The Helena Skating Amphitheatre, later known as Maguire's Theatre and Armory Hall, was a large but rather short-lived venue, in use from 1883 to 1889. It was located on the southeast corner of what was Edwards Street and Benton Avenue/Senior Street (in 1887, the name Senior Street was changed to South Benton Avenue). The house at 1 South Benton Avenue occupies the site today.

The Amphitheatre was used for pleasure roller-skating by the public, as well as for racing contests, walking competitions, bicycle skill-riding exhibitions, charity balls, and political events.

Like all crazes, the roller skating fad of the 1880s was short-lived, and rink owners began to find other ways to make their facilities profitable.

In 1887, the rink was converted into a proper theater by noted pioneering western actor and theater manager John Maguire (1835-1907), who managed Ming's Opera House in Helena, and also had interests in Butte.

It was briefly leased by the State in 1888 as the Guard Armory, shortly before a new Armory was built on North Warren St. The Amphitheatre was torn down in May of 1889.

Photos of the building are very hard to come by. If you know of any others, please contact me.

This photo of Annie at the height of her fame, and the True West Magazine article noted above, are courtesy of M. Ann Hall, author of "Muscle on Wheels: Louise Armaindo and the High-Wheel Racers of Nineteenth-Century America".