Gem Theatre (Kannapolis, North Carolina)
Gem Theatre | |
   | |
| Location | 111 West 1st Street, Kannapolis, North Carolina |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 35°29′54″N 80°37′29″W / 35.49833°N 80.62472°W 35°29′54″N 80°37′29″W |
| Built | 1936 |
| Architectural style | Art Deco |
| NRHP reference No. | 100004322[1] |
| Added to NRHP | August 26, 2019 |
The Gem Theatre in Kannapolis, North Carolina is a theater first opened December 31, 1936, built by Cannon Mills for its workers. After a 1942 fire, only the façade, offices, projection booth and part of the lobby remained. The theater was rebuilt and reopened in 1948 with 916 seats and a new balcony to replace the old one. The Gem is one of the oldest movie theaters with one screen in the United States. Steve Morris bought a share of the theater in 1995 and became general manager and later the owner. With competition from newer theaters, the Gem showed movies that had already been shown elsewhere. First-run movies returned in 2000.[2] The city of Kannapolis bought the theater in 2015 as part of a downtown revitalization project. Renovations done in 2021 include the marquee, roof, and HVAC. The theater reopened May 16, 2024 after five months of interior renovations[3] costing $1.2 million. The balcony is no longer used but the lower level has nearly 600 seats.[2]
References[edit]
- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
- ^ a b Miller, Christopher (December 26, 2023). "The iconic Gem Theatre to undergo interior renovations beginning next month". Independent Tribune.
- ^ "Historic Gem Theatre back open after renovations complete". Independent Tribune. May 17, 2024.
