Standing majestically atop the rolling prairies of Eastern Montana, the Fort Peck Theatre is one of the states most magnificent treasures. Originally built in 1934 as only a temporary structure, its beauty and sound construction have stood the test of time.
Design and construction of the Theatre was created locally by the Corps of Engineers. It was a labor-intensive project which integrated the New Deal arts and crafts tradition with a Swiss chalet motif. Many elaborate, decorative appointments can be found both inside and out. Overhead in the auditorium the hand-crafted light fixtures are some of the finest examples of 1930s artisanship seen today. Also of note are the massive, hand-hewn beams that span the width of the auditorium. Each is nearly two feet thick and seventy-four feet long. Proudly perched atop the highest point of the Fort Peck Theatre is a beautiful weather vane, specifically designed for the Theatre and included in the architect’s original drawings. It is still in fine shape today, and remains a testament to the craftsmen and construction of the period.
On Friday, November 16, 1934, only nine short months after construction was begun, the Fort Peck Theatre opened its doors as a movie house. During “The Dam Days,” movies ran twenty- four hours a day, seven days a week, often with every one of the 1,209 seats filled. People sometimes stood in lines seven blocks long to purchase tickets. The adult admission price was forty cents on the main floor, thirty cents in the balcony. Children attended for a dime. During this time, the population of the area in and around Fort Peck was over 50,000 and an evening at the movies was a special event for young and old alike.
One of the incredible treasures remaining from this time period, currently on display in the lobby is the Arc movie projector, one of two used by the Theatre during the 1930s. The Fort Peck Theatre was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983, and today it is used for live plays. It stands as a symbol of the enduring quality and value of New Deal-constructed buildings as it stands tall and beautiful, ready to entertain this and future generations. Under the care of devoted volunteers and loyal supporters, its beauty is restored and it remains a significant part of Montana life. Check out the summer shows for the 56th Season at FortPeckTheatre.org.