Here are some of the finer theatres in Montana! Some still with us, some not! Most are faithful NTE customers! 12-01-05 I had to close the guestbook due to spammers, sorry!
Date(s): January 8, 2002. Album by Northwest Theatre Equipment Co. Photos by John Eickhof / Phil Housh. 1 - 196 of 196 Total. 22272 Visits.
1 Big Sky Cinemas, Dillon, MT. during major remodel, old equipment.
2 Big Sky #2 booth before.
3 Big Sky booth #2 after with 2KW CFS/Rentec console
4 Upgraded to Ultra Stereo sound in both theatres.
5 Added second 3 deck platter in addition to existing 5 deck!
6 Big Sky projector #1 after
7 Phil Housh, in charge of install and upgrade for NTE
8 New Glacier Cinemas, Cutbank, MT. (Formerly the State theatre) Now remodeled into a twin by owner Polson Theatres.
9 Auditorium #2 Glacier Cinemas
10 Screen #2
11 Booth #2 installed by NTE. Century projector / soundhead, CK-20 console, Balco platter, Ultra Stereo sound
12 Another view of #2
13 Close up of #2 projector
14 Projector and sound system #2
15 Existing Balco Pro-35 in booth #1
16 Ultra Stereo sound added by NTE
17 Front of building, Valley Cinemas, Glasgow Montana Owners: Polson Theatres
18 Valley Cinemas, Glasgow, MT. Dual Ultra Stereo sound rack installed by NTE
19 Projector #1 Glasgow, MT, replaced Simplex XL on Motiograph SH-7500 with Century SA on RCA 9030 Sold & installed by NTE
20 Projector #2 Identical to projector #1.
21 Overall look at projector 2 with LP-270 platter to match existing one.
22 Overall view, Glasgow booth
23 Interior of snack bar at the Go-West Drive-in, Missoula, MT. Closed 1999, equipment removed in 2000 by NTE.
24 Overall view of the Go-West it held 750 cars! Buit in early 1960s
25 Another shot of decor in the snack bar!
26 Go West Booth & snack bar building
27 All steel Selby screen, picture size was 50ft high by 100 ft wide! Throw was 595 feet!
28 Bill Emerson (on right) former manager / operator of the Go-West. On his left, helper working on equipment removal
29 Loading onto forklift to lower to ground! Booth was on second floor!
30 Scott Coleman of NTE dis-assembling one of the two LL-1 'Heavy Duty' bases! The booth had two Simplex XL, w/ SH-1000, Strong Super 135 Arc Lamps (3/8 & 11mm) and a kneisly dual 135 amp rectifier! Ultra Stereo FM sound!
31 Retired old iron!!!
32 More awaiting the lift down
33 After the booth is gone....
34 The original Simplex / Altec sound system for the speakers. Both worked great untill the last day!
35 The sound awaiting the haul out
36 Grand Theatre, Harlem, MT. Super Simplex w/ XL soundhead, Xelamp 2 KW lamp, Xetron Platter installed by NTE
37 Ultra Stereo sound at the Grand
38 Harlo (Engineer) Theatre, Harlowton, MT.
39 The other side of the marquee. Still runs 2 projector Motiograph AA with carbon arc!
40 State Theatre, Harlowton, MT. Very large house! Had fire years ago and is boarded up. Unknown condition inside!
41 Front of the State in Harlowton, MT.
42 State sign still hangs in there!!
43 Another side view! Appears to have had two balconies!!
45 Upgraded projector #1 at Havre, replaced CH-10 console with CFS/Rentec 2KW consoles, and Westrex 35/70 projectors with Cinecita 35 machines
46 Replaced AW-2 with Balco / Potts platters!
47 #1 in operation.
48 #2 booth at Havre, also installed new Ultra Stereo sound in both theatres.
49 Judith Theatre, Lewistown, MT. Originally FOX intermountain house! W/ large balcony and full stage!
50 Very tight booth, located in under balcony floor in face of balcony! Had Super Simplex W/ Peerless magnarcs, and Ampex optical & magnetic stereo sound! Upgraded by NTE.
51 The supers were retired, replaced by a Simplex XL. LP-270 Platter, and Xetron 2KW lamp.
52 close up of projector
53 Ampex sound was replaced by DTS digital, and Ultra Stereo analog processor, Altec A-4 speakers still in use!
54 Projector at the Orphium theatre, Plentywood, MT. Upgraded from Simplex XL w/ Motiograph soundhead and BF Shearer base to XL w/ SH-1012 soundhead and LL-4 base! Removed remains of arc projector #1 and the motorgenerator!
55 Now equipped with Ultra Stereo sound and LP-270 platter.
56 Roxy, Choteau, MT. Very nice original theatre!
57 Roxy booth, has one Simplex Super, one Simplex E-7, runs 6000ft reels!
58 Here's the Super!
59 Here's the E7!
60 Ultra Stereo sound system with QSC amps
61 The Roxy, Forsyth, MT. A very nice classic balcony house! With all the bells and whistles! DTS digital sound, Ultra Stereo, JBL speakers, and an owner that LOVES the theatre!
62 Roxy projection room, AW-3 platter, Simplex 35 with 5-star soundhead, CH-20 console with Ringold reflector kit.DTS digital and Ultra Stereo analog sound.
65 The State theatre, Cutbank, MT. before remodel into the Glacier Cinemas.
66 Terry Drive-in, Terry, MT. Upgraded from two Super Simplex with Strong 135 arcs to this! Cinecita 35 projector / RCA soundhead, Xetron 4KW xenon, LP-270 platter, and FM stereo sound!
67 Operating side of the machine.
68 Villa Theatre, Malta, MT. Equipped with Century SA, Simplex SH-1012 soundhead, Xetron 2KW lamp, Xetron platter, DTS digital sound, Ultra Stereo analog sound.
69 Wilma Theatre, Missoula, MT. "The showplace of Montana" Built in 1923 It has a seven story apartment complex built in the building! It originally seated 1500 people, now seats 1100 and is registered as a historic landmark!
70 Here's the main booth at the Wilma! 35/70mm, reel to reel or platter, dual 16mm projectors, dual Strong Xenon Super-Trouper spots! A full booth!
71 Andrew Crow of Oregon at the console,on a visit to the Wilma to play the Wilma's Robert Morton 3/10 pipe organ! Andrew is the main person responsible for maintenance of this organ set up!
72 Andrew warming up!
73 Andrew is doing a deomstration of the pipe organ to school kids from Missoula area! A regular event anytime he is in Montana.
74 About 200 kids at this performance!
75 The Wilma's Robert Morton 3 manual, 10 rank console.
76 Wilma's main 35/70 in action!
77 The 35/70 with a spotlight behind it.
78 interior of the 35/70 with the magnetic soundhead removed for reel to reel operation. (Low ceiling!)
81 Bill Emerson, General manager of the Wilma, looking at the AW-3 35/70 platter that now sits where the original booth toilet was!!!
82 Obviously, this booth was small!
83 A Bell & Howell 'Filmo-arc' 16mm projector converted to Xenon by NTE for the Wilma
84 Close up view
85 Bill Emerson trying to out-light the Xenon 16mm with it's carbon arc mate! He could not do it!!
86 The Xenon Filmo-arc in operation....
87 The other projector is slated for xenon conversion soon!
88 Strong Xenon Super-Trouper followspot. (One of two at the Wilma)
89 John at the controls of the Super-Trouper during a live performance of George Carlin at the Wilma!
90 Wilma #2 booth, using periscope mirror system!
91 View across the machines
92 Wilma #2 auditorium
93 Wilma #2 booth overall
94 Wilma #2 screen with curtain pen
95 Wilma #2 looking toward screen. This theatre is now gone, awaiting remodel into a bistro!
96 NEW Wilma 2 booth Installed July 2001! No more mirrors!!
97 Wilma 2 projector, XL with SH-1000 soundhead, Xetron 2KW lamp. 2 Projector, 6000ft auto changeover.
98 Close up of one projector
99 The Wilma 2 installed
100 Westernaire Drive-in, Lewistown, MT. A beauty!!
101 Overall view of the Westernaire. Equipped with Brenkert BX-60, RCA 9030, Eprad 3KW Xenon with Irem power supply and LP-270 platter and Ultra Stereo FM sound!
102 Dome Theatre, Libby, MT. Owners: Leo & Emillia Huber
103 Dome projection room. Features Ultra Stereo sound, QSC amps, Century CC with R-2 'master' soundheads
104 Dome theatre projector #1 used for back up and previews.
159 Projector #1 at the Strand, using 6000ft reels with Xetron Maxi-7 automation.
160 Projector #2 at the Strand.
161 Palace Theatre, Malta, MT. Now a dentist office! This picture was taken in 2001!
162 Another view of the Palace marquee
163 Bears Den Cinema, West Yellowstone, MT.
164 Bears Den Booth, 2kw. Kneisley Xenex lamp, V-8, and Ultra Stereo sound w/ QSC Amps
165 V-8 Cinemeccanica
166 LP-270 Platter system
167 Madison Theatre, Ennis, MT.
168 Madison Snack Bar, Small but efficient!
169 Madison auditorium, looking at booth and cry room and tiny balcony!
170 Looking at screen from balcony
171 Booth is up to date! Kelmar mono sound, Jax Lite, XL simplex on RCA 1040 soundhead, Strong Super Lume-X, and Eprad DBL-MUT!
172 Roxy Theatre, Shelby, MT. Originally owned by Larry & Connie Flesch. After Larry Flesch passed on in 2000, Polson Theatres purchased the Roxy and the State in Cutbank MT.
173 Booth at the Roxy in Shelby MT.
174 Sound at the Roxy. JSX-1000 with QSC Amps feeding original Altec A-7 speakers.
175 AW-2 Platter still in use!
176 Looking towards screen at top of balcony (Stadium)
177 Large 28 foot picture! Curved frame!
178 Lincoln Theatre, Troy, MT. Owners...Jim & Gaye Hammons
179 Beautiful little snack bar!
180 Looking to booth from stage
181 Wall tapestries still in place!
182 Wall to wall picture too!
183 The Lincoln's booth is equipped for both reel-to-reel or platter operation! Ultra Stereo sound!
184 Projector #1 is a Century H, with Motiograph SH-7500 soundhead, Megaron (LP Associates) 2kw lamp and Simplex 5-point base!
185 Both projectors can run off the platter!
186 Polson Theatres' Showboat Cinemas 1&2 in Polson MT. The flagship of the Polson Theatre circuit!
187 Booth at the Showboat Cimenas
188 Equipped with Ultra Stereo sound, Kelmar analog readers, and modern seating! Large screens!
189 Projectors are Century SA, with R-3 Soundheads, Strong Super Lume-X 2kw lamps.
190 A Brownfield 5 deck platter handles the film
191 Booth at the Rose theatre, Glendive, MT. Two Simplex XLs, Balco Platter, ORC X-1600 lamps, Jax-Lites, and Ultra Stereo sound. Built by Lewis Moore SR. Operated by Lewis Moore JR until his passing in 2002.
192 Original XL optical & magnetic sound removed and replaced with Ultra Stereo sound.
193 Old original XL sound switching gear on front wall!
194 New sound system installed by NTE.
195 Centre Cinema, Sidney, MT. Owned by Barry Suckstorff
196 Orpheum Theatre, Conrad MT. Originally owned by Larry & Connie Flesch
