Hysham in Treasure County, Montana — The American West (Mountains)
Yucca Theatre and David M. Manning Residence
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, September 14, 2020
1. Yucca Theatre and David M. Manning Residence Marker
Inscription.
Yucca Theatre and David M. Manning Residence. . An optimistic, cheerful nature and keen sense of humor helped make legislator, contractor, and engineer David Manning instrumental in getting Montana “out of the mud.” A champion of Montana’s rural communities, Manning initiated significant improvements across Montana’s sparsely populated areas: electricity, paved roads, dams, and irrigation systems. Nicknamed “The Fox” for his clever solutions to difficult problems, Manning was a fair and patient leader of true vision, who could often cross political party lines when others could not. He served in the Montana House and Senate from 1932 to 1985, longer than any other legislator in the nation at the time of his retirement. Just before embarking upon his long political tenure, Manning and his brother, Jim, designed and built this Hysham landmark. The popularity of talking pictures had reached a peak, and the grandiose Mission style movie theater well represents the flamboyance typical of the 1930s theater design. Its construction in 1931 raised community morale and made the statement that Hysham would survive the Great Depression. In 1936, the stage behind the movie screen was eliminated and living accommodations added (and later expanded), which served as the family home during Manning’s long political service. In 1992, the Manning heirs donated both theater and residence to the Treasure County ‘89ers. Now a museum, they commemorate the town’s early development and the productive career of a widely acclaimed Montanan.
An optimistic, cheerful nature and keen sense of humor helped make legislator, contractor, and engineer David Manning instrumental in getting Montana “out of the mud.” A champion of Montana’s rural communities, Manning initiated significant improvements across Montana’s sparsely populated areas: electricity, paved roads, dams, and irrigation systems. Nicknamed “The Fox” for his clever solutions to difficult problems, Manning was a fair and patient leader of true vision, who could often cross political party lines when others could not. He served in the Montana House and Senate from 1932 to 1985, longer than any other legislator in the nation at the time of his retirement. Just before embarking upon his long political tenure, Manning and his brother, Jim, designed and built this Hysham landmark. The popularity of talking pictures had reached a peak, and the grandiose Mission style movie theater well represents the flamboyance typical of the 1930s theater design. Its construction in 1931 raised community morale and made the statement that Hysham would survive the Great Depression. In 1936, the stage behind the movie screen was eliminated and living accommodations added (and later expanded), which served as the family home during Manning’s long political service. In 1992, the Manning heirs donated both theater and
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residence to the Treasure County ‘89ers. Now a museum, they commemorate the town’s early development and the productive career of a widely acclaimed Montanan.
Location. 46° 17.595′ N, 107° 13.959′ W. Marker is in Hysham, Montana, in Treasure County. Marker is at the intersection of Elliot Avenue and Division Street, on the left when traveling west on Elliot Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 324 Elliot Avenue, Hysham MT 59038, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, September 14, 2020
2. Yucca Theatre and Marker
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, September 14, 2020
3. Yucca Theatre and David M. Manning Residence
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, September 14, 2020
4. On the Exterior Wall of the Yucca Theatre
Dedicated to the memory of
PFC David J. Manning, US Army,
who died in service to his country
at the World War II Battle of
the Bulge on December 26, 1944
Credits. This page was last revised on January 22, 2021. It was originally submitted on January 22, 2021, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 139 times since then and 22 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on January 22, 2021, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.