Ekalaka Theatre
Main Street,
Ekalaka,
MT
59324
Main Street,
Ekalaka,
MT
59324
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There are two theaters that were named the Ekalaka Theatre. The original and first Ekalaka Theatre started life as the Playhouse (or the Playhouse Theatre), launching on February 22, 1916, and the entire theater measures 26x86ft. Although the Playhouse didn’t open with a movie (which instead opened with a semi-annual dance), it immediately became the town’s first movie theater nicknamed “Ekalaka’s Photoplay Theatre”.
Despite several short closures throughout the silent and early talkie era, it was renamed the Ekalaka Theatre in March 1934. After closing on August 17, 1939, the theater was relocated with a grand reopening the following day. The second Ekalaka Theatre opened its doors by original manager Mac Niccum on August 18, 1939 with Wallace Beery in “Sergeant Madden” (unknown if extras added). The newer building was constructed by V.E. Figg that was finished after nearly three months of work. It was still open in the late-1960s.