Wilma Theatre (Missoula, Montana)

The Wilma Theatre is a cinema and events venue in Missoula, Montana, United States. It was built in 1921 by William "Billy" Simons and dedicated to his wife, light opera artist Edna Wilma. Designed by Norwegian architect Ole Bakke and his assistant H. E. Kirkemo, the steel-framed highrise features hallmarks of Sullivanesque architecture.^[2] The theatre is part of an eight-story complex that was the first steel-framed high-rise building in Missoula, and includes the main 1400-seat hall, a lounge, three banquet rooms, a restaurant, apartments and offices. The theatre interior is decorated with Louis XIV Style gilt trim.^[3]

Wilma Theatre

Front of the theater
Address	131 South Higgins Avenue Missoula, Montana United States
Capacity	1,400
Current use	cinema and events venue
Opened	1921
Website
logjampresents.com/venue/the-wilma/
Wilma Theatre
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Show map of Montana Show map of the United States
Coordinates	46°52′8″N 113°59′43″W
Architect	H.E. Kirkemo, Ole Bakke
Architectural style	Chicago
NRHP reference No.	79001407
Added to NRHP	December 31, 1979[1]

The original theatre organ was replaced in the 1950s with a Robert Morton organ from the Orpheum Theater in Spokane, Washington,^[4] which had been torn down in 1958.^[5]

As originally built, the basement housed a swimming pool, the "Crystal Plunge". Condensation proved incompatible with the structure, and the pool closed within ten years. It now serves as additional storage space.^[4]

In 1982 the Cinema of the Dove opened in the basement of the building. It was also known as the Chapel of the Dove. It was operated by Edward Sharp.^[6] The Chapel of the Dove was described as a "dazzlingly eclectic space."^[7] The Chapel of the Dove was turned into a more conventional theater after Edward Sharp died in 1993.^[8]

The theatre shows a diverse range of entertainment, including independent movies, spoken word events, stand-up comedy, live and local music, plays, and other events.

The venue is equipped with a full PA system and stage monitors with Yamaha M7 consoles at the core, as well as a secondary PA for use with the main movie screen. The theatre also employs a full theater lighting system with PAR and Leko fixtures, and six Martin Mac 500 automated moving head fixtures. The lighting is controlled by a Pearl 2000 console.^{[citation needed]}

Notable events

An exclusive preview of Ken Burns's 2023 film "The American Buffalo” was held June 8, 2023.^[9]