Center Theatre
200 E. Park Avenue,
Anaconda,
MT
59711
200 E. Park Avenue,
Anaconda,
MT
59711
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Additional Info
Previous Names: Bluebird Theatre
Nearby Theaters
The 750-seat Bluebird Theatre was opened prior to 1926. In the mid-1950’s it was renamed Center Theatre. It was still open in 1958.
Contributed by
Bryan Krefft
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Recent comments (view all 10 comments)
This is from the Montana Standard, 10/13/39:
SMELTER CITY TO HAVE NEW THEATER
ANACONDA, Oct. 12.â€" The building formerly occupied by the Fuller Drug store at 415 East Park avenue Will be remodeled Into a modern theater, it was announced today by Joseph A. English, manager of the Washoe and Bluebird theaters here and purchaser of the East Park avenue building. Second-run pictures will be shown at the theater on its completion.
415 E. Park was the address of the third theater in Anaconda. The Bluebird must have had a different Park Avenue address.
In 1914 the Anaconda Standard was advertising shows at the Alcazar and the Grand. Jumping ahead to 1958, the Montana Standard advertised several theaters in the Anaconda area. They were the Washoe, the Center, the West Valley Drive-In, the Rustic Drive-In and the In and Out Drive-In. The West Valley was showing “Far Horizons” with Fred MacMurray and “Charles” Heston.
The local paper was advertising plays at the Margaret in 1912. They probably used it for movies later on, before it burned down.
The 1941 & 1943 editions of Film Daily Yearbook list:
Bluebird Theatre 750 seats
Highland Theatre 346 seats
Washoe Theatre 1,000 seats
The 1950 edition of Film Daily Yearbook lists':
Bluebird Theatre, Park Avenue 668 seats
Washoe Theatre, Main Street 988 seats
I Have to get a couple of those FDYs eventually. I only see one listed in the LA Library catalog, from 1932.
I will, thanks.
Well guys, I don’t have a single shred of evidence—just my opinion. The small pink building (Fuller Drug Co.)just two away from the Pizza Hut has Art Deco simple neighborhood theater stamped on it. The unusual structure in the center of the archway looks as if it were the boxoffice or the lighting above the counter high center window with the doors on either side of the boxoffice. just a hunch since I have never been to Anaconda.
Judging the size of the building and the number of seats listed by KenRoe this could quite well be the Highland. The name may have been chiseled away if it was in relief since the name of the drug company appears to be painted. A marquee could have been attached where the horizontal scar line appears. Whatever, it appears to now be Anaconda Realty or for sale by them.
The Bluebird Theatre was listed as open in 1925 with 750 seats. The Bluebird was still listed as open in 1957 with 688 seats. Looking at the satelite view, the pink building don’t look large enough to have seated 750 or 688. I don’t think that the address of 415 was the Bluebird Theatre.