The Gem Theatre, which continues to entertain patrons, is a real small town treasure. My uncle A.S. Johnson Jr.'s notes date this Johnson theater job to 1940. The Gem is located at 120 Ross Street in Beaverton, Michigan.
My grandfather Al Johnson has left behind no slides of the Gem Theatre for us to enjoy, but several photos taken between 1940 and more recently are available online. Older images of the theater are remarkable for the apparent lack of a marquee or Gem signage. The sepia tone image taken opening week (below) shows two pairs of half-hexagonal glass entrance doors (a version of the "Johnson door") similar to those on the Bad Axe and other theatres built by Johnson Construction Co.
The Cinema Treasures site provide this history of the Gem Theatre: "It was in continuous operation since the 1940’s. It was closed in March 2016 for renovation. It had reopened by November 2018."
Seth Landon, whose family owned and operated the theater for several years, has provided several photos and family memories on the WaterWinterWonderland.com website. Regarding a recent renovation of the theater Seth noted: "You would be amazed but that wiring in there is all the same with a few upgrades. They said it passed the inspection."
It's clear from the "History" tab on the current Gem Theatre website that it's only because several key individuals cherished the theater and stepped forward during lean economic years, that the Gem has survived for over eighty years to offer a retro movie-viewing experience in the twenty-first century.