Gem Theatre

Gem Theatre is a historic event and performing-arts venue in Detroit, Michigan. Although the building originated as a movie theater in 1927, its present identity is primarily associated with weddings, corporate functions, private events, dining, and selected live performances. The venue is operated by Forbes Hospitality and forms part of a combined historic complex that also includes the Century Theatre, the Century Dining Room, and the Century Club. The theater was developed beside the Twentieth Century Club, a women’s organization founded by prominent Detroit women. The club had commissioned architect George D. Mason for its clubhouse, and Mason designed the adjacent theater in a compatible Renaissance Revival style. The theater opened in 1927 as part of the Little Theatre Movement, a period initiative that encouraged smaller theatrical and cinematic venues. During its early decades, it operated under several names, including Little, Rivoli, Drury Lane, Europa, and Cinema. From 1960 to 1964, it housed the Vanguard Playhouse, a live-theater troupe associated with director George C. Scott. In 1966, the venue adopted the Gem name and operated as an adult cinema before closing in 1978. The vacant theater and adjoining club were listed together on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. Detroit developer Charles “Chuck” Forbes subsequently restored the buildings, reopening them as event venues in 1991. A major preservation challenge arrived in 1997, when both structures were threatened with demolition to make way for Comerica Park, the new home of the Detroit Tigers. Forbes led an effort to save them by moving the connected buildings to Madison Street, near the Detroit Athletic Club and across from the Music Hall. The 1,850-foot relocation reportedly involved 2,750 tons of building material, 72 dollies, and jacks rated at 50 tons each. The project cost approximately $5.5 million according to reference material and was recognized by Guinness World Records as the farthest relocation of a major building at the time. The National Register designation was retained because the move preserved the buildings’ architectural integrity. Today, the Gem presents itself as an adaptable historic hospitality and entertainment property rather than a conventional repertory theater. Its facilities include the main Gem Theatre, a second theater space known as the Century Theatre, a lower-level dining room, a central club area, and an outdoor patio. The interior is distinguished by Spanish Revival features, including a wood-beamed lobby, Pewabic Pottery wainscoting, decorative moldings, and a 456-seat theater auditorium featuring shields, rosettes, cupids, and fleur-de-lis. The venue continues to be used for weddings, corporate gatherings, private functions, broadcasts, political events, and occasional artistic productions.

The Gem Theatre’s history begins with Detroit’s Twentieth Century Club, a prominent women’s organization that built its clubhouse on Columbia Street in 1903. In 1927, the organization added a neighboring theater designed by George D. Mason, the architect of the clubhouse. The theater was intended partly to produce rental income and was associated with the Little Theatre Movement, which promoted smaller-scale theatrical and cinematic venues. The theater operated under a succession of names. It was known as the Little from 1928 to 1932, the Rivoli from 1932 to 1934, the Drury Lane in 1935, the Europa from 1935 to 1936, and the Cinema from 1936 until 1959. From 1960 through 1964, director George C. Scott established the Vanguard Playhouse in the building, giving it a period as a live-theater venue. In 1966, the theater became an adult cinema under the Gem name. It ultimately closed in 1978. The theater and the adjoining Century Club remained vacant for several years. In 1985, the two structures were listed together on the National Register of Historic Places. Local developer Charles “Chuck” Forbes restored the buildings and reopened them as event venues in 1991. Their survival was threatened again in 1997, when the Comerica Park project required clearance in the surrounding area. Forbes organized a preservation effort that resulted in the buildings being moved rather than demolished. The relocation placed the connected buildings on Madison Street near the Detroit Athletic Club and across from the Music Hall. The move covered roughly 1,850 feet, or about five blocks, and involved the two buildings moving together on 72 dollies. The total structure weight was approximately 2,750 tons. The relocation was reported to have cost $5.5 million and was recognized by Guinness World Records as the farthest relocation of a major building at that time. Because the architectural character remained intact, the National Register designation was retained. Following the move, the Gem became primarily a wedding, corporate, and private-event venue while continuing to accommodate entertainment and public programming. The broader complex now includes the Gem Theatre and Century Theatre, along with the Century Dining Room and Century Club. Its architectural identity comes from the combination of Renaissance Revival exterior details and Spanish Revival interiors. The facade uses red brick and sandstone trim that harmonize with the adjoining club, while the interior features a wood-beamed lobby, Pewabic Pottery, decorative moldings, and an ornate 456-seat auditorium. The venue has continued to attract high-profile activities despite its primary hospitality role. During Super Bowl XL in 2006, ABC broadcast Jimmy Kimmel Live! from the site for a week. In 2016, Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders held Democratic primary town halls there. In 2024, director Yuval Sharon used the venue for a presentation of Europeras 3 & 4, emphasizing the intimacy of the historic theater in comparison with the nearby Detroit Opera House. The Gem therefore functions today as a hybrid historic landmark, hospitality venue, and occasional performance space.

1. 2024Europeras 3 & 4 presented at the venue

   Yuval Sharon staged Europeras 3 & 4 at the Gem, using its intimate historic setting for the production.

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2. 2006Super Bowl XL broadcast location

   ABC broadcast Jimmy Kimmel Live! from the Gem Theatre for a week during Super Bowl XL activities.

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3. 1997Historic buildings moved to Madison Street

   The Gem and Century buildings were relocated approximately 1,850 feet to avoid demolition associated with the Comerica Park project.

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4. 1991Restored buildings reopen as event venues

   Developer Charles Forbes restored the Gem and Century buildings and reopened them for event use.

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5. 1985Buildings listed on the National Register

   The vacant theater and adjoining Century Club were listed together as a single National Register of Historic Places entry.

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6. 1978Theater closes

   The theater ceased operations after its period as an adult cinema.

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7. 1966Venue adopts the Gem name

   The theater became an adult cinema operating under the Gem name.

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8. 1960Vanguard Playhouse period begins

   George C. Scott established the Vanguard Playhouse live-theater troupe in the building.

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9. 1928Theater begins operating as the Little

   The venue began a series of name changes under which it operated as the Little, Rivoli, Drury Lane, Europa, and Cinema.

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10. 1927Adjacent theater constructed

    George D. Mason designed the theater beside the Century Club as a rental-producing venue associated with the Little Theatre Movement.

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11. 1903Twentieth Century Club clubhouse built

    The Twentieth Century Club, a prominent Detroit women’s organization, built its clubhouse on Columbia Street, creating the architectural partner to the later theater.

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A distinctive Detroit historic venue combining preserved early twentieth-century architecture with weddings, corporate hospitality, private events, dining, broadcasts, and occasional live performance programming.

• Gem TheatreHistoric theater and event venue1927

  The principal theater space in the complex, featuring a 456-seat auditorium with ornate Spanish Revival interiors, decorative plasterwork, Pewabic Pottery, and a wood-beamed lobby. It is used for weddings, corporate gatherings, private events, broadcasts, political programs, and occasional live performances.

• Century TheatreTheater and event space1903

  A second theater space housed in the same historic complex as the Gem Theatre. It supports the property’s event, hospitality, and performance functions and is part of the restored buildings moved to Madison Street in 1997.

• Century Dining RoomDining and hospitality

  A lower-level dining space within the Gem and Century complex, supporting private functions, receptions, and the venue’s broader hospitality offering.

• Century ClubClub and event space1903

  The central club area on the main level, derived from the historic Twentieth Century Club complex and used as a gathering and event space connected to the theater facilities.

• 2016Democratic primary town halls

  United States

  The Gem Theatre hosted presidential-primary town halls for Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders, demonstrating its use as a civic and political gathering venue in addition to its hospitality role.

  Outcome. The venue served as a high-profile Detroit location for campaign events.

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• 1997Relocation chosen over demolitionStrategy

  The Gem Theatre and adjoining Century Club faced demolition during development connected with Comerica Park.

  What changed. Charles Forbes led a preservation effort to move both connected buildings approximately 1,850 feet to Madison Street.

  Aftermath. The buildings were preserved, their architectural integrity was retained, and their National Register designation continued. The move enabled the complex to operate as a restored event and entertainment venue.

  Relocation cost. $5.5 million (1997)

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• 2024Yuval Sharon stages Europeras 3 & 4 at the Gem Theatre

  Director Yuval Sharon presented John Cage’s Europeras 3 & 4 at the Gem Theatre, using the smaller historic venue to create a more intimate setting than the nearby Detroit Opera House.

  Product launch
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• 2016Political town halls held at the Gem Theatre during the Democratic primary

  Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders each held a town hall at the Gem Theatre during the 2016 Democratic presidential primary campaign.

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• 2006ABC broadcasts Jimmy Kimmel Live! from the Gem during Super Bowl XL

  ABC used the Gem Theatre as the Detroit location for a week of Jimmy Kimmel Live! broadcasts during Super Bowl XL activities.

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• 1997Gem and Century buildings relocated to make way for Comerica Park

  The Gem Theatre and adjoining Century Club were moved approximately 1,850 feet to Madison Street after facing demolition connected with the development of Comerica Park. The relocation preserved the historic buildings and their National Register status.

  Other
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1. Gem Theatre (Detroit)
2. Gem Theatre official website