Landers Theatre
332 E. Main Street,
Batesville,
AR
72501
332 E. Main Street,
Batesville,
AR
72501
1 person
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Functions: Church
Styles: Art Deco
Previous Names: Gem Opera House, Gem Theatre
Nearby Theaters
The Gem Opera House opened in 1906 in a three-story structure located on Main Street. By the early-1920’s, the Gem had become a movie house, with only occasional stage shows. It became the first movie theatre in the area to screen sound films. In 1931. Will Rogers appeared on the stage of Gem Theatre. By 1941 it had been renamed the Landers Theatre for the family which would operate the theatre for three generations, until it closed on November 21, 1996 with Goldie Hawn in “The First Wives Club”. After it closed as a movie house, it was used infrequently for concerts until finally closing in 2001.
Contributed by
Bryan
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Recent comments (view all 7 comments)
Restoration news:
http://tinyurl.com/38qwnt
Here is another photo. The church was on its way.
http://tinyurl.com/ygy29tt
I saw the Empire Strikes back there back in 1980. I remember it was a pretty good theater, but my family preferred the one down the street.
1955 postcard added via Jan Burrow Qualls.
New interior photo of concessions added.
The Gem Opera House launched in 1906 and turned Gem Theatre in 1911. It changed names again at the end of 1930 as the sound era tran anniversarysition was happening. The Gem Theatre became the Landers Theatre named after the Landers family who operated the location. It converted to CinemaScope on March 8, 1954. It received its last major interior update in 1984. The Landers closed its continuous movie operation at its 90th Anniversary with “First Wives Club” on November 21, 1996. The theatre continued with sporadic live events thereafter.
It is still Fellowship Bible Church today. Marquee appears restored since the 2010 photo.