Gem Theater

Behind the restored 1912 façade of this historic theater is a modern 500-seat performing arts center, complete with state-of-the-art technology and equipment. Originally named the Star Theater, the Gem was built in 1912 by 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 by the time motion pictures could talk in 1929, it had become an established fixture on 18th Street. Unfortunately, its years as a movie theatre 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. As a result of the vision and perseverance of Kansas City’s civic leaders, the Gem was restored into a beautiful, state-of-the art performance venue. Are you looking for a unique Kansas City venue in which to hold your next function? Look no further than the 18th & Vine Historic Jazz District. Opened in 1997, the 72,000 square foot cultural facility includes the American Jazz Museum, the Horace M. Peterson III Visitor Center, Changing Gallery, The Blue Room jazz club, and the Gem Theater. Singly or in combination, these one-of-a-kind spaces can set the stage for a memorable event that will thrill native Kansas Citians and out-of-towners alike.