Gem Theatre

The Gem Theatre was opened on September 6, 1913. The 1916 Sanborn map shows ‘motion pictures’ operating in a single-story wooden building with tin-clad sides. It was likely a converted store, as the floor plan shows a wall dividing the front section from a narrower rear section. The theater extended about ¾ of the way to the alley behind. It suffered damage from a fire in the projection booth in 1926. It was repaired and reopened, operating until the early 1930’s, but remained a silent cinema.

This theater still appears on the 1933 map, but has been demolished, along with everything else on that side of the block. It would have been roughly where the little shack with a hairdressers is today. The street was renumbered at some point, the address on the map is 217 Main Street.

Recent comments (view all 3 comments)

Joe Vogel on March 9, 2020 at 1:49 pm

If this was Hedrick’s only movie house then in 1926 it was called the Gem Theatre. This item is from the September 11 issue of Motion Picture News that year:

“Fire caused considerable damage to the theatre at Hedrick, the Gem, owned by W. J. Jinks. The fire broke out in the booth from burning film. The damage caused is to the interior of the theatre, which was badly smoked, and to the booth. The Gem is closed while the adjustment of the insurance is being made.”

The October 9 issue of the same journal said that the fire-damaged Gem Theatre in Hedrick, Iowa, was undergoing repairs and would reopen soon.

SethG on March 9, 2020 at 2:32 pm

It has to have been the only one. Downtown is only 2 blocks.

50sSNIPES on August 23, 2023 at 10:24 am

Opened on September 6, 1913, first operated by J.H. Ward.