Fox Theatre
411 W. Front Street,
Missoula,
MT
59802
411 W. Front Street,
Missoula,
MT
59802
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Grand opening section
Found on Newspapers.com
My grandfather installed the ceiling and recessed lighting in the iconic shape of Mickey Mouse. The flashing neon lights and marquee were mesmerizing. I remember watching Cinderella, I couldn’t have been more 5 or 6 years old. At age 14 I had a summer job as a tour guide at the Historical Museum at Fort Missoula. The museum was asked to to preserve items, like the big FOX neon sign, rows of red velvet seats and matching red velvet rope, the auditorium lights and if memory serves the screen, curtains and movie posters. Photographs were also taken at that time.
I remember going to this theater as a kid. I remember seeing the grand opening of Star Trek The Motion Picture here and I think the last time I went to a movie there it was a double feature. Caddyshack and some other movie which escapes me. Obviously not as memorable as Caddyshack! :) The don’t make theaters as grand as they were back then. Modern seats and all yes but not as much class like this theater had. Thanks for the memories.
The “American Pickers” TV show on the History Channel featured some lobby poster boxes from this theater. They were salvaged by a couple from Pennsylvania who were visiting Missoula at the time of the theater’s demolition.
the 1984 photo was taken a few months after the theatre was closed
If I can find it, the 1950 University of Montana yearbook has an ad for the Fox with a picture of the first day of business in 1949. I will submit it as soon as I find it
Here is a 1959 photo from the University of Montana archives:
http://tinyurl.com/23qdb4
Here is an updated photo of the sign. This is a picture that was in the 5/24/2007 issue of the Missoula Independant
Here is a photo:
http://tinyurl.com/mwtjq
UPDATE: The sign has been moved and is laying along the side of the road along US Highway 93 two miles north of I-90 and looks weatherbeaten. I will try to take a picture if I can but I have to dodge traffic plus it may be two to five years before I can get a picture submitted to this site. I’m trying to get a picture of the theatre taken in 1959 showing the world premire of The Hanging Tree submitted but can’t.
Hi Killerbob. Like the name. I wonder if your the same one I knew?
Cheers,
Liz
The theatre you were at in Missoula in 1989 was the Wilma. It os still going. The Fox was showing previous run movies for a dollar and would also show a not so best selling movie like Star Trek 3: In Search Of Spock (which was the last film to show there before closing in June of 1984). The building sat around falling apart with no plans before demolition in July 1990. The land is vacant right now with the city trying to find a use for it. The landmark sign is laying on the ground in two pieces in a field on North Reserve St. I will try to get some pictures when I can.
Yes when did it close, anyone have any pictures? And what is the owner doing, his plans?
When did this cinema close? When I was about 12 years old around 1989 I remember attending a movie at a Fox Theatre somewhere in Montana. It may have been this one in Missoula since I know one town I was in was Missoula. The theatre I remember took my breath away. It was by far the largest single screen theatre I had ever been in, with ornate decoration and a balcony.