Blue Fox Theater

This theater is listed as “Spanish Style” and the original owner was Al. J. Wagner. Here is more info on this theater that I found in a newspaper article:
“Wagner opened the theater next door to his former silent movie house – "The Lyric.” Movie prices for that opening show were 50 cents for adults, 25 cents for students and 15 cents for kids. The grand opening captured the entire front page of the Free Press. Two bands played continuously in front of the theater and a dance was held there that evening. “During the Depression, cash and prizes were given away at the shows – sometimes just a loaf of bread was the prize,” said Eleanor “Poof” Wagner, wife of current owner, Al “Port” Wagner".

“Times were so tough, people were thrilled to win just the loaf of bread,” she added. Movie prices went down to 35, 15 and 10 cents during this time as well. The theater used to host live shows with music resounding from its orchestra pit and also showed three changes a week. In 1942 a fire occurred, collapsing the roof and claiming a portion of the building. The theater was rebuilt that same year. The movie house was taken over by Wagner’s son, Port, in 1954. His son, Chris, now helps run the business as well as the outdoor Sunset Auto Vue drive-in theater in Grangeville. The Wagners also own the Rex Theater in Orofino. “Despite all of the competition with T.V. and videos, the family has managed to keep the theater going seven days per week,” said Poof. “There are very few towns this size left that have a movie theater”.

The same people own the drive-in on the outskirts of town. One side of the Blue Fox’s marquee advertises what’s playing there at the indoor theater, and the other side of the summer advertises what’s out at the drive-in (at least in the summer). There is no marquee of any sort on the drive-in property. So technically, the drive-in’s marquee is about two miles off-site. (Sorry—I’m probably the only one who finds that funny.)

I was in Cancun, Mexico last summer, and the only American TV channels available were from network affiliates in Idaho. I spent a week in the Gulf of Mexico catching up on news, weather and sports from Pocatello and the greater Boise area.

This is a recent photo of the Blue Fox Theater.

Official website is at http://www.bluefoxtheater.com/