05/20/2026
Historic preservation comes in many forms.
Dubach’s historic Gem Theater reopening to feature new Star Wars film
For the first time since 1963, the silver screen at Dubach’s historic Gem Theater will light up with a feature film.
The theater, which first opened in 1937, will celebrate its grand reopening Friday with the first-day release of “Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu.” The film will be the first of what owner Eric Hanna hopes will be many new releases shown at the renovated downtown theater.
After three years of renovation, Hanna said the reopening represents more than the return of a movie screen. He sees it as part of a larger effort to revitalize downtown Dubach while preserving the town’s history.
“It’ll be huge,” Hanna said. “After we have people in the downtown, it’ll inspire other businesses to open.”
The renovated Gem includes 180 modern, comfortable seats, along with a newly added stage in front of the projection screen that will allow the theater to host other forms of entertainment when films are not being shown. The theater will also be available as a venue for special events.
For longtime residents, the Gem’s reopening is expected to offer a nostalgic connection to the theater’s earlier days. During the renovation, Hanna discovered old movie advertisements, snippets of old films, candy boxes, and other remnants left behind more than 60 years ago.
Among the more unusual discoveries was a pair of baby shoes found in a trash heap inside the building. Those shoes are expected to appear in a locally produced movie, with plans for that film to premiere at the Gem.
Hanna has stocked up on half-dollar coins and $2 bills to use as change, a trademark of Peewee Edwards who managed movie theaters in Ruston.
The theater’s history will also be honored in the balcony, where reserved seats will recognize Glen Neaville, who once worked as the Gem’s projectionist. Neaville and his date would sit just outside the projection room so he could change reels during the movie.
Two massive projectors remain in place, reminders of the days when films arrived on reels rather than in encrypted digital formats. In that era, two projectors were needed so a projectionist could switch seamlessly from one reel to the next. A 90-minute movie typically required about nine reels of film, with roughly 1,000 feet of film per reel. Longer movies required even more. The 1963 epic “Cleopatra,” with a runtime of 4 hours and 8 minutes, required 27 reels weighing about 135 pounds.
Hanna has also worked to restore the full moviegoing experience, including the popcorn. He flew to Maine to acquire a large vintage popcorn machine and drove it back to Dubach in a rented truck. In April, he used it to pop 16 pounds of corn for nearly 300 people who attended a sneak peek of the theater.
This weekend’s movie continues a Disney+ series, The Mandalorian, bringing Din Djarin and Grogu to the big screen. It marks the first Star Wars theatrical release since 2019. Directed by Jon Favreau, the movie follows bounty hunter Din Djarin (voiced/portrayed by Pedro Pascal) and his apprentice Grogu on a new adventure.
Grogu is 50 years old but has the appearance and behaviors of an infant. He belongs to the same unnamed alien species as Jedi Master Yoda. In addition to Pascal, the film features Sigourney Weaver who starred in “Alien,” another outer space movie series.
Hanna said the theater’s schedule will vary depending on whether it is showing first-run films or classic movies.
“There will be months we don’t choose to book a new release,” Hanna said. “We’ll book some classic movie or something of that nature and then we can maybe have two or three different shows, different movies that week, but when you book a first run, something that’s a new release, the studios generally require you to keep it for two weeks.”
As of now, films are scheduled to play Thursday through Saturday at 7:00 p.m. Tickets will be $8 for adults and $5 for children ages 3-11. Children two and under will be admitted free.
The Gem Theater has also launched its official website where visitors can view showtimes and purchase tickets: https://www.gemtheaterdubach.com/. The theater is located at 120 East Hico Street in Dubach.
