Gem Theatre

very historic theatre now used for discount 2nd run movies i believe. i have not been in but have drove by a few times. i plan to visit it soon. amazed no officials of the city or theatre have contacted this site with pictures or more info. this theatre appears to be a real gem!

The Gem theatre is quite possibly the crown jewel of the city of Kannapolis, NC. She is located in Cannon Village across from Cannon Mills plant #4.The Gem Theater was built in 1938. She was burned down in 1942 and was rebuilt in 1948.

The auditorium has a seat count of 960. The auditorium itself has beautiful dark draperies flowing down the main wall. The deco sections nearest to the screen/stage are covered in these two brilliantly illuminated phoenix birds. She ceiling is a grand domed top with very simplistic yet decorative stucco designs. Inside concession area and box office are in a stream line styling with beautiful silver highlights. The upstairs balcony lobby is surrounded with mirrors on all of the walls.The carpet is a lovely burgundy/purple hue. All original signs and lights remain. Her booth contains a Cristie projector and platter system. The sound is standard Dolby surround

Function wise she plays second films 60% of the time and first runs 40% of the time. I believe that on Sundays though a local church has service in the theatre.

I will provide the site with more photos as I get my film developed.

Hope this helps, UAGirl *the other theatre manager down the street in Concord,NC :)

You can go to this link and see a picture of the theater.

http://www.itpi.dpi.state.nc.us/counties/Cabarrus/kannapolis/gem.html

The Gem has now stopped playing first run films. Management lost too much money having long contract times with Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings.

the gem does show 1st run movies and my 11 yr old and i attend this wonderful theatre most fridays.with a price of $4 per 1st run this theatre has my vote every time.my daughter thinks that it is the greatest place and food and drink prices are exceptional.highly recommend this "GEM" to all.

I have lived in kannapolis for many years and my family enjoys the Gem theatre very much. I have family in Monroe area and they will drive up here (40 minutes) to attend a movie here since you only have to pay $4 for adults and $2 for children and watch a 1st run movie. The candy, drinks and popcorn prices are cheap too. I have a middle school child and the middle and high school kids love it too. They get to go to the movies more often at these prices rather than spending $20.00 for 1 movie with popcorn & drink. It's a great place for a family to have a evening out with out breaking the budget. tnt

on july 5th i went o the gem theatre with my 2 children and my wife and for about 20 dollars we watched spiderman 2 and had popcorn sodas and candy for all it was a great deal i go there very often couple weeks ago i went and watched the day after tomorrow by myself and had popcorn and large soda for under 5 dollars total..The Gem is the best deal going!!!!!!!!!!

Now that I've found this 'gem' I plan to pay it a visit in the near future!

Well, today was the day! I found the Gem and had a nice chat with the owner. At the time a group of elementary children were seeing the movie entitled Because of Winn Dixie. We were able to walk inside the darkened auditorium and make out the 2 illuminated phoenix birds in the deco sections near the stage/screen. This theatre along with about 3 others in the town were all built by the Cannon family. One of the theatres was for the black population and is now a funeral home, but wasn't able to find it so will try again in the near future. Another theatre is now a grocery store, but spoke to an older lady who is the cashier and she recalled going to see movies at that location for 12 cents! The Gem is truly a gem and we plan to go see a movie some evening in Kannapolis!

After walking inside and looking at the molding along the ceiling, the marquee, etc. I can report back here that the theatre is art deco. And the special part is that it's all original since the 40's. The ticket kios is still there, but not being used anymore.

Here are some pictures of the Gem, this is such a great survivor of by-gone neighborhood house days.

http://www.agilitynut.com/p/gem1204.jpg
http://www.agilitynut.com/p/gem21204.jpg

GREAT PHOTOS!

Drove by these theaters twice in the last week.The Gem is showing Transporter 2.The closeby other theater around the corner and down a block is the CannonVillage visitors center.It is a beautiful building of a somewhat Georgian style matching the rest of this unique shopping area.The pathos of the area really bummed me out.The half dozen or so HUMONGOUS Cannon factories are being demolished.This devastation is all of our faults,since too many of us would rather pay a few cents less for a crummy import that won't last half as long while a way of life disappears and our real jobs go to china and pakistan.Oh,yeh,the grocery store theater is a very well-built,handsome building at the corner of S.Main and Dale Earnhart Blvd.

ghamilton: It was interesting to read your post concerning the Gem, Cannon Village Visitor Center, Cannon Mills and the grocery store theatre as I've been to this area and have seen all of this. I agree it is very depressing to see the Cannon factories come down and I recall the Cannon towel outlet store that was so nice. In fact, the entire Cannon Village was very active with shoppers at one time. The Gem Theatre is just around the corner from all of these former stores and it's good to see it's still hanging on as nearby Concord has the multi-plexes which is tough competition in today's world. I've walked inside that grocery store/former theatre and talked to an older lady at the cash register. She recalled the many times that she went there to see movies as a young girl.

Patsy,what happened to the old theater in downtown Concord?An old guy in Richmond claimed there was a nice theater in Concord in the 50-60's.I drove down every street and saw no evidence of one .

ghamilton: Yes, there was a theatre in Concord and it is talked about somewhere on CT, but I'll have to find it. As I recall it would be hard to find as, I think, it is a bank now and there is a plaque about the theatre in the bank's lobby.

ghamilton

There were several theatres in downtown Concord. Unfortunately none of the building have retained their original facades. First Charter Bank houses it's security offices in what used to be the Cabarrus Theatre. That is the theatre with the movie star signed charter (or plague as it is referred to) hanging in the main entrance. After 9/11 the front door became password protected thus making it impossible for anyone to see a neat part of Concord's film history.
This theatre was originally called the Paramount whenever it was located across the street in what is now the closed "Union Street Mall". Earlier on this year the feds had deemed it a historical landmark and I believe that they have begun renovation that recently has run into a halt status. Right beside of this Union Street Mall is a lovely little white building that houses the City of Concord Zoning/Planning office. That was the Star Theatre. Note the three projectionist windows that angle the incoming light down so that it would not shine into the theatre.

Further down the street (and since my track record is rather off concerning the exact addresses) there was the Pastime Theatre, The New Piedmont Theatre, the Theatorium, and the Lincoln Theatre located just off of Union street.

Hope that helps!

PS: If you go to the history room in the Concord Library you can find tons of photos concerning the theatres,

Thanks,TA,I'll take a camera and look closer next time.

I worked at the Gem Theatre (as many others did) while I was in high school in the mid-70s. It is truly a wonderful place. Originally, there were stage shows there and it is equipped with a full sized stage (not visible due to the screen and it's frame supports) and also a basement that had dressing rooms for the performers. The history of this building is fabulous. I do hope that it is able to remain as a historical part of Kannapolis. My family and I attend movies there frequently (yes, first run, went to Chronicles of Narnia this weekend) and it is a much better experience than the multi-plexes. There were many other theaters in Kannapolis. The Swanee is now the Visitors Center. I went to movies there frequently in the early 70s, then there was the Palace (which was considered the black theater during segregation). It is located across from Kannapolis Middle School (not the new one) near A.L. Brown High School. There was the Dixie ( I believe it is now the Table Supply Grocery Store) and one other who's name I can't remember that was located in North Kannapolis. Also, on North Cannon Blvd at the corner of Jackson Street is a Shoe Depot that is in another old theater building. Yes, Kannapolis is changing with the destruction of Cannon Mills (I also worked there while in College) but hopefully the renovation of the town with new industry (bio-tech) will bring more jobs. The Gem is definitely a highlight in Kannapolis, and I STRONGLY encourage everyone to visit there.

This is a recent night view of the Gem theater.

A great photo of a great original art deco marquee in NC!

The theater in North Kannapolis was the "Main" on Cannon Blvd (US 29). Admission was 10/15 cents in early 60's. Could get 10 hotdogs for a dollar at a cafe down the street. Was a great time/place to be a kid in early 60's at K-town.

I have visited this theatre and met the owner/manager. The Gem is what I refer to as a survivor as is sometimes the term used to describe classic cars that have survived the years well.

Here is another recent 2006 photo of the Gem theater.

This theatre is known as a survivor!

What a nice theater!

I am a local artist in Kannapolis, and I am working on a pen and ink drawing of "A Gem". You can see the progress at www.eagleartgallery.com and pre-order a copy.

Do you only do pen and ink? And do you have a studio that I could visit in Kannapolis?

I do not have a studio but the website is pretty much my portfolio.

EagleArtGallery: Thanks for the Gem update and I shall take a look-see at your website again though the site was slow in responding this a.m.

I found this page by accident while searching for history on the Gem Theater. Thanks to everyone for their posts and pics. BTW Eagle Gallery - Great Stuff!!! The Gem Theater is an awseome treasure for the City of Kannapolis. I only hope that the realize it before it's too late. The Gem has great prices, great atmosphere and great people. It's like stepping back in time. I am sad to report that the Dixie Theater (Table Supply Grocery) is no more. I was totally shocked driving in to town last week to see that it had been erased. Almost as if it had never existed. Rumor has it that the property will be home to a new Eckerd store. Eckerd built a new store less than a mile from that corner a few years ago, but the Bio-Tech campus wanted their property and money talks. Bearing that in mind and how swiftly the Dixie was demolished, I fear not ony for the Gem Theater but the entire down town area of Kannapolis. It seems as though the City has take the side of "progress" over the pride of the past. Very unfortunate.

This is a great theater that seems to be frozen in time. Inside and out everything seems original. I hope it can hang on as Kannapolis changes. Make a point to see a movie in this theater for an old time experience. I only wish the balcony was open for all shows. Usually it's only open for larger crowds.

Theaters like this-and the bigger,grander Byrd in Richmond-must be "treasured",used,talked up,and used as often as possible.I wish I had a nickel for everytime I've told people to go to the Byrd for a NEW experience(for most).This theater ib Cannon Villiage should be viable,but don't be complacent.The ONE item I wish this site offered would be a seperate list of REAL theaters that still show scheduled shows.Movie palaces are a rare thing now,we need to know where the active ones are w/o plowing through lists of vacant lots.

Another recent photo of the Gem Theater can be seen here.

Ironic that a building has been demolished in the background of the photo you posted above. I sincerely hope that the Gem never sees or meets that fate...heaven forbid. And I would guess that the building in the background may be part of the Cannon towel complex that was Kannapolis!

And that marquee is just the best example of art deco that I've seen in NC and still shining brightly every night in 2006 soon to be 2007!

The King plays the Gem, circa 1963:

http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u235/BobFurmanek/elvis_gem.jpg

It's a nice use of a cut out from the 24 sheet for IT HAPPENED AT THE WORLD'S FAIR.

That's a great picture of the Gem. Thanks Bob

This is a much larger version of the postcard at the top of this page.

Hi guys! Just saw the Simpsons at the Gem on 8/4/2007. First time back inside the theatre in 44 years! Admission at 3:30PM, $1.00 for seniors. Big tub of popcorn, $2.00, drinks at $1.25. Better bargin than 44 years ago in ralation to todays money value. The theatre seemed the same to me as I remembered. Very clean, and no smells. Can't believe they have maintained so well. Rest of downtown K-town was disappointing in lack of activity, but neat as always. Great town, the citizens should be proud.

Here is another photo:
http://tinyurl.com/2htwbb

The Gem has a website now.



www.gem-theatre.com

Great...will check it out!

My grandparents lived in Kannapolis. When I would visit them, very often my grandfather would take me to the movies. I remember seeing "That Darn Cat" and "The Incredible Mr. Limpet" at the Gem, and "The Nutty Professor" with Jerry Lewis at the Swanee. I also remember my grandmother buying shoes for me right next door to the Gem at Coulter's!

They lived on Bell Street, one block away from the Table Supply, which used to be the Dixie Theatre. When my mother was a little girl and lived on Leonard Avenue, she saw her very first movie there - "The Wizard of Oz"! How sad that this wonderful building has been torn down in the name of progress.

Here is a recent photo of the Gem Theater.

I am working on an article for a local magazine on this theater. if you would like to participate or suggest anyone I could interview, please contact me. Thanks!

C. Conrow

p.s. I guess just leave your contact info here.

I drew a portrait of The Gem in 2006 and sold the original to J.J. Abrams, the director of Mission Impossible 3, which was on the marquee when I took the photo.

Kevin Eagle

EagleArtGallery.com

I appreciate all the theater names. Thank you for this site and to all the posters.

Does anyone remember a theater on the left side of the street on N. Main going toward Landis in that little group of old stores? It seems like it went out of business pre-1958. (I'm not thinking of 'the Main' on Cannon Blvd.)

This is a larger version of the postcard at the top of this page and a 2007 photo for a "now and then" comparison. The text claims that the postcard is from 1941, but the movie title on the marquee in the postcard view, "The Charge of the Light Brigade" was released in 1936.

I've been to this "gem" in Kannapolis NC...very nice and very art deco!

Check out The Gem Theatre's new web site and sign up for their weekly showtimes e-newsletter! The web site is www.gem-thetre.com. The Gem History 101 section of the site has some great photos of the theatre.

Sorry, the web address is www.gem-theatre.com.

Here is another photo of the Gem Theater.

Lost: I never tire of seeing the Gem's art deco marquee! Thanks.

Perhaps I have missed it, but are there any interior Gem photos on this "gem" of a link?

This is the best that I can do on short notice Patsy. :)

Lost: Thanks...again. Now that I see those birds I do recall being inside the Gem though it was during a movie showing so I couldn't really see the auditorium that well.

Mr.Memory,You ARE the marvel of mystic oracles.I am always in awe of your ability to pull up knowledge others just don't have.I think of you each time I pass the Byrd.HEY! We should schedule a movie party there.

Yes, but plan it in the winter months when I'm in the Gem area!

Here are some phone pictures I took of the concession area last week when I took the kids to see WALL-E.They aren't the best, but they will give you an idea of what it looks like inside. I had planned on taking more, but it was pure madness! I've always loved the gold crown molding in this area. And if I'm not mistaken, it's the same molding that's in the vestibule / ticket area. Enjoy!


http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h158/eagleart/062708_14462.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h158/eagleart/062708_14463.jpg

EagleArt Gallery: Enjoyed the phone pictures of the Gem's concession area. Thanks.

This is another photo of the Gem.

Icant believe the numbers on this theater.....Very nice for 1 screen... 1 st run now,

In the recent Charlotte Observer (Feb. 13th) there is an article entitled A Gem of a Deal: Free Movies.

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/business/story/534032.html

Interesting story. I wish they had free movies in my area.

I'm new to this wonderful site and I offer a belated answer to Thomas2:

The theater you remember was the COLONIAL, located on North Main Street in Kannapolis. It was the first Kannapolis theater to go out of business (1955). And, unlike the other closed theaters that were almost immediately converted to other business, the Colonial sat unused for many years. I have a picture taken about ten years after it closed. Perhaps I can post it if the add-a-photo feature gets up and running!

Thank you, Steve.

I can remember going on, I think, a Saturday morning when they offered a special admittance including a Popsicle for a nickel. It must have been very near the end of the Colonial. I am so grateful to you for providing the name.

To: Steve Williams, Hi. Could you email the Colonial picture to me at twb123@gmail.com? Thank you so much. Thomas

Gem Theatre featured on “NBC Nightly News” Telecast

The “Making a Difference” segment on March 19th’s “NBC Nightly News” featured Kannapolis, North Carolina’s historic Gem Theatre. Its “Recession Buster” movie screenings, which made headlines in the Cabarrus County area, are now national news.

The shows, scheduled on Wednesday evenings, routinely sell out the theatre’s 900 seats with free admission and sharply-discounted concessions prices. According to the feature story, textile mills closed several years ago, resulting in a local unemployment rate as high as 10%. The Gem’s General Manager, Steve Morris, says it’s his way of giving back to a community that has supported the historic theatre for many years, through good times and bad.

The Depression-era, Art Deco showplace dates back to 1936, when movie entertainment routinely served as an inexpensive means of “escapism” during troubled economic times.

See mention of the telecast in the local print media:
http://www2.independenttribune.com/content/2009/mar/19/191047/gem-theatre-nbc-nightly-news-tonight/

See video of the telecast:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032619/#29782123

Steve, could you send pictures of the Colonial to me as well? My e-mail is firstmom1982@yahoo.com Thanks so much!

Steve, I know you are being inundated with requests, but could you send me a photo of the Colonial? My e-mail is rowdyr@shtc.net Thanks

This is a night view of the Gem Theater.

Steve Morris looks like a very kind person. I hope the Gem Theatrre continues for a long time to entertain the area. It's an attractive theatre.

I've dug up a bit more information about the Colonial Theatre, subject of some discussion above, but there are still some gaps (such as no address and no original opening date) so if anyone has additional information about it, please post it at the Cinema Treasures Colonial Theatre page.

Also, although the Gem Theatre web site says that the YMCA Theatre was destroyed by fire in 1936, the May 8, 1937, issue of Boxoffice Magazine reported that, among the visitors to film row in Charlotte that week, was W.A. Powell of the YMCA Theatre in Kannapolis. Sounds like it was still open.

And then the January 8, 1938, issue of Boxoffice carried an item headed "Kannapolis Fire Costly" which said: "Fire destroyed the YMCA Theatre here recently, originating from causes as yet undetermined. The 'Y' and the theatre building were erected as one unit in 1922 by the Cannon Mills at a cost of $500,000."

I've heard that time moves more slowly in the South, so perhaps it was still 1936 in North Carolina when the YMCA burned, but already rolling into 1938 in the rest of the world? But if that is so, what am I to make of the fact that the Cabarrus Genealogical Society tells me the Gem itself was built in 1938? Perhaps time isn't slower in the South, but simply a bit eccentric?

Or was it the case, as later issues of Boxoffice reported, that it was the Dixie Theatre, not the Gem, which was built to replace the YMCA Theatre? Maybe somebody in Kannapolis could check the archives of the local newspaper to clear up this temporal confusion.

1983 Daytime photo of the Gem Theatre.
http://americanclassicimages.com/Default.aspx?tabid=141&txtSearch=CATAdvancedSearch1%2c33%2c3%2c-1&catpageindex=10&ProductID=31321

1984 Nightime photo of the Gem Theatre.
http://americanclassicimages.com/Default.aspx?tabid=141&txtSearch=CATAdvancedSearch1%2c33%2c3%2c-1&catpageindex=10&ProductID=31323

1983 photo of the Gem Theatre.
http://americanclassicimages.com/Default.aspx?tabid=141&txtSearch=CATAdvancedSearch1%2c33%2c3%2c-1&catpageindex=10&ProductID=31321

1984 Night photo of the Gem Theatre.
http://americanclassicimages.com/Default.aspx?tabid=141&txtSearch=CATAdvancedSearch1%2c33%2c3%2c-1&catpageindex=10&ProductID=31323

The YMCA theater was across the street from where the Gem is now. the GEM was built to replace that theater and it was planned by Charles Cannon CEO of Cannon Mills to be the show place of show places in that part of the world. The Gem had the same projection cameras and sound system as Radio City Music hall and every thing was built to make what was then and still is the show place of Kannapolis. As for the other theaters in Kannapolis here are the pictures of the buildings of the remaining movie house still standing.

The Main on N. Cannon Blvd. http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l68/GnaRkiLL_05/MovieHouse002.jpg

The Swanee
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l68/GnaRkiLL_05/MovieHouse006.jpg

The Palace
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l68/GnaRkiLL_05/MovieHouse005.jpg

The Dixie
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h158/eagleart/tablesupply.jpg

The Dixie is no longer there it was demolished to build a bank.

Ken, so the Gem is the only one of the older theatres that is still in operation today?

Yes and there was one other that I don't have a picture of called the colonel that was on north Main st. that burned down 10years after it closed. It is now a parking lot.

The site of the Colonet theater is here

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r308/gnarkillk5/thecolo.jpg

The Gem is my farorite theater I have gone there my whole life and I belive it will be open for a long time.

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r308/gnarkillk5/GemLine.jpg

Here are a few old photos of the Gem from a book I have.

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r308/gnarkillk5/Gemold.jpg

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r308/gnarkillk5/geminline.jpg

Also have a picture of the Colonel here

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r308/gnarkillk5/24274BCOLONIALTHEATER.jpg

This is a nice June 2009 photo.

Here are two more night photos from 1984:
http://tinyurl.com/nezpzt
http://tinyurl.com/l9gj3r