Gem Theatre
141 N. Clark Street,
Forest City,
IA
50436
141 N. Clark Street,
Forest City,
IA
50436
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Additional Info
Previous Names: Scenic Electric Theatre
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The Scenic Electric Theatre opened its doors during the week of December 10, 1908 and was renamed Gem Theatre in September 1909.
The theatre closed in early-1913 and was razed during the first week of May of that same year to make way for the Thompson & Clauson Lumber company.
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Recent comments (view all 3 comments)
Based on the dates, this fell between the 1907 and Nov. 1913 maps. The only candidate I see is 133-141 N Clark, where three wooden storefronts were replaced by the brick storefronts that are still there. The central storefront, which is labeled ‘Shoes & Dry Goods’ on the 1907 map, was the largest and deepest of those, and could have held a small early theater.
The lumber company does maybe throw a wrench into the theory, as the several lumber yards on the 1916 map are all there on the 1907 map as well. The 1916 map does have an A.M. Clauson’s Elevator and Coal Yard, but it is well west of town at the railroad tracks, and it wouldn’t have made any sense for a theater to have been there.
The March 4, 1911 issue of The Motion Picture News mentioned the Gem in an item saying that the house had been sold to a Mr. Porterfield of Hubbard, Iowa, by a Mr. Bixby.
The Scenic was mentioned in the May, 1909 issue of The Nickelodeon: “Forest City, Iowa. — G. C. Sample, who formerly conducted the Scenic Electric Theater in this city, has opened a moving picture theater at Jackson, Minn.”