Gem Theatre
95 N. Main Street,
Charles City,
IA
50616
95 N. Main Street,
Charles City,
IA
50616
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Built in 1911 with seating for 500, the Gem was located on Main Street in Charles City. It operated at least into the 50s. The building was razed in the early 70s and today there is a park on the site.
Contributed by
Bryan Krefft
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Recent comments (view all 8 comments)
The address for the Gem Theatre was 310 North Main Street. It was originally operated by J.E. Hostettler Amusement Co. and during the 50’s until it closed in 55 was operated by Central States Amusement Co. This was one of two theatres in the downtown area of Charles City.
sorry, its address was 95 n main st. check your city directory
also, the gem was built by the wright bros. local contractors then in 1911 and torn down in 1972 after being used for the melody lounge a night club.
Here is a postcard picture of the Gem Theater.
The theatre sat on an old mill site next to the Cedar River with a big open area of water underneath it…The foundation and floor of the basement are still there and it is like a park on top now….When the building (at95 n. Main) was torn down in 1972 they discovered that the dam, the bridge and the theatre foundation were interlocked. They actually tore down the building wasting it forever..great planning. I spent many a childhood days there watching movies, cartoons and serials. It was re-opened after it had officially closed and the Ten Commandments (1956) was shown there and kids were allowed to go on a field trip to see the movie..then it was empty for awhile and later made into the Melody Lounge until torn down.
The Iowa Historical Society lists the address as 107 North Main Street so there are three different addresses out there.
I still can’t believe no one can accept the address of95 n. main…since I live here and see the other bldgs every day…for those who know a little about the town the bldgs in the next block north are all starting with 100 and so on…accept it!!!!!!
scrimger, I don’t think anyone was disputing your address, as you can see in the header it has been changed to the address you listed at 95 N. Main St. I think what was difficult about the address is that three different sorces gave three different addresses. Google mapping is all off when you try mapping the address. Where 95 N. Main St. should be it just lists Main St. with no N. or S. or even an address. Then when you move down the street and the block on the other side of the river should be the 100 block, it maps at the 200 block of N. Main. So you cannot rely on google at all for assistance.