Yucca Theatre facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Yucca Theatre
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 Location in Montana
Location in the United States
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| Location | 520 Division St., Hysham, Montana |
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| Built | 1931 |
| Architect | David Manning, James Manning |
| Architectural style | Mission/Spanish Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 93001447 |
| Added to NRHP | January 7, 1994 |
The Yucca Theatre is a special building in Hysham, Montana. It was built way back in 1931 by a man named David Manning. This old movie theater was designed in a cool style called Mission Revival.
At first, it had a stage for live shows. But that stage was taken out in 1936. The theater stopped showing movies in 1957. It then became part of the Manning family's home next door.
Later, the Yucca Theatre was fixed up. Now, it's used again as a place for community events. People can watch movies or plays there. The building is important because of its unique look. It's also linked to David Manning, who was a well-known politician in Montana.
Contents
What the Yucca Theatre Looks Like
The Yucca Theatre is a two-story building. It's made of brick covered with stucco. This gives it a smooth, plaster-like finish. The building faces south. It has two strong towers on its front corners. These towers stand on each side of the main entrance.
Cool Architectural Details
The entrance area is set back between the towers. There's a small, eight-sided ticket booth there. Above the entrance, you can see a balcony with a railing. The front and sides of the building have decorative wooden beams. These beams stick out a little. They are called vigas.
The towers themselves are divided into four sections. Each tower has a rounded, dome-like top.
Inside the Theatre
When it was first built, the entire inside was one big auditorium. This is where people watched movies or shows. But in 1936 and 1937, the stage area changed. It became living space for the owner's family.
Later, in 1950, these living areas got bigger. More rooms were added on the first floor. In 1974, the living quarters were expanded again. This made the main auditorium a bit shorter. The auditorium still has a small balcony. This balcony is located under the projection booth. That's where the movie projector used to be.
The Story of the Yucca Theatre
The Yucca Theatre was built by David M. Manning. This happened in 1931. It was a time when Hysham was growing and doing well.
David Manning's Life
David Manning was born in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. That was on February 28, 1897. His family moved to Hysham in 1910. David was a builder. He also became a very important person in Montana's government. He served as a state legislator until 1985. He held many top jobs in both the Montana House of Representatives and the Senate.
From Cinema to Museum
The Manning family ran the Yucca Theatre as a movie cinema. They kept it going until the 1960s. In 1992, the building became part of the Treasure County Museum. The main museum building is right across the street. Today, the Yucca Theatre is still used. It hosts community movie nights and local plays.
The Yucca Theatre was added to the National Register of Historic Places on January 7, 1994. This means it's a special building that is protected for its history.
