Billings in Yellowstone County, Montana — The American West (Mountains)

The Billings Opera House - circa 1915

Historic Montana Avenue

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, September 15, 2020

1. The Billings Opera House - circa 1915 Marker

Inscription. The Billings Opera House, an elegant theater at 1217 Montana Avenue, presented its debut performance in 1896. After a fire left the building in ashes in 1906, owner A.L. Babcock built a new theater on Second Avenue North, which featured boxing matches as well as more cultured stage performances. Another fire gutted the Babcock Theater in 1935. Babcock immediately rebuilt the theater, a two-story brick building accentuated by columns with floral carvings. Despite exterior remodeling, the marquee and ticket booth are still visible.

Erected by Downtown Billings Starts Here. (Marker Number 19.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Entertainment.

Location. 45° 46.903′ N, 108° 30.257′ W. Marker is in Billings, Montana, in Yellowstone County. Marker is on Montana Avenue (Business Interstate 90) near North 27th Street, on the left when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2711, Billings MT 59101, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Gazette Building - circa 1935 (a few steps from this marker); The 2700 Block, Montana Avenue - circa 1909 (a few steps from this marker); The Stockman Bar - circa 1945 (within shouting distance of this marker);

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Standing Outside the Stockman's Café (within shouting distance of this marker); Oliver Building (within shouting distance of this marker); The Selvidge/Babcock Building - circa 1925 (within shouting distance of this marker); The Chapple Drug Store - 1893 (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Billings' First Bank - 1883 (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Billings.

More about this marker. Markers erected by Downtown Billings Starts Here are secure to streetlight poles and are only visible from the sidewalk provided they are not covered by a flower pot.

Also see . . . Forged by Fire - Babcock Art House Cinema. Theater homepage: The Billings Opera House was said to be “not exactly a poem in architectural design, nor yet as imposing as some play houses in the state, still it shows up well and is large enough for all present purposes”¹. (Submitted on February 1, 2021, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.)

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, September 15, 2020

2. The Billings Opera House - circa 1915 Marker

The Babcock Theater recently image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Billings Gazette

3. The Babcock Theater recently

Credits. This page was last revised on February 1, 2021. It was originally submitted on February 1, 2021, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 174 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on February 1, 2021, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.