PSTOS - Liberty Theatre, Hamilton Montana

Liberty Theatre - 2/8 Schuelke
Hamilton, Montana
169 S. 2nd St.
Organ installation timeframe: 1921 - 1930

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2nd St., looking North. Liberty Theatre on left, c.1940s

According to the Ravalli County Museum, the Liberty Theatre originally opened as the Star Theatre in 1911. The house was renamed Liberty in 1919. A 2/8 Schuelke pipe organ was installed in 1921.

Ravalli Republican September 3, 1920

Ravalli Republican February 4, 1921

Ravalli Republican March 4, 1921

The Helena Daily Independent March 20, 1921

c.1947. Glimpse of the Liberty marquee on left.

By 1930, talkies had arrived in Hamilton. The following article describes "dismantling the present silent equipment" in order to install Vitaphone, Movietone, and Photophone gear.

The dismantling effort included removal of the Schuelke pipe organ which was later sold in 1932 for $1,000 to the Federated Methodist church in Stevensville, 20 miles to the North.

Ravalli Republican January 30, 1930

Early photos of the Doran block which would later house the Liberty Theatre.

Doran block under constrution, c.1895. Photo courtesy Ravalli County Museum.

c.1915. Photo courtesy Ravalli County Museum.