Lynne's Lens
Jewel Theater and History
Located on NE 4th, OKC
This theater was one of four Jewel Theaters built by Percy H. James (the others were in Amarillo, Ardmore, and Wewoka). All of the theaters were named after James' daughter, Jewel, and served African-American communities during the oppressive days of segregation. Instead of going to white theaters, where they were looked upon with scorn and had to be tucked out of sight in dark balconies, theaters like the Jewel, located along then-bustling NE 4th Street in the heart of the Deep Deuce district, allowed African Americans to watch a movie in a much more comfortable and friendly environment.
The Jewel Theater in OKC was built in 1931 and was one of three movie houses in the Deep Deuce district. The first mention I find of the theater in the Daily Oklahoman archives is on March 26, 1937 (and it's referenced as the Jewel Negro Theater), when an inspector had to cut off the theater's heating system because it was practically identical to the one used at the New London, Texas, school that exploded the week before, killing over 400 teachers and children. The system was soon repaired or replaced, and the Jewel was back in business in no time.
I know that the theater thrived through the 1960's, but I find no mention of it in the archives after the 1980's. Although it is boarded up and in need of some serious repair, this Deep Deuce treasure was added to the National Register in 2009, and while efforts have been made to renovate the old theater since then, it remains in the same sad condition today.
As for Percy James, he was quite a figure in OKC's history. In the late 1910's, he worked for the Coca-Cola Bottling Plant in town and was befriended by the plant's manager, who told James that he should start his own plant because Coca-Cola was not allowed to serve the African-American community. So, around 1921, James opened the Afri-Kola Bottling Plant in NE OKC (Afri-Kola later became Jay-Kola), which produced a wide array of flavored carbonated drinks. In a 2012 interview featured in the The Oklahoman, Percy James' granddaughter, Jewel Jones, recalled that, "the Jay-Kola soda company was on 10th Street. It was really a garage in the back of their house. They had some of the most unique flavors. They had formulas for peach and strawberry and root beer. The cream soda, I think, was the favorite."
With the immediate success of this business, Percy James quickly became a prominent leader in the Deep Deuce community and added to his holdings when he built the four theaters and bought buildings along NE 2nd that housed a hotel, restaurant, pool hall, and dress shop. In the 40's, James even sponsored an Oklahoma City Negro baseball team, the Jay-Kola Giants.
Percy also owned a grand home behind the bottling plant that he shared with his first wife Hattie, and their daughter, Jewel. Hattie and Percy divorced in 1940, and he soon married Arvella.
James retired in 1963 due to illness. With no one to lead the company, Jay-Kola soon folded, and Percy James died in 1965. His home and the original bottling plant were torn down during urban renewal, and a housing development was built on the site in the 80's.
As for the Jewel Theater, Arthur Hurst bought the vacant building in the early 70's with dreams of restoring his favorite childhood movie house to its former glory, but one thing or another has prevented him from doing much more than restoring the awning about 10 years ago. That wasn't enough to stop the city from threatening to condemn and demolish the building in 2011, which prompted Hurst and his supporters to throw a big music benefit in 2012 to raise funds to restore the theater. Since then, all has been quiet, and the Jewel looks as sad and dilapidated as ever.
Jewel Theater and History
Located on NE 4th, OKC
This theater was one of four Jewel Theaters built by Percy H. James (the others were in Amarillo, Ardmore, and Wewoka). All of the theaters were named after James' daughter, Jewel, and served African-American communities during the oppressive days of segregation. Instead of going to white theaters, where they were looked upon with scorn and had to be tucked out of sight in dark balconies, theaters like the Jewel, located along then-bustling NE 4th Street in the heart of the Deep Deuce district, allowed African Americans to watch a movie in a much more comfortable and friendly environment.
The Jewel Theater in OKC was built in 1931 and was one of three movie houses in the Deep Deuce district. The first mention I find of the theater in the Daily Oklahoman archives is on March 26, 1937 (and it's referenced as the Jewel Negro Theater), when an inspector had to cut off the theater's heating system because it was practically identical to the one used at the New London, Texas, school that exploded the week before, killing over 400 teachers and children. The system was soon repaired or replaced, and the Jewel was back in business in no time.
I know that the theater thrived through the 1960's, but I find no mention of it in the archives after the 1980's. Although it is boarded up and in need of some serious repair, this Deep Deuce treasure was added to the National Register in 2009, and while efforts have been made to renovate the old theater since then, it remains in the same sad condition today.
As for Percy James, he was quite a figure in OKC's history. In the late 1910's, he worked for the Coca-Cola Bottling Plant in town and was befriended by the plant's manager, who told James that he should start his own plant because Coca-Cola was not allowed to serve the African-American community. So, around 1921, James opened the Afri-Kola Bottling Plant in NE OKC (Afri-Kola later became Jay-Kola), which produced a wide array of flavored carbonated drinks. In a 2012 interview featured in the The Oklahoman, Percy James' granddaughter, Jewel Jones, recalled that, "the Jay-Kola soda company was on 10th Street. It was really a garage in the back of their house. They had some of the most unique flavors. They had formulas for peach and strawberry and root beer. The cream soda, I think, was the favorite."
With the immediate success of this business, Percy James quickly became a prominent leader in the Deep Deuce community and added to his holdings when he built the four theaters and bought buildings along NE 2nd that housed a hotel, restaurant, pool hall, and dress shop. In the 40's, James even sponsored an Oklahoma City Negro baseball team, the Jay-Kola Giants.
Percy also owned a grand home behind the bottling plant that he shared with his first wife Hattie, and their daughter, Jewel. Hattie and Percy divorced in 1940, and he soon married Arvella.
James retired in 1963 due to illness. With no one to lead the company, Jay-Kola soon folded, and Percy James died in 1965. His home and the original bottling plant were torn down during urban renewal, and a housing development was built on the site in the 80's.
As for the Jewel Theater, Arthur Hurst bought the vacant building in the early 70's with dreams of restoring his favorite childhood movie house to its former glory, but one thing or another has prevented him from doing much more than restoring the awning about 10 years ago. That wasn't enough to stop the city from threatening to condemn and demolish the building in 2011, which prompted Hurst and his supporters to throw a big music benefit in 2012 to raise funds to restore the theater. Since then, all has been quiet, and the Jewel looks as sad and dilapidated as ever.