Gem Theatre
1913-1964
Learn the history of Knoxville's premiere Black movie house and popular gathering space for the community.
The Movie House
History of Gem Theatre
Established in 1913, the Gem Theatre was Knoxville's premiere Black movie house, once described as "the center of the Negro business and professional life of Knoxville" by The Knoxville News-Sentinel in 1942. Until its closure in 1965, Gem was the the primary place to see a movie in Knoxville's Black business district. Other movie theaters like the Rivera and the Tennessee were closed to Black patrons. At the Bijou Theatre, Black people could only see a movie if they sat up in the balcony. The Gem Theatre was a place where Black patrons were welcomed to sit wherever they liked before integration.
The Gem Theatre at the corner of Vine and Central Street.
Established 1913
at 106 West Vine Avenue
The Gem Theatre was first erected at 102 West Vine Avenue, where it stayed for a little under 10 years until the business expanded to a larger building at the corner of Vine and Central. The early Gem housed an orchestra pit, allowing for numerous plays and exciting performances from renowned artists.
Expanded in 1920
to 106 East Vine Avenue
The new theatre at 106 East Vine Avenue was first named the Dixie Theatre, which opened with a seating capacity of 1,400 in 1920. Its building was large enough to house 20 business under its roof, including a pawn shop, bakery, fruit stand, candy store, barbershop, bowling alley, restaurant, and other enterprises. The grand opening weekend benefited the Colored Orphanage, which later became the Ethel Beck Home.
Dixie Theatre, later the Gem Theatre. Policeman Earnest Scruggs stands on patrol at the corner.
Projectionist hard at work at the Gem theatre.
Walter C. Kennedy
1862-1944
Walter C. Kennedy owned and managed Gem Theatre. In the late 1920s, he was one of the most successful Black businessmen in Knoxville. Born in Jonesboro, Tennessee, Kennedy came to Knoxville at a young age and was later employed as a jeweler at Hope Brothers on Gay Street. Kennedy's sons, Walter E. Kennedy and Clarence Kennedy helped with the runnings of the theatre. Clarent worked as an assistant manager while Walter was the proprieter of the popular Gem Sweet Shop.
Left: Walter C. Kennedy featured in The Knoxville Negro (1929)
The 1942 Fire
In July of 1942, a blazing fire destroyed the entire building, which was soon rebuilt to operate primarily as a theatre, though it oftened provided stage for performers like blues legend Ida Cox. The "new" Gem housed an 800-seat theater, uniquely situated with the stage and screen near the front entrance, meaning patrons had to walk in front of the screen to get a seat.
The closing of gem theatre
After Knoxville’s theatres were desegregated in 1964, the Gem ceased operation and was eventually taken in the 1970s to make way for the proposed James White Parkway, making Gem Theatre another casualty of Urban Renewal. The Petsafe Dog Park in downtown Knoxville on Central Street is where Gem once stood.
