Washoe Theater facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Washoe Theater
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The theater's marquis, March 2009
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 Location in Montana
Location in the United States
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| Location | 305 Main Street Anaconda, Montana United States |
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| Built | 1931 |
| Architect | B. Marcus Priteca |
| NRHP reference No. | 82003162 |
| Added to NRHP | April 30, 1982 |
The Washoe Theater is a super cool historic movie theater located in Anaconda, Montana. It's so special that it's listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's an important part of American history!
Contents
What Makes the Washoe Theater Special?
The Washoe Theater is at 305 Main Street in Anaconda. It's famous because it was the very last theater built in the United States in a style called Nuevo Deco. This is a special kind of Art Deco design, known for its fancy and detailed look.
A talented architect named B. Marcus Priteca from Seattle designed the theater in 1930. Even though it was almost finished by 1931, it couldn't open right away. The country was going through a tough time called the Great Depression, so the opening was delayed until September 24, 1936. Building this amazing theater cost about $200,000 back in 1936! The Smithsonian even calls the Washoe a "national treasure" because of its incredibly fancy inside. On April 30, 1982, it was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places.
Amazing Interior Design
A famous Hollywood theater designer named Nat Smythe created the beautiful inside of the Washoe. The outside doors have cool etched glass designs. Inside, you'll see detailed patterns carved into every joint and trim. There's also a lot of fancy ironwork.
Since Anaconda was a town built around the Anaconda Copper Mining Company, you'll see a lot of copper used in the theater's decorations. Silver and gold leaf add even more sparkle! Look closely, and you'll spot carved ram heads along the walls. Even the domed ceiling and all the flat surfaces are covered in amazing painted murals by Colville Smythe.
The theater also has a beautiful silk curtain. It's so old and delicate that experts are afraid to take it down to fix it. This special curtain has a painting of deer stags on it.
Perfect Sound System
The Washoe Theater was designed to have almost perfect acoustics, which means the sound quality is amazing. Because the opening was delayed, they were able to update the sound system. It became a showcase for Western Electric's brand-new "Mirrophonic Sound." Back in 1936, having recorded sound with movies was still quite new. So, having such a clear and high-quality sound system was truly remarkable!
History of the Washoe Theater
The spot where the Washoe Theater stands today has a long history of entertainment. Before the Washoe, two other theaters were on this same site in Anaconda. First, there was the Margaret Theater, which had been there since the town started. It was updated in 1927 and renamed the Sundial Theater. Sadly, the Sundial Theater burned down in 1929.
The very first movie shown at the Washoe Theater was a Western called The Texas Rangers. It starred Fred MacMurray as a Texas Ranger. Even today, the Washoe Theater is still open and showing movies, bringing joy to people in Anaconda!
See also
