Gem Theatre
115 W. Walnut Street,
Rogers,
AR
72756
115 W. Walnut Street,
Rogers,
AR
72756
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That certainly fits with the dates of the maps. Could have begun as the Ozark, and become the Gem. As we know, there are often a lot of name changes. I didn’t have any information, but Ken often helps with an ID when I find one of these.
I came across this Facebook post from the Rogers Historical Museum, and it says that 115 W. Walnut was the address of a movie house called the Ozark Theatre that opened on April 15, 1910. Unfortunately the post doesn’t go into any detail about the building’s later history.
I suppose this could have later become the Lyric, but there are other candidates. It would be nice if the 1923 map was available online. Should be by now, but the LoC hasn’t scanned it.
The Gem operated at least into 1917, when it was mentioned in the January 6 issue of Moving Picture World. Later the town had houses called the Lyric (by 1919,) the Victoria (by 1920,) and the Lion Head (permanently closed in June or July, 1922.) The only theater listed at Rogers in the 1926 FDY was the Victory.
I’ve added a photo from my visit years ago.