Vaudette Theatre (5¢ Vaudet)
Downtown Kalamazoo Theater (1907–1910)
West side of South Burdick Street, between Main Street (Michigan Avenue) and South Street (134 South Burdick Street).
Opened and operated as a film and illustrated song house from February 23, 1907 to the end of June 1910 (a.k.a. “5¢ Vaudet”). Remodeled and reopened as “The Gem ” in July 1910 until 5 October 1912. Kalamazoo’s first actual “movie” house.
“It was the opening day of the Vaudette and of course the crowd there was unusually large; but on any Saturday night the attendance at these three little theaters on Kalamazoo ‘Railto’ will run into the thousands. …nearly 3,000 persons visited the Vaudette, while the Bijou played to a total of 1,600 on the day and Wonderland registered about 1,500 in attendance at the several performances. This is something unheard of in the history of Kalamazoo.”
—Kalamazoo Gazette , 27 February 1907
Managers: J.W. Clark (April–July 1907), Louis L. Schwartzenberg (August–October 1907), Mr. Gillingham (November 1907), W.C. Johnson (January 1909), L.C. Barnes (April 1909–June 1910).
Claimed 164 seats; had a small stage for live acts and illustrated songs. Occasional musical programs presented by Salomon’s Orchestra (May 1907), Lyon’s Orchestra (September 1907), Fischer’s Orchestra (April 1908).
“5¢ Vaudet” Theater, c.1909. Local History Room
Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo County, Michigan 1908. (Library of Congress)
Sources
Information originally compiled in 1995 by J.P. Jenks. Additional information was later added by library staff. Information compiled from Kalamazoo City Directory listings, details obtained in researching newspaper reports published at the time by the Kalamazoo Gazette and Kalamazoo Telegraph Press , Sanborn Fire Insurance maps, Kalamazoo County Warranty Deeds and numerous other sources. Updated October 2009.
Books
A history of theater in Kalamazoo
Pixley, Jorge V., 1958
H 792 P694
Theater in Kalamazoo from 1860–1890
Johns, Marion, 1955
H 792 J65
Articles
“It broke all records”
Kalamazoo Gazette , 27 February 1907, p.3, col 2
“Vaudet proving a success”
Kalamazoo Gazette , 28 March 1907, p.9
“The Vaudet”
Kalamazoo Gazette , 28 April 1907, p.17
“Popular manager leaves”
Kalamazoo Gazette , 24 July 1907, p.8
“Goes to Cleveland”
Kalamazoo Gazette , 8 November 1907, p.7
“Vaudette Theater sold”
Kalamazoo Gazette , 21 February 1909, p.16
“Summer vaudeville for Kalamazoo”
Kalamazoo Gazette , 26 June 1910, p.5
Local History Room Files
Subject File: Theater