In 1937, Pioche received a new source of entertainment  – a movie theater. With the lead and zinc deposits found during WWII helping to justify this new and exciting establishment, the community jumped at the chance to see the newest films in their hometown like “Snow White and the Seven Dwarves” and “Saratoga,” a film starring Clark Gable. The excitement generated by this new treasure on main street helped to justify the name it was given: the Gem Theater. 

Locals tell stories of the good times when the reels were rolling, the popcorn was popping, and parents would take their children to the movies while Mom and Dad went and enjoyed a nice quiet meal at the Grub Steak. Unfortunately, time took its toll, and like the Grub Steak, along with many other cornerstones of Main Street, the Gem officially turned out the lights for the last time in 2002.

The Gem has passed through a few hands during the past 18 years, with ownership going to locals and out-of-towners alike. But most recently, in January 2020, the Gem fell into the hands of a longtime fan of old theaters, Melissa Clary. She purchased the building from the Orrs and looks forward to the prospect of getting the 300-seat business back up and running.

Clary has spent the last 10 summers visiting Pioche. While she never knew the Gem in its heyday, she has experience in restoration projects. During her first time in the theater since she purchased it, Clary found ancient popcorn left in the popcorn machine, which seemed to serve as a sign for how much work is needed. But, as a self-proclaimed history buff and preservationist, and supported by her general contractor boyfriend, Daniel Roberts, Clary looks forward to transforming the Gem back into a place where people can enjoy the glamor of Hollywood once more.

Clary suspects she has a relative buried in Boot Hill cemetery, which further adds to her desire to build up Pioche. She hasn’t done any restorations of old cinemas, but she has restored an old house in Las Vegas, and on top of that, she’s researched the process thoroughly. She looks forward to the challenges the Gem might pose. But due to the COVID-19 epidemic, she knows there’s a certain level of patience she has to exercise.

“For some of this stuff, you have to be patient and wait for stuff to play out,” Clary said during an interview, although she admitted later, “I like to see things move along.”

For Clary and Roberts, the process of restoration will begin with compartmentalizing the costs of each major repair that the Gem will require. From there, they’ll budget out the costs and begin to make the repairs needed. While a specific construction company hasn’t yet been selected, Clary figures she’ll make those decisions once the planning process begins to take shape.

The new owner is looking forward to the new events and programming she wants to incorporate, including eighties cult classics and movies that portray the west as it was during Pioche’s silver rush. Clary is also working with the state preservation office to get the building recognized as a historic location, which may bring in more grants and protections.

She looks forward to the day when they can sell popcorn and candy while people from all over the county come to enjoy a good movie. She also mentioned that she appreciates the support from the community and has had a lot of longtime locals tell her stories about their experiences at the Gem. One main concern is that the lack of foot traffic in Pioche may make it hard to get a return on investment. “We’re going to have to boost tourism for the theater to survive,” she noted.

However, with hope and hard work, and a lot of support from all of the communities in Lincoln County, the Gem Theater may once more open its doors to the public.