Jewel Theatre Research

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | Spring 2024

The Institute for Quality Communities (IQC) has partnered with Open Design Collective to support the restoration efforts for the historic Jewel Theater. Built in 1931 by entrepreneurial couple, Percy and Hathyel James, the Jewel served as a critically important cultural institution during the era of segregation in Northeast Oklahoma City (NEOKC); the city’s predominantly Black community. Activities at the theater extended beyond viewing movies and included events such as live concerts and performances and social gatherings while also serving as a local news source for the community. The Jewel still stands as the last existing, historically Black theater left in OKC and is one of the few physical assets remaining that represents the rich Black legacy of the area. The theater ended operations in the 1970’s and has sat vacant ever since. Over the years the theater has sustained significant interior, exterior, and structural damage, and is at high risk for further dilapidation. Open Design Collective secured a Mellon Foundation grant to work alongside the Jewel Theater team, the IQC, and other community stakeholders to begin the restoration process and to ultimately save the theater. This research document, developed by Interior Design graduate student, Brianna Haley, highlights historically Black theaters from a design perspective to offer insights on how the aesthetics and programming of the Jewel Theater could be reimagined in the future.