Gem Theatre

DavidAndrews on May 17, 2020 at 7:36 pm

A side note: “The Model” referenced in the August 24 1910 article was a ladies ready to wear store, not a movie theatre.

Joe Vogel on May 10, 2020 at 2:44 am

The October 15, 1910 issue of The Moving Picture World had this item:

“Palestine. Tex. — Bell & Englebretch, of St. Louis, have opened a new moving picture theater at 288 Oak street. It is known as the ‘Gem.’”

It’s possible that Palestine renumbered its lots at some point, accounting for the discrepancy in the address. It might also be that the building erected in 1908 did not become a theater until 1910, or perhaps Bell & Englebretch simply didn’t tell the magazine that they were taking over an existing theater when they sent in their notice to the editors.

By 1925 the Gem was being operated by Robb & Rowley Theatres, and that year it suffered a major fire, as noted in this item from the October 24 issue of Universal Weekly:

“H B. ROBB of the Robb and Rowley Enterprises announces that his firm is planning an extensive remodeling program for their theatres in Palestine, Texas. Besides remodeling and rebuilding the Gem, which was recently destroyed by fire, they contemplate spending $25,000 on the Best.”