Nuart Theater

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Added to the National Register of Historical Places in 1978

Nuart Theater ** (added 1978 - Building - #78001049)
195 N. Broadway, Blackfoot
Historic Significance: Event, Architecture/Engineering
Architect, builder, or engineer: Et al., DeMordaunt, Walter
Architectural Style: Moderne
Area of Significance: Architecture, Art, Entertainment/Recreation
Period of Significance: 1925-1949
Owner: Private
Historic Function: Recreation And Culture
Historic Sub-function: Theater
Current Function: Recreation And Culture
Current Sub-function: Theater

Here is a photo, circa early eighties:
http://tinyurl.com/2jwpad

Every Which Way But Loose was released in December of 1978 so I doubt that the photo is from the early eighties.

Blackfoot Area Chamber Of Commerce claims that this theater was built in the 1920s.

On September 17, 1980, Paul and Alice DeMordaunt were interviewed by Pam Morris for the Idaho State Historical Society’s oral history program. They say that the Nuart opened on February 12, 1930. The stadium-style auditorium, designed by Paul’s brother, Walter, seated 620 and cost $120,000. The opening attraction was “Sunnyside Up,“ with Charles Farrell and Janet Gaynor. DeMordaunt said that he had been in the theater business in Blackfoot since 1920 when he partnered with Hugh Drennon. Their previous theaters in town were the Mission and the Rialto. Later they also operated the Idaho Theatre at the same time as the Nuart. The Roxy, the other theater in town, was owned by someone else.
Later DeMordaunt and Drennon operated the Rio, Gaiety, Rex (Centre) and Motor-Vu in Idaho Falls. They later branched out to Rexburg where they operated the Holiday and the Romance (Westwood) theaters. Other Demordaunt and Drennon theaters were the Roxy in St. Anthony and the Roxy in Salmon. For another article on the Nuart, see the Blackfoot News on February 9, 1980.

Here are two photos from 1984:

Photo1

Photo2