By Michael Bushnell

Northeast News

December 10, 2014

Built of reinforced concrete and ornamental brick at a cost of $115,000, the Gayety Theatre stood on the former home site of A.W. Armour.

Armour, of course, was one of the founding partners of world famous Armour Meats. The Gayety Theatre opened to much fanfare in the spring of 1909. Designed by noted Kansas City architect Carl Boller, the “L” shaped property fronts both 12th and Wyandotte, adjoining the Muehlebach Hotel in the rear of the theater along 12th Street.

The new theater had a seating capacity of 1,600; 570 seated on the orchestra floor, 100 in boxes, 400 in balcony and 500 in the gallery. The main entrance of the theatre was on 12th through a lobby, and the gallery entrance was on the Wyandotte side. Sixteen offices were located on the second floor, and storefronts occupied the first with the exception of the two theater entrances.

A ghost known as the “Blue Lady” is said to haunt the Muehlebach Hotel. Some of those “in the know” think she is the spirit of an actress who once played the Gayety and now wanders the halls of the hotel in search of a long-lost lover. The theater was razed in 1950 to make way for an expansion of the Muehlebach, now part of the Marriott, formerly the Barney Allis Hotel.

The card was sent to Mr. I. L. Smith, Riverview Place, Hastings on the Hudson, N.Y. on October 23, 1911. The message written on the back of the card says: “Dear Irving, This is the theatre where we are playing – very nice house but the dressing rooms are as small as cigar boxes. Will write a long letter some time this week. Kindest regards to all the boys. From Jack.”