Gem Theater

The Colusa Daily Sun covered the opening of the Gem Theater on March 5, 1910, and by 1916 the Colusa Herald advertised it as “The Home of Paramount Pictures”.

The Gem Theater, after a remodeling and installation of Vitaphone sound equipment reopened September 1, 1929, with “The Sophomore” starring Eddie Quillan.

On January 6, 1940, the theater was burned by a $20,000 fire ($450,000 in 2024 dollars), caused by a discarded cigarette in the loge section. Thanks to automatic safety equipment the projection room and machines were saved. Ned Steele of the Colusa Theater said the theater would be rebuilt.

Film Daily Year Book 1950 listed the Gem Theater with 422 seats, down from the 550 seats in 1926, which included the balcony.

On June 8, 1964, it was reported “The city council has sold the old Gem Theatre and the old city hall (next door) for $18,000. The two structures will be remodeled”.

With the second story removed and the front modernized, the location today would be Fulcher Paint next to the 1889 city hall building, which still exists.

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