Historic NC movie theater closes for million-dollar renovations. What’s next?
An iconic part of downtown Kannapolis — the 88-year-old Gem Theatre — has temporarily brought down the curtain. The historic movie theater is undergoing a second round of upgrades, this time for $1.2 million of interior renovations.
The movie theater at 111 Laureate Way went dark after the 7 p.m. Dec. 30 showing of Warner Bros. musical fantasy film “Wonka” to make way for a five-month face-lift, according to the city of Kannapolis. The theater is expected to re-open in May.
Gem Theatre is the oldest single-screen movie theater with balcony seating in the country, according to the theater website. It’s also on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Gem shows first-run movies at reduced prices.
This new phase of theater renovations is focused on interior improvements. Changes include replacing the seats, projector, screen and curtains, as well as repairing the historic plaster motif, according to the city.
In 2021, the Gem closed in February and reopened in May. That first phase of renovations cost $1.1 million and included three projects — adding first-floor bathroom that are handicapped accessible, adding a new air and heat system, and installing a new marquee.
What to expect with renovations at the Gem
Theater customers will notice the changes, Kannapolis spokeswoman Annette Privette Keller said.
So far, all of the theater chairs have been removed.
The changes balance the historic decorative elements of the theater with the needs of a modern business, Keller said. The new 700 seats will have more cushioning and cup holders, but not recline like some other movie theaters. The last time seating was improved was around the 1960s or 1970s, Keller said.
However, the balcony seats will be reupholstered. The floors will be refurbished, as will decorative plaster elements and wall repairs. “The only thing that should look and feel a little modern is the seats,” Keller said.
But even the new seating will be the same color of burgundy, as well as the curtains, as when the theater opened in the 1930s. “The colors are going to be from that time period,” Keller said.
A third phase could include expanding the lobby concession area and the back of the theater for productions. However, Keller said that phase has only been proposed so far.
Kannapolis and the Gem Theatre
The city of Kannapolis, less than 30 miles northeast of Charlotte, purchased the theater property and most of the downtown in 2015 for $8.75 million as part of its Downtown Revitalization Project.
“It’s an entertainment venue just like concerts in the parks or anything else,” Keller said.
Last year, the city acquired the theater itself for $325,000 from owner and operator Steve Morris, who has continued to book films and work as a consultant. Morris also is chairman of the Cabarrus County Board of Commissioners.
“The city’s willingness to invest in the theater will ensure the ongoing operation of the theater and protect its history,” said Morris, noting that has always been his goal as well. “The theater for a very long time has been a significant traffic generator to bring people downtown.”
Kannapolis budgeted $735,545 for the management of the theater, according to the city’s 2023 fiscal budget. The city’s parks and recreation department runs the theater.
Fundraising for theater renovations
In October, the city began three fundraising campaigns to help pay for the second phase of renovations.
The fundraisers include sponsoring a new seat, purchasing vintage seat and buying 500 bricks to be installed in the sidewalk in front of the theater’s marquee.
All 400 pairs of vintage seats sold out within weeks, Keller said. They had cost $100 per pair.
“People just want a piece of their childhood or past they want in remembrance,” she said.
About the Gem movie theater
Prior to this second phase of renovations, the Gem theater had a capacity for 900 people.
The family-friendly, one-screen movie theater shows one movie nightly. Movies are usually PG, Keller said.
Ticket prices are expected to remain the same, $5 for adults and $4 for children, when The Gem reopens — decidedly lower than similar evening prices for movie chains in the region.
The Gem opened in December 1936, in the middle of FDR’s time in office. It’s also the year that such classics as Charlie Chaplin’s “Modern Times” and “Swing Time,” featuring peak Rogers and Astaire, came out.
The opening movie at the Gem was “Can This Be Dixie?,” starring Jane Withers, according to the theater’s website.
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This story was originally published January 11, 2024 at 5:57 AM.