Jewel Theatre
904 NE 4th Street,
Oklahoma City,
OK
73104
904 NE 4th Street,
Oklahoma City,
OK
73104
2 people
favorited this theater
The Jewel Theatre was opened on September 12, 1931, operated by Hathyel L. James and Percy H. James as an African-American Theatre.
Closed by the late-1970’s, the Jewel Theatre 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 17 comments)
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?
The Jewel Theatre is now owned by Arthur Hurst. The Jewel Foundation is helping to remodel the building and turn it back into a working movie and play theatre. For more information or help please email me at !!! We are excited about the progess already being made, we are currently rasing and accepting money for a new roof!!! If anyone has any type of pictures of the building from 1930s to 1970s PLEASE contact me!!! Thank you all!!!
For more information about the Jewel Theatre or Jewel Foundation you can go to the website at jeweltheatre.webs.com!!! We are having a Blues Festivals to help raise funds for the theatre you can find all the details on the website!!!
Posted in photos is the September 12, 1931 grand opening ad for the Jewel Theatre. Pioneering African American showpersons Hathyel L. James and Percy H. “PH” James operated both this venue and the Ardmore Jewel Theater for African American patrons. Mr. and Mrs. Clinton A. Newton took on the venue in January of 1954 and would convert it to widescreen to present CinemaScope titles.