Gem Theatre
An African-American theatre in South Nashville active in the 1940's and '50s.
Theatre History[edit | edit source]
Located at 1003 First Avenue South, the site sits at the intersection with Lafayette St. A block north of Cameron school, formerly the main black high school in South Nashville during segregation, this area enjoys a long African-American cultural influence such as Central Tennessee College and the birth of Meharry Medical College before moving to North Nashville as well as the large Napier and Sudekum neighborhoods. Evidence of use at the site includes "a liberal reward offered" for a missing bull from the address in the early 1920s as well as a tragic stabbing related to a craps game at the "store and eating house of Dave Edwards."
The building after the Gem[edit | edit source]
External References[edit | edit source]
https://cinematreasures.org/theaters/11438 "Operating from 1941 to 1955 as an African-American theatre by the Bijou Amusement Company.. This is probably the last of the old segregated theatres still standing in the metro Nashville area. Remarkably many of the vestiges of when the building was a theatre, such as the ticket/concession stand, the projection booth, the stage, etc., still remain intact. The Gem Theatre has a neat and enticing feel to it. Definitely worth a visit. - Contributed by Jack Coursey"
https://nashvillehistoricalnewsletter.com/2021/10/18/nashville-movie-theaters/ "Researcher John Coursey has compiled a comprehensive list of Nashville cinemas... Gem – 1003 1st Ave. S, Nashville TN 37210; Dates on File: 1945-1955; Status: Retail; Screens: 1; Seating: Unknown."