Gem Theatre

111 W. 1st St., Kannapolis
704/932-5111
www.gem-theatre.com [1]

True to its moniker, the Gem is a treasure. The historic theater screened its first feature film, Can This Be Dixie with Jane Withers, in 1936. A fire destroyed the theater in 1942 but it was rebuilt and opened again in 1948 with an ornate lobby and balcony seats.

It claims to be the oldest single-screen movie theater in operation in the United States and shows first-run films nightly.