Gem Theater

Originally named the Star Theater, the Gem was built in 1912 and designed by George Carman for the Shriner and Powellson Amusement Company as a silent movie palace serving Kansas City’s African American population. It was renamed the Gem in 1913, and it was remodeled in 1924 to a seating capacity of 1,238 and was equipped with the (then) most modern of heating, ventilation and projection systems.

The Gem’s years as a movie theater ended in 1960, and by the 1980s it had faded into a shadow of its former glory. However, when Mayor Richard Berkley and then City Councilman Emanuel Cleaver spearheaded the revitalization of 18th & Vine in the 1980s, the Gem Theater became a centerpiece of the district’s renovation efforts. Behind the restored 1912 façade is a modern 500-seat performing arts center, complete with state-of-the-art technology and equipment. It hosts a variety of community events, concert and theater productions and it stands as one of the crown jewels of the 18th & Vine corridor.

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