Jewel Theater
904 NE 4th Street,
Oklahoma City,
OK
73104
904 NE 4th Street,
Oklahoma City,
OK
73104
1 person
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The Jewel Theater was built in July 1931 for Hathyel L. James and Percy H. James as an African American Theatre.
Closed by the late-1970’s, the Jewel Theater is today the only building standing on the block. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2009.
Contributed by
Lauren Grubb
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Recent comments (view all 16 comments)
In response to the above post as Step-Granddaughter to Percy Harold James, Sr..there are members of Mr. James', family still alive. The children of his first wife, Jewel Hythel (Hattie). JEWEL, his oldest daughter, has a daughter living in Anchorage, AK. Her name is also Jewel. PERCY JAMES, Jr. has three sons (Percy III, Roland, and Leon) that are still living, and ROLAND, his youngest son has children still living in Denver, CO.
The Jewel as of April 2010 View link
On this great web site are recent shots of the abandoned Jewel Theatre, only building remaining on the block.
1970’s views show a Jewel with marquee gone. Wonder who put the old marquee back up, and why?
http://www.roadsideoklahoma.com/node/537
Maybe someone was going to reopen the theatre and it fell through.
On this link pan around the corner on Laird Ave. to see just how incredibly long the Jewel auditorium is,
View link
Interesting link Cosmic Ray posted. In the Street View there is 3 buildings in a row, with the Jewel in the center of the 3. Pan out to satellite view, and there is only the Jewel remaining standing.
As early as 1957 Oklahoma City had a black radio station, KBYE (AM-890). To look at a downtown rooftop billboard advertisement for station KBYE go to link below and type in “katz 1957”
View link
Is the theatre still owned by the James family? I’d like to take a look at it and see if it can be renovated and re-opened. Any info on who currently owns it?
This link states the Jewel Theatre opened 1931, and says the structure is still in good condition. http://www.ocgi.okstate.edu/shpo/shpopic.asp?id=09000686
The Cinema Section of Roadside Oklahome is closed, they no longer have theatre photos according to the site. Go to their home page for further details.