Orpheum Theatre #2

Browning, Montana had four movie theatres in its history that operated for 78 total years. This was the second location carrying the Orpheum nameplate. Orpheum “#2” was 245-seat venue and was a new-build facility for Peter DesRosier. He had opened the first Orpheum Theatre #1 in a frame building in downtown on August 5, 1914 with 150 seats. Lacking an electrical system in Browning, it was operated by a Faribanks-Morse generator. Apparently, the engine would stop leaving the audience in total darkness.

During intermission of its show on January 31, 1920, a nitrate film related fire occurred in the projection booth that confirmed two problems - there was no water system in downtown for fire suppression and there was no fire department. So the booth fire spread taking out the entire theatre - though all 15 people inside got out safely. The fire continued to spread destroying the Browning Saddlery, the Browning Garage, the Sullivan Restaurant, and the telephone company.

For movie lovers, Sam E. Tweedy’s Alcazar Theatre has opened in the back of his grocery store and continued. But Des Rosier bought out that theatre upon building in July of 1920 and opening his new venue. Orpheum #2 had as its neighbor DesRosier’s drug store an confectionery which served a the de facto concession stand for the Orpheum. More importantly, the Indian Agency put in a modern electrical system and modern water system to provide fire suppression.

DesRosier hired Morning Gun, Bear Heads, and Many Trailer Feathers of the Blackfeet Indian community to help advertise all coming shows to their community. This promotion cost DesRosier nothing but a lifetime seat in the theatre to all three Indians.

DesRosier equipped Orpheum #2 for sound in 1929 - purportedly the first in Glacier County with sound - and the theatre stayed in the family despite his passing in 1932. (The theatre’s tagline was “Browning’s Talkie” - a logo that was a ghost sign on the building’s side after it closed and suffered a fire.) The venue selected the budget-friendly Royal Tone Sound on Disc method for its sound films. The French speaking DesRosier opted for Maurice Chevalier and “The Love Parade” over Jolson’s “Jazz Singer” for the first talkie in town.

Mrs. Emma J. DesRosier along with son, Stuart, were in charge next and decided to build a new venue - the 308-seat Park Theatre. It was built to celebrate the DesRosier’s “Silver Jubilee” marking its 25th Anniversary in films on July 20, 1939 but didn’t open due to a minor equipment delay until July 25, 1939 with Richard Greene in “Submarine Patrol". The Orpheum #2 closed on July 24, 1939 with Cary Grant in “Gunga Din".

According to all reports, the former Orpheum stayed vacant all the way until July 19, 1963 when an afternoon fire could not be tamed by the local volunteer firefighters. The remains of the building were hauled away.

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