Gem

Gem. A Historic Place. , 1970s Return to Local Ownership , In 1971, the Murphy family ended their long tenure as operators of the Gem Drug Company. Lester Averette purchased the drugstore and, three years later, the Gem Theatre. Film screens continued throughout the decade., 1987 - 1991 Restoration and Renewal , In 1987, Will and Rachel Stone purchased the Gem Theater from Averette and launched an ambitious renovation effort. When it faltered, the City of Etowah purchased the building in 1991 and began a community-led restoration. , 1990s – Today A New Gem Shines , The City of Etowah, the Etowah Arts Commission, and countless volunteers restored the historic Gem Theater as a cultural landmark. Restoration stories – like rediscovered plaster light fixtures and the famous “chandelier debate” – reflect Etowah’s humor, passion, and community pride. , When the Gem Theater closed, its ownership fell to the Small Business Administration (SBA). Etowah Mayor Harold “Creepy” Cox contacted US Congressman John J. Duncan, Jr., who, in turn, persuaded the SBA to sell the Gem Theater to the City of Etowah at a price it could afford. , A critical moment for the future of the Gem Theater was when Tennessee legislatures Gene Elsa and Bob McKee secured state funding for restoration efforts. , Maintaining the historic Gem Theater remains a constant task, but the City of Etowah is grateful to all who support its efforts to keep the Gem Theater shining for generations to come.