of Dayton, I used to ride the bus from Hamilton, Ohio with my mom who played bingo here while I went out and rode the rides. This was in the 1950s and all I can remember still in operation was the roller coaster (rickity wooden model) and the Merry-Go-Round, which was nice and clean. The bingo was in what was a huge dance hall facing onto the lake. I remember the entire place being demolished in the mid 1960s.
I danced at colonial theater in 1955 in a ballet dance recital-is now a lutheran church-any one remember the ice cream palor adjacent to the theater dayton ohio?
In 1966 I was 17-Lakeside Amusement Park- was closed and not operationg- but everything was still there and intact-It was a winter night—dusk-snowing-I went over the fence-into the old park-everything was still there- the bumper cars stood frozen-the huge laughing lady in the chicken wire cage-still stood there- grinning her hideos macabre grin-silent in the snow-all the little rides were still there! the carnival art work on the wood fencing that winded thru the park was still there- an art styles of the early 1900’s and 40’s and 50’s-it was so eerily beautiful-the grand merry go round-was there -I gave it a shove and got on it -it slightly moved a bit-the old roller coaster loomed in the now dark sky like a giant skeleton-all so surreal—Im just glad I was gutsy and went over that fence to see my beloved Lakeside park-before they leveled it-It sure is a great memory-im glad i have-1966……
lakeside park is now us rt 35 west-
Heard that ohio had more drive in theaters than any other state in late 50’s thru 1960’s Is it true?
Any one been in the Masonic Temple movie theatre in Dayton Ohio? It was built in 1928??It is magnificent!!!
As to Lakeside Park, you might want to search ‘YouTube’ for a video named ‘Flying Turns’ – it shows a great clip of the ‘Flying Turns’ coaster ride in 1930, as well as a few views of the park, when it opened at Lakeside that year (the first such opening of this very nationally-popular ride then at any amusement park). It’s set to ‘Alexander’s Ragtime Band’ by Benny Goodman, too. The guys loved this ride so much because the women had to sit between their legs (quite ‘risque’ by 1930 public standards)! Lakeside was, as was Franke’s Forest Park, located off N. Main Street, originally a ‘trolley park’, built with the privately-owned streetcar lines so their patrons could take a streetcar/trolley to its terminus and enoy a fun day at the park. This line also accessed the Veterans Military Home nearby. I think one of the MTA trolley lines still follows the streetcar’s path in Dayton.
As to the Mayfair Theater, I remember it well on E. Fifth St. downtown – not a ‘classy’ place or area to be in. One of my Beavercreek HS teachers (Harold Solomon, I think his name was, a kind of a ‘New Age’ thinker then)in the early 1960’s (maybe 1961) took several of us students to see the show there one evening (parents thought it was a school outing) and as I remember, the ‘star’ performers were ‘Busty Russell’ and ‘Chesty Morganna’ – one of them, rumored to have size 73 DD’s, could take her breasts and fling them under her arms and over her shoulders! Quite an experience for teenagers back then!
Opened as Lyric on September 2nd, 1907 and closed as Lyric in 1933. Ad in the photo section.
Photo as Lyric Theatre added, courtesy Donny Jenkins.
Gebhart’s Opera House launched as a replacement to the burned Turner Opera House on March 12, 1877. In 1889, the theatre received a major refresh and renamed the Park Theatre. It’s where many Daytonians saw their first moving picture. The Park seemed dated and was closed in December of 1906. New operators Hurtig and Seamon Circuit gave the building a shocking $170,000 makeover kicking out the tenants to create a more spectacular venue. The Lyric launched September 2, 1907, as noted, with live vaudeville.
The Lyric added motion pictures to have shows featuring both live and filmed content. It converted to sound to stay current. The Lyric closed as a movie plus vaudeville venue on May 28, 1933. Homer V. Guy of the Columbia Theatre took on the location changing it to full time, sub-run double feature discount house called the Mayfair Theatre in June of 1933.
The Mayfair made a major change beginning on Spetember 9, 1939 when the Hirst Burlesque Circuit brought full-time burlesque to the stage in Dayton for the first time since 1934. Hirst had operations in New York, Boston, Philadelphia, St. Louis, Pittsburgh and Detroit. It was said to be the last true burly circuit sending out full-fledged 16-female performer shows.
The building was purchased in 1944 and received a new 25-year lease. The burly shows would be augmented by adult films as the porno chic era became fashionable. The Mayfair ended operation on December 1, 1968 with Cindy Embers in “The Case of the Stripping Wives” and Morganna live on stage. What a farewell show in Dayton. In January of 1969, the “Mayfair Lady” (actual name, Goddess of Liberty) - the 12' high, 500 pound 90-year old zinc statue that had been atop of the structure since the opera house unveiled her on July 4, 1879 - was removed and - despite the theater’s fire in January of 1969, hail, floods, high winds - was in excellent condition on her way to the Dayton Art Institute. That is, minus the wreath held in her left hand that went missing some 87 years earlier.