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 very special movie theater located in Anaconda, Montana, United States. It's so important that it's listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's a historic landmark worth protecting.
Contents
Discovering the Washoe Theater
The Washoe Theater can be found at 305 Main Street in Anaconda. It's famous for being the very last theater built in the United States in a unique style called Nuevo Deco. This style is a fancy version of Art Deco, which was popular in the 1920s and 1930s. It uses cool geometric shapes and rich decorations.
Design and Construction
A talented architect named B. Marcus Priteca from Seattle designed the theater in 1930. Even though it was mostly finished by 1931, its grand opening was delayed until September 24, 1936. This delay happened because of the Great Depression, a time when the economy was very difficult for many people. Building the theater cost a lot of money back then – about $200,000! The Smithsonian Institution, a famous museum and research center, even calls the Washoe a "national treasure" because of its amazing inside design. On April 30, 1982, the Washoe Theater was officially added to the United States National Register of Historic Places because of its beautiful architecture.
Inside the Theater
The inside of the Washoe Theater is truly stunning! A Hollywood theater designer named Nat Smythe created all the interior decorations and furnishings. The doors on the outside have beautiful designs etched into the glass. Every part of the theater, from the joints to the trim, has detailed carvings and fancy ironwork.
You'll see a lot of copper used in the decorations. This is because Anaconda was a "company town" for the Anaconda Copper Mining Company, which mined a lot of copper. Silver and gold leaf also add shiny accents to the design. Look closely, and you'll even spot carved ram heads along the walls! Every flat surface, including the big domed ceiling, is covered in painted murals created by Colville Smythe.
The Special Curtain
The theater also has a very old and beautiful silk curtain. It's like a work of art itself, with a painting of deer stags. This curtain is so old and delicate that experts are worried it might fall apart if they try to take it down or restore it. Because of this, it's not often seen.
Amazing Sound System
The Washoe Theater was also designed to have nearly perfect acoustics, which means the sound quality is excellent. The delay in its opening allowed the sound system to be updated. It became a showcase for a new invention called "Mirrophonic Sound" by Western Electric. At that time, recorded sound in movies was quite new, so having such a high-quality sound system in 1936 was very impressive!
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. The Margaret Theater was there almost since the town began. 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 film called The Texas Rangers. It starred Fred MacMurray as a Texas Ranger. Today, the Washoe Theater is still open and continues to show movies, bringing joy to people in Anaconda.
See also
