Gem Theatre
Downtown Kalamazoo Theater (1910–1912)
West side of South Burdick Street, between Main Street (Michigan Avenue) and South Street (134 South Burdick Street).
Originally opened and operated as the Vaudette Theater from 23 February 1907 to the end of June 1910. Remodeled and reopened as the “Gem Theater” in July 1910, Lewis C. Barnes, proprietor. Operated until 5 October 1912.
Postcard view of South Burdick St, looking north c.1912. Private collection.
Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo County, Michigan, 1908. Library of Congress
Kalamazoo Gazette: 25 July 1911, 26 July 1911, 3 August 1911.
Sources
Information originally compiled in 1995 by J.P. Jenks. Additional information was later added by library staff. Information compiled from Kalamazoo City Directory listings, details obtained in researching newspaper reports published at the time by the Kalamazoo Gazette and Kalamazoo Telegraph Press, Sanborn Fire Insurance maps, Kalamazoo County Warranty Deeds and numerous other sources.
Updated October 2009.
Additional Resources
Books
A history of theater in Kalamazoo
Pixley, Jorge V., 1958
H 792 P694
Theater in Kalamazoo from 1860–1890
Johns, Marion, 1955
H 792 J65
Articles
“Summer vaudeville for Kalamazoo”
Kalamazoo Gazette, 26 June 1910, p.5
Display ad
Kalamazoo Gazette, 3 July 1910, p.6
“Great improvement made in Gem Theater”
Kalamazoo Gazette, 12 February 1911, p.32
Display ad
Kalamazoo Gazette, 25 July 1911, p.10
Display ad
Kalamazoo Gazette, 26 July 1911, p.10
Display ad
Kalamazoo Gazette, 3 August 1911, p.8
“The Gem Theater again featuring vaudeville”
Kalamazoo Gazette, 15 October 1911, p.7
“Gem Theater reopens today”
Kalamazoo Gazette, 30 May 1912, p.2
“Fight pictures are best ever seen here”
Kalamazoo Gazette, 5 September 1912, p.6
“Kazoo film draws big crowds to Gem”
Kalamazoo Gazette, 18 September 1912, p.6
“Gem to close; Wagner et al. open billiard room”
Kalamazoo Gazette, 1 October 1912, p.4
Local History Room Files
Subject File: Theater