Gem Theatre
125 W. Main Street,
Blytheville,
AR
72315
125 W. Main Street,
Blytheville,
AR
72315
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The Gem Theatre was opened in 1930. In 1941, it was listed as (Closed) with 300 seats. It was reopened September 12, 1942 and continued through to at least 1950.
Contributed by
Ken Roe
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Recent comments (view all 5 comments)
I remember it was operated as a Spanish language theater in the 1960s by Warren Moxley.
This web page with a history of the Ritz Theatre also has a bit about the Gem. The house that became the Ritz was apparently called the Gem from about 1914 until 1924, when it suffered a fire. When it was rebuilt it was called the Ritz, and in the meantime this new Gem Theatre had been built at 125 West Main Street.
The 1930 opening date currently cited in the description must have been a re-opening. The Gem apparently closed and reopened more than once during the depressed early 1930s.
This theater’s site is now part of a parking lot.
The September 12, 1942, issue of the Blytheville Courier News said that the Gem Theatre had been reopened that day, after having been dark for several years:
Gem Theatre #2 opened in November of 1925 and closed February 18, 1951 with the new Ritz Theatre replacing it.