Mother Lode Theatre
316 W. Park Street,
Butte,
MT
59701
316 W. Park Street,
Butte,
MT
59701
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Photo of the Mother lOde Theatre.
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Originally operated by Fox Intermountain Theatres, later by Mann Theatre and finally by Carisch Theatres.
When I saw and photographeed the exterior of this theatre in 1981, there was a 1940s vertical FOX sign and wedge-shaped marquee attached to the abovementioned columned facade. The theatre was still showing movies at that time, at bargain prices. There was also a huge brick theatre a few blocks away called the Montana, which looked to be of ‘teens vintage. It too, had a 1940s-looking vertical and marquee. The Montana, however, was closed, and looked like it had been for some time.
Architectural firm of Link and Haire.
From the Butte Citizens for Preservation and Revitalization site:
Fox (Mother Lode) Theater (Masonic Temple Annex)
“An overabundance of copper on the world market all but halted building activity in Uptown Butte in the 1920s. This splendid, long-established theater is one exception, completed in 1923. Following the example of Butte’s most significant Twentieth Century buildings, the Masons commissioned the architectural firm of Link and Haire to create the impressive Beaux-Arts style structure. Four colossal engaged columns with Ionic capitals, lions' heads, decorative iron work, and multi-colored terra cotta highlight its monumental façade. Today the Fox Theater continues to provide entertainment to the public”.
This is a recent photo of the Mother Lode Theater.