KANNAPOLIS, N.C. — Don't call it a curtain call. Instead, think of it as a costume change for Kannapolis' historic single-screen movie theater.
The city of Kannapolis announced Friday the Gem Theatre would be closed for renovations beginning Dec. 31, 2023. While the silver screen within will go dark for a time, the second round of renovations at the theatre are expected to wrap by the spring of 2024.
The renovations include new seats, a new screen and projector, and repairs to historic plaster motifs.
The city encourages anyone who wants to help support the next phase of renovations to do so by sponsoring a new seat or marquee sidewalk brick; purchases of vintage seats are now sold out. Click here for more details.
In addition to individual purchases, corporate sponsorship packages ranging from $500 to $1,000 are available. Companies interested in this opportunity can email GEM@kannapolisnc.gov.
All gifts are tax-deductible.
The Gem Theatre, according to its website, originally opened on New Year's Eve in 1936 but was gutted by fire years later in 1942. It was rebuilt in 1948 with a new lobby and 916 seats, including the balcony section. It remains among one of the oldest single-screen movie theatres in continuous operation to this day and one of only a few theatres to offer balcony seating.