| The story of the Gaiety is an interesting one. It all began in February of 1909 when H.M. Lawson of the Honolulu firm of Bailey and Lawson, operators of the Art Theater there, came to Hilo to investigate the possibility of opening a new motion picture house. A lease was secured from the heirs of Dr. Charles Wetmore, Mrs. Katherine W. Deacon and Miss Lucy Lewis of California, and Dr. Francis N. Wetmore of Hilo. Lawson himself drew up the plans for the new movie theater, which was planned to have a sloping floor and a capacity of 600 persons. This building was to be 40 by 110 feet in size with 300 seats at 5 and 10 cents, reserved seats at 15 cents, and private boxes at 25 cents per person. As plans went forward, Lawson acquired a second lease in the rear of the planned structure from Mrs. Noa Aluli, and he amended his plans to include a stage at the rear of the auditorium, with dressing rooms at the back. This would allow plays, vaudeville and other acts to be held in the new theater. The Hilo Mercantile Company was hired to erect the theater following Lawson’s plans, and the building was reputed as the first structure in Hilo to be equipped with a concrete floor. This floor was laid by Hilo contractor S.Z. Kawasaki., By March 18, 1909, the concrete floor was finished and work on the main structure proceeded. The building featured more than a dozen private boxes, four exits, large windows and ample seating capacity. Hilo Electric Company installed special wiring to serve a number of ceiling fans to ensure air circulation. To provide added fire protection, the Hilo Mercantile Company’s building next door was equipped with a fire hose that could reach any part of the new build-ing. The new chairs arrived in Honolulu on April 21, and Lawson began preparations for the grand opening. By April 29 the new theater was finished, and was deemed the best lighted building in Hilo, both inside and out. On that day it was announced that the new theater would open May 5, with a play presented by Pollards No. I Company, adult Lilliputians, graduates of the Pollard Companies. This company of actors included dwarfs and proved to be extremely popular. Following an extended engagement, the Gaiety began showing motion pictures. A uniformed man, with a gold band around his cap, stood at the door to call for taxi cabs. Manager Lawson hired Frasher Shaw to manage the theater, and on July 1, a mortgage was signed by Lawson and his partner, Mrs. E. Bailey of Honolulu, with the Hilo Mercantile Company, Limited. Shaw resigned as manager that October and returned to the West Coast. Financial troubles led to Masayo Arakawa, asignee of mortgage, to announce on Dec. 10, 1909 that the Hilo Mercantile Company intended to foreclose on the mortgage due to nonpayment of principal and interest. Attorney Carl Smith took possession of the theater Dec. 14, and placed G.F. Affonso in charge. While under Affonso’s management, the arrangement of the seats was changed, placing them farther apart for the performance of the play “Mrs. Temple’s Telegram.” Bailey and Lawson regained control of the Gaiety on Dec. 28, 1909. On April 13, 1910 Masayo Arakawa released the mortgage to Bailey and Lawson when the sum of $2,758.50 owed to the Hilo Mercantile Company was paid off. This allowed the property to be sold at auction to the highest bidder. On May 18, 1911, the Gaiety Theater was placed on the market for the upset (minimum) price of $4,000, but there were no takers at the foreclosure sale. The property was again placed on the market with the upset price reduced to $2,000 on June 8, but again no bidders appeared, possibly due to a lawyer’s protest. The theater was again put up for sale June 15, 1911 and Hilo residents joined in the bidding for the building and leases. Bidders included John Kai, P.R Pomeroy, E.N. Deyo, Edwin K. Fernandez and a hui of Japanese. The Gaiety was sold for the upset price of $2,000 to a part-nership of Fernandez and Kai. The sale was approved by Judge Parsons and G.R. Mayne was appointed manager. On Oct. 13, 1911, John Kai invest-ed $300 in improvements to the stage and dressing rooms. Young hoodlums began to attend the shows and disrupt the performances, so on March 22, 1913, two of them were arrested and taken out of the theater to face charges of “loud and tuneless” whistling. Management and ownership of the theater went through changes during this period. John Kai sold out to E.K. Fer-nandez, who became sole owner of the establishment, known as the Honolulu Amusement Company. During December of 1913, the management changed again when W.D. “Maude” Adams rented the Gaiety Theater from Fernandez for a period of four months. With a loan of $1,000 from Miss Crozier, representative of the owner, Adams installed a motor and dynamo, converting the projector to direct current, obtained the “trust” film serv-ice, and improved the seats in the private boxes. Despite these improvements, business fell off and Adams failed to pay the monthly $60 rent, and also failed to pay the $150 a month for the use of the theater equipment. On Jan. 29, 1914, Miss Crozier invaded the box office and seized the box officer receipts. Other creditors descended upon Adams, who negotiated his way off the island with $23 in his pocket. John Kai and Adam Baker took over the contract from Adams for the sum of $75. Not only did Adams leave a string of creditors, he also left a mess of the business affairs of the Gaiety Theater. As the rent to the Wetmore estate had not been paid, the lease to Fernandez had been canceled, and Kai secured the lease to the auditorium side of the theater. Upon hearing of this turn of affairs, Fernandez arrived in Hilo and threatened to sue the Wetmore Estate. This led to the admission of Kai that the stage and everything upon it belonged to Fernandez, and the auditorium belonged to him. The chairs were conceded to Fernandez, but the curtain dividing the theater was in question. Fernandez hired attorney Brekons to claim the curtain and on March 5, 1914 they showed up at the theater to seize the disputed curtain. Kai had cleverly hidden the ropes controlling the descent of the curtain from the Fernandez party, frustrating the attempt. Both sides hired strongmen, and the showdown occurred March 7th. Brekons and Fernandez had a army of three strongmen and Kai an army of five. Kai asked if the chairs would remain and Brekons stated Fernandez would take possession. The battle began with Kai, at the head of his army, advancing on the Fernandez forces. They were ejected, but soon returned by the side door and battle resumed. Kai and Fernandez grappled on the floor until the Kai army ejected him into the street. Kai obtained the use of the auditorium through his attorney, Irwin, and gave a show every night. Fernandez still owned the stage but soon it was relinquished to Kai. In early 1914, manager Adam Baker bought out Kai and became sole owner. During 1916 Baker remodeled the theater to seat 1,000 and replaced the ceiling, lobby and projectors. New cane loge chairs were installed and ventilation improved. A $10,000 Wurlitzer piano orchestra, known as a photo-player, was dedicated Sept. 9, 1917. The instrument stood 5 feet, 2 inches by 3 feet, 3 inches deep and 15 feet, 4 inches wide, and could duplicate the sound of an orchestra, the whistle of a bird, or the thunder of a storm. In 1924 ground was broken on the New Palace Theatre on Haili Street, and on Oct. 25, 1925, the Gaiety played its last movie and the doors were closed. The Wurlitzer was moved into the New Palace by Baker, where it remained in operation until 1929. In 1928 the old Gaiety was opened as a dance hall until Dec. 29 when it was sold at public auction for $300 to H. Ono who dismantled the old structure. The Realty Investment Company erected a new building at 125 Kamehameha Avenue, replacing the old Gaiety theater May 19, 1929. |
| HILO'S GAIETY THEATRE
Compiled by KENT WARSHAUER (Used here with the author's kind permission) from HAWAII TRIBUNE-HERALD, 27 JANUARY 2002 |