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From the Ashes: Missoula's Roxy Theater
August 27, 2008
Editor@montanaliving.com
Missoula’s vintage Roxy Theater has risen from the ashes once again, this time in conjunction with the city’s famed International Wildlife Film Festival.
The theater, which dates to 1910, was reduced to little more than a hollow concrete façade by an arson fire a decade ago. It sat, empty and fire blackened, on prime Higgins Avenue real estate for seven years before a restoration effort brought the art-deco building back as an operable movie house.
Unfortunately, the projectors rolled for a mere two months before the owner passed away and the doors closed once more. The fate of the building was again in the air—until another Missoula institution recognized a perfect opportunity.
“Once we saw the Roxy Theater and put it together with the mission of the International Wildlife Film Festival, we knew it was a natural fit,” said festival director Janet Rose. The result is the new International Wildlife Media Center, which according to Rose holds one of the greatest collections of wildlife and natural history film archives in the world.
Rose credits the vision of a number of supporters for the success of the project—in just four months, the media center went from brainstorm to hard reality. Local business donated funds and expertise, and international broadcasting concerns donated equipment. Individual Montanans from all walks of life stepped up to the plate as well.
The result is both historic preservation and a permanent venue for wildlife filmmaking. Films are now being shown every Friday evening, and special children’s and community activities are in the works. For more information call 728-9380.
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