OKLAHOMA CITY — On Nov. 22, 2024, the Jewel Theater, Oklahoma’s only remaining historically Black-owned theater, marked a key milestone in its restoration. It will reopen as a movie and performing arts venue, preserving its legacy as a cultural hub for Oklahoma City’s Black community and a key part of Deep Deuce’s revitalization.
Opened in 1931 by Hathyel and Percy James, the Jewel Theater was part of their influence on Oklahoma City’s legally-segregated East Side, which included the Jay-Kola Bottling Company. The Jameses also operated theaters in Ardmore, Wewoka, and Amarillo, but the theater franchise ended after Percy James retired in 1963 and passed away in 1965.
The theater was located in Oklahoma City’s historic Deep Deuce district — essentially the black, segregated downtown of OKC. The area was eventually split up by the expansion of Lincoln into a wide boulevard and then the addition of the large Central Expressway between downtown and Lincoln.
But when the segregated neighborhood was still geographically whole, the theater was a hub for Black patrons, hosting films and jazz and blues concerts by renowned musicians. The 28-by-115-foot building, with its projection room, ticket booth, workroom, and red velvet seats, symbolized opportunity and belonging for Black communities excluded from most public spaces.
A rare remnant of a thriving mid-20th-century black mixed-use area, it recalls a time when the neighborhood buzzed with restaurants, music venues, and businesses that were concentrated in the area by the harsh realities of Oklahoma City’s segregation ordinances.
Arthur Hurst, a lifelong resident and former visitor of the Jewel Theater, purchased it in the 1980s and founded a nonprofit to restore it. Despite challenges with funding, Hurst and his team have made significant progress, meeting fundraising goals and sharing the Jewel’s story locally and nationally.
“I always went to this theater from the time I was old enough to walk down here by myself,” Hurst said at the ceremony. “Growing up in this neighborhood and seeing all the development, I appreciate everything that everybody’s given and see that people are really interested in keeping this neighborhood and city alive.”
The theater was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2009 and listed as endangered by Preservation Oklahoma in 2013. Since then, community members have come together to balance preserving its history with addressing the area’s current needs.
A family legacy
Jewel Jones, the granddaughter of Hathyel and Percy James and daughter of the theater’s namesake, attended the event at 80 years old to honor her family’s legacy. Her appearance was met with a standing ovation from the audience.
“There are so many wonderful memories that I have here,” Jones shared with the audience. “And as I stand and look at Oklahoma City today, I am absolutely in awe. This theater is really just a crown jewel. It doesn’t look like what it used to, but it has the greatest potential for development in Oklahoma City.”
Her cousin, William James, also attended and thanked the community, volunteers, donors and staff for their efforts to preserve the building’s unique history and character.
“My family owes you a tremendous debt of gratitude,” James told the audience. “The Jewel will stand not only as a restored landmark, but as a vibrant symbol of what we can accomplish when we come together. Thank you for helping bring this treasure and almost-lost jewel back to life and to the community.”
Next steps for the Jewel Theater
Vanessa Morrison and Deborah Richards, co-founders of Open Design Collective—the first women-led nonprofit design firm in Oklahoma—are leading the Jewel Theater’s revitalization. Specializing in cultural preservation and urban planning, the firm focuses on projects that celebrate and preserve Black and marginalized communities. They joined the theater’s restoration in 2019, playing a key role in securing funding.
“The origin story of Open Design actually started here in this neighborhood,” Morrison told Free Press in an interview before the ceremony. “So we just immediately felt inspired to do something to support this project, and not only the historic theater, but the work that this foundation was doing with little to no resources to save this sacred space.”
They launched storytelling and video projects, securing a micro-grant and laying the foundation for reclaiming and sharing the neighborhood’s Black cultural space.
The Jewel Theater project gained momentum not just from the Open Design Collective but also from the Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU), a national organization dedicated to community revitalization through urban design.
The connection began when then Oklahoma City Council member and now Senator Nikki Nice nominated the theater for CNU’s Legacy Projects initiative, which highlights and supports local efforts during its annual conference. Selected during the 2022 conference in Oklahoma City, the project received national recognition and pro-bono urban design expertise.
CNU collaborated with the Open Design Collective, Hurst, the Presbyterian Health Foundation, the Alliance for Economic Development of Oklahoma City, and local stakeholders to revitalize the historic Black-owned district.
“That was a big catalyst for the project because we got to tell that Jewel Theater story on a national stage,” Morrison said. “It brought more excitement and visibility to the project.”
In 2022, Nice hosted community events to share her vision for the Jewel Theater’s future. A member of the Oklahoma City Council from 2018 to 2024, she had long supported the project and worked with Hurst to save the theater. She also collaborated on a community art installation, inviting residents to share stories and photos for a dynamic display wrapping the building.
“Thank God that we have a community and people in the fold that said they want to continue to create and keep this legacy in place,” Nice said from the stage at the ceremony. “If you can, help us continue to raise funds and do the things that we need to do to keep the Jewel Theater alive and to ensure that when we have projects that come, they do not erase the legacy of Deep Deuce in the Jewel Theater.”
A major turning point
In 2022, the Jewel Theater received a $1 million grant from the Mellon Foundation to stabilize its core structure. The grant also supported project management, architectural services, and schematic design with additional backing from local partners like the Kirkpatrick Family Foundation, Inasmuch Foundation, and Thelma Gaylord Foundation.
The nearly 100-year-old building requires careful restoration due to its age.
Phase one focuses on structural repairs, including a new roof, brick restoration, securing windows and doors, and electrical upgrades. Future plans include interior updates, such as bathroom renovations, and restoring the vintage marquee.
“The Mellon Foundation grant sort of catalyzed this construction process,” Morrison said in an interview.
Construction on the theater began in November 2024. Long-time supporters Gabrielle and Stephen Butler, who run a nonprofit consulting firm, have worked alongside community organizations to keep the project on track.
“We’re seeking to bring in additional dollars, both from a national level, but also here locally, just to show that a lot of the city supports this effort and recognizes not only the theater and the rich African American history within Oklahoma City, but also what can be the restoration of this entire program,” Stephen Butler told Free Press in an interview.
The Butlers focus on supporting Black-led initiatives in Northeast Oklahoma City, recognizing the area’s rich cultural heritage. Butler said he’s excited about revitalization efforts, including MAPS-funded projects like the Henrietta B. Foster Center and Booker T. Washington Park. The Jewel Theater’s restoration, along with the renovation of the nearby Morgan Building, is part of a broader effort to preserve Oklahoma City’s Black history.
However, the work is far from complete. The theater’s future depends on continued support and funding to secure its role as a vibrant part of Oklahoma City’s cultural landscape.
“We have a long journey ahead,” Morrison said before the ceremony. “This is the first step in the restoration process, and there are multiple phases that are going to be after this one. Stay involved, stay connected, and see how you can support in the future.”
A jewel in the film community
The Jewel Theater’s restoration underscores its cultural importance, especially in the film community. Future plans include film festivals, live performances, and events celebrating local heritage.
In 2023, the documentary “The Jewel,” produced by Prairie Surf and Notis Studios, was announced. Set for release after the theater’s revitalization, it explores the theater’s role in Deep Deuce and the impact of urban renewal.
Dekoven Riggins, co-owner of Notis Studios, expressed a personal connection to the project as both a resident and filmmaker. He highlighted plans to showcase local films, especially those by Black filmmakers, at the theater.
“This theater is a beacon of hope as we continue to grow in filmmaking,” Riggins said. “We will have a space right here in Northeast Oklahoma City where we can represent our stories and bring our stories to life right here.”
At the Nov. 22 event, attendees in hard hats toured the Jewel Theater’s construction zone, previewing its future as a film venue with popcorn and candy in hand. The program included restoration updates and a video of an artist’s renderings of the completed space. By the end, it was clear the Jewel will be central to revitalizing Oklahoma City’s Deep Deuce district, celebrating community, creativity, and history.
Zoe Elrod covers events and happenings around Oklahoma City for Free Press bringing her skill as a reporter and photographer. Zoe has spent her career covering local musicians, artists, politicians, and everyday folks.
