Near Great Falls in Cascade County, Montana — The American West (Mountains)

Liberty Theatre

Great Falls Central Business Historic District

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 19, 2019

1. Liberty Theatre Marker

Inscription. Thirty-six hundred people watched Nomads of the North at the grand opening of the Liberty Theatre in August 1921. A musical score, played on a $47,000 Wurlitzer organ, accompanied the silent film. An overflow crowd of two thousand toured the theater’s lavishly appointed interior. The Renaissance Revival style building, designed by Great Falls architect George Shanley, also housed shops, apartments, offices, and a bowling alley. Outside, floodlights illuminated decorative terra cotta while cascading lights mimicked an Italian fountain, and other lights spelled out the name of the eighteen-hundred-seat theater. Two glowing terra-cotta torches atop the cornice emitted red smoke, an illusion created through the use of red lights and forced steam. Like other movie palaces of its day, the Liberty Theatre promised excitement and luxury with décor that alluded both to American patriotism and old world extravagance. Thirty cents transported moviegoers into a world of wealth and privilege—and not just on the screen. The Liberty’s rest rooms and men’s smoking room offered patrons “every convenience from maid service to

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engraved stationery and telephone.”

Erected by The Montana National Register Sign Program.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Arts, Letters, Music • Entertainment • Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Montana National Register Sign Program series list.

Location. 47° 30.326′ N, 111° 18.157′ W. Marker is near Great Falls, Montana, in Cascade County. It is on Central Avenue near 3rd Avenue South, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 301 Central Avenue, Santa Rosa CA 95401, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in andspecifically entral Montana in Russell Country. It is also in the American Mountain West

and in the Lewis & Clark Corridor.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Rocky Mountains,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once Rupert’s Land

and also the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other

Liberty Theatre and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 19, 2019

2. Liberty Theatre and Marker

The marker is located between the bench sign and car on the right. Note the Charles M. Russell statue to the far left.

markers are within walking distance of this marker: "Nibbles" (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Murphy Maclay Hardware Store (about 400 feet away); S.H. Kress and Company (about 600 feet away); Bus Depot and Garage (about 600 feet away); Arvon Block (about 700 feet away); New Park Hotel (about 800 feet away); Great Falls Civic Center (approx. 0.2 miles away); Great Falls Central Business Historic District (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Great Falls.

"Kid Russell and Monte" statue image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 19, 2019

3. "Kid Russell and Monte" statue

"Kid Russell and Monte" detail image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 19, 2019

4. "Kid Russell and Monte" detail

Credits. This page was last revised on December 19, 2020. It was originally submitted on December 22, 2019, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 417 times since then and 24 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on December 22, 2019, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. 2, 3, 4. submitted on December 24, 2019, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.