The
Marlow Theatre
Helena's Showplace • 1918-1972
Home
to Vaudeville and Motion Pictures
46°35'14.47"N
112° 2'24.59"W
The
Marlow Theatre, 1928
Beloved by generations of Helenans
COURTESY
OF TOM KILMER
| The new
Marlow was designed primarily as a roadshow house, but was also
equipped with a motion picture projector and screen. Many touring
vaudeville companies, mainly on the Pantages
circuit, played the Marlow. |
Site
of the Marlow Theatre and Edwards St.
During
Urban Renewal in the 1970s, Edwards St. was eliminated, and
Broadway was extended west to Park Ave., passing through where
the stage of the Marlow once was. |
Thomas
Arthur Marlow • 1861-1938
Local Banker Spearheaded Effort to Build New
Theater
PHOTO
FROM 'FROM THE QUARRIES OF LAST CHANCE GULCH' VOL. 2 WM. C. CAMPBELL
Thomas
A. Marlow was a prominent and highly respected banker in Helena
during the early 20th century. The nephew of the wealthy entrepreneur
Col. Charles A. Broadwater, Marlow came to Montana in 1881
to work with at the sutler's store at Fort McGinniss.
In 1890, Marlow went to Helena at the behest of his uncle
to help reorganize Broadwater's failing bank. Making it a
success, Marlow became president of the institution, beginning
a long and prosperous career in finance.
Marlow
played an important role in organizing and managing the
Helena branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis
that opened in 1921. He developed two
programs - the War Finance Corporation and the Montana Livestock
Finance Corporation - that were instrumental in helping
numerous ranchers stay in business through the very difficult
depression years, which began in Montana at the close of
the First World War and extended through the 1920s and 1930s.
In
addition to his involvement on the executive boards of over
a dozen financial
institutions in the western region, Marlow was on the board
of directors of the Great Northern Railway Co. and the Montana
Flour Mills of Great Falls, he owned a large ranch in the
Big Sandy area and he invested heavily in the construction
of the Marlow Theater, Placer Hotel and Canyon Ferry Dam.
-- Biography from the National Register
of Historic Places nomination form for Summit Lodge, Marlow's
summer home northwest of Helena. Prepared by Carla Chronholm,
1990)
|
Early
View of Edwards St.
|
Edwards
St., looking west from near Main, ca. 1890. The Marlow Theatre
would be built on the left-hand side of the street in 1918.
|
A
Performing Bear on the Future Site of the Marlow Theatre, circa
1895
Looking North Toward Buildings on Edwards St.
COLLECTION
OF KENNON BAIRD
Lack
of a Large, Modern Theater
| Following
the 1914 closing of the Helena Theater (formerly the Ming
Opera House) on Jackson Street), Helena was without a sizeable
performance venue. A group of concerned citizens addresed
this lack by organizing a fund drive, which was spearheaded
by Thomas A. Marlow. |
CLICK
ON IMAGE TO OPEN FULL STORY
Seattle
Architect Henderson Ryan [Rian]
Henderson
Ryan
Henderson
Ryan (1856-1927) was a prolific Seattle-based architect.
He also designed two other theaters in Montana, the
Rialto in Butte and the Liberty in Great Falls.
Ryan pioneered the use of ramps in theaters instead
of stairs. Although ramps required more room than
stairs, the benefits were worth it if the size of
the building lot allowed for them. He also invented
a fan-driven ventilation system.
More
about Henderson Ryan here. And here. |
|
|
Theater
Opening, April 3, 1918
CLICK
ON IMAGE TO OPEN FULL STORY
Description
of the Marlow When New, 1918
Click
on Image to Open Larger Version
Complete April
3, 1918 Opening Night Program
Courtesy Montana Memory Project
Click on image to open the MMP link
April
3, 1918 Opening Night Program, Printed on Silk
COLLECTION
OF TED KIRKMEYER, COURTESY OF TOM
MULVANEY
Marlow
Theatre Employees, April 21 1923
The movie
"My American Wife", starring Gloria Swanson, is advertised.
Information
About the Marlow and Helena from
Herbert Lloyd's 1919 Vaudeville Guide
INTERNET
ARCHIVE
Hundreds of Performers and Celebrities Appeared on the Marlow
Stage
Here Are Some of the Notables
Myrna Loy
Helena's
Own
| Young Myrna Williams, who would later
be known as screen star Myrna
Loy, appeared on the Marlow stage in 1919. The first newspaper archive mention of her performing is from June 28, 1918, when 12-year-old Myrna did a solo dance, "the bluebird", in the Placer Hotel ballroom, as part of a cabaret performance for visiting Knights Templar ladies. |
Louise
Brooks
EARL
CARROLL VANITIES, 1927
1928
Theater Redecorating
"The
Talkies" Come to Helena, 1929
The
Marlow Marquee, Late 1930s
COLLECTION
OF TED KIRKMEYER, COURTESY OF TOM
MULVANEY •
CLICK ON IMAGE FOR A BIG VERSION IN A NEW WINDOW
| It appears
that a policeman was needed for crowd contol on this occasion.
A Deanna Durbin movie was featured on the posters, but I have
been unable to find an image of that poster online to better
date this photo. |
Neon
Sign over Main Street
COLLECTION
OF KENNON BAIRD • CLICK
ON IMAGE FOR A LARGER VIEW IN A NEW WINDOW
Because
the Marlow was on Edwards St., just west of Main, an electric
advertising sign was hung over Main, announcing what movie
was playing and directing people to the theatre.
The sign was installed in May of 1922. It
was taken down in January of 1944, after a major fire gutted
the Montana
National Bank building, to which the sign was attached
with cables.
The method of changing the lettering on the sign was ingenious, as this 1922 item form the Independent explains:
|
South Side of the Marlow Sign
COURTESY
OF THE DAVID POOR COLLECTION
The
Marlow Sign Over Main St., 1942
COURTESY
OF THE DAVID POOR COLLECTION
The
Ted Kirkmeyer Photo Collection
Ted
Kirkmeyer
1908-2003
| Ted Kirkmeyer
managed the Marlow, Rio and Antlers theaters in Helena during
the late 1930s. Mr. Kirkmeyer's collection of photos and ephemera
is now owned by author and collector Tom Mulvaney, who is
generously sharing many wonderful images via this website.
Thanks, Tom -- and thanks, Ted, wherever you are. |
Employees of Helena Movie Houses at the Marlow, April 2 1938
| Several
of these folks have been identified. Pass your cursor over
the image for their names. There is more information about
them below the photo... |
COLLECTION
OF KENNON BAIRD •
CLICK ON IMAGE FOR A BIG VIEW IN A NEW WINDOW
|
Employees
of the Marlow, Rio and Antlers theaters posed in the Marlow
lobby for Les Jorud on April 2, 1938. The reason for the
gathering is unknown.
UPDATE:
Several people in this photo have been identified.
Wanda Power e-mailed to say that the short man with the
striped tie, third row back and third from the right-hand
end, is Fred "Barney" Olson (1895-1977). A native
of Red Lodge, Olson was employed by the Fox Theater Company
for many years in various communities. And after moving
to Helena in 1937, he was a motion picture operator for
all the theaters in Helena. He also was employed as recreation
director for Fort Harrison Veterans Administration for several
years before retiring in 1966. "Barney" also did
a ventriloquist act with his dummy "Jerry", and
was a ham radio operator.
Standing
on the far right is Ted Kirkmeyer (1908-2003), manager of
the three theatres.
Daniel
Sullivan has identified his grandmother, Charlotte "Lottie"
McGowan, as third person from the left in the back row.
She later married Dr. John Mitschke. Thanks, Daniel.
Deb
Winston Bushnell of Helena has this same photo, and her
mother, Thelma Barker Winston, is in the second row, second
from the left sitting with her arms crossed. Thanks to Deb
for e-mailing this info!
In the row of girls seated in chairs, the first girl on the left is Vivian Linderman. Thanks to Lynnette Nilan, her daughter-in-law, for the information.
As seen
on the Art Deco-style display behind the people, Disney's
"Snow White" opened at the Marlow the following
day. The other advertising display, featuring the large
cutout of the smiling woman on the far left, was for "Alexander's
Rag Time Band", with Alice Faye and Don Ameche.
|
Winfred
McDonnell and Her Debutantes on the Marlow Stage, June 12 1938
Photo by Les Jorud
COLLECTION
OF TED KIRKMEYER, COURTESY OF TOM
MULVANEY •
CLICK ON IMAGE FOR A BIG VERSION IN A NEW WINDOW
|
From
the newspaper archives, we learn that Winifred McDonnell
was teaching piano in Bismarck, North Dakota in 1937. After
their summer 1938 engagement at the Broadwater in Helena,
Winifred and the Debutantes played another extended engagement
at the Hotel Witter in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin.
Winifred
toured with a trio in 1939-40, playing in Ohio and Pennsylvania.
In 1949-50, Winifred was teaching music at the Laurel, Montana,
High School.
|
Marlow
Theatre Lobby, December 20, 1938
COLLECTION
OF TED KIRKMEYER, COURTESY OF TOM
MULVANEY •
CLICK ON IMAGE FOR A BIG VERSION IN A NEW WINDOW
| An excellent
view of the original Marlow lobby area, taken by Les Jorud.
After the 1949 remodeling, the candy counter occupied the
space on the left, where the displays of donated food and
merchandise are. The carpet is original from 1918, and was
replaced in a 1939 upgrade. |
Marlow
Usher and Usherettes, 1939
COLLECTION
OF TED KIRKMEYER, COURTESY OF TOM
MULVANEY •
CLICK ON IMAGE FOR A BIG VERSION IN A NEW WINDOW
| From
left to right: Mary McCarthy, Thelma Barker, Bill Bennett,
Margaret Alice Ashton, Betty Brown. |
Usherette
Betty Brown at Work, 1939
COLLECTION
OF TED KIRKMEYER, COURTESY OF TOM
MULVANEY
Ted
Kirkmeyer on the Marlow stage, taken from the wings, 1939
COLLECTION
OF TED KIRKMEYER, COURTESY OF TOM
MULVANEY
April
1, 1939 -- "Oklahoma Kid" Costume Contest
COLLECTION
OF TED KIRKMEYER, COURTESY OF TOM
MULVANEY •
CLICK ON IMAGE FOR A BIG VERSION IN A NEW WINDOW
Contestants
in front of the Marlow Theatre, Edwards Street, April 1 1938.
COLLECTION
OF TED KIRKMEYER, COURTESY OF TOM
MULVANEY
| Marlow
Theatre manager Ted Kirkmeyer is "held up" by (presumably)
the winner of the Oklahoma Kid costume contest. |
Eddy's
Bread Lone Ranger Promo Poster, 1939
Promotion
for "Stagecoach", 1939
A View of Edwards Street
COLLECTION
OF TED KIRKMEYER, COURTESY OF TOM
MULVANEY
1930s
Promotional Ephemera
COURTESY
OF WENDI KOTTAS PETERSON
1940s
Ephemera
| At
the top, a 1940 pass to the Marlow for a benefit screening
of "The Secret of Dr. Kildare". The coupon for the
Dopey doll drawing likely dates to 1944, when "Snow White"
was re-released by Disney. |
Myrna
Loy Visits Helena, March 1940
Appears at the Marlow
Mayor
Albert James Roberts (1867-1944) Presents a Bouquet to Myrna Loy
at the Marlow
COURTESY
OF WENDI KOTTAS PETERSON
Myrna
Loy on the Marlow Stage
COURTESY
OF WENDI KOTTAS PETERSON
Noral
Whittinghill and His Marlow Theatre Band, April 1 1941
COLLECTION
OF KENNON BAIRD • THANKS STEVE!
CLICK ON IMAGE FOR A LARGER VIEW IN A NEW
WINDOW
|
Helena
native Noral Whittinghill (1913-2001), seen here lying on
the Marlow Stage, would later gain fame as a popular radio
host in Los Angeles under the name Dick
Whittinghill. He also appeared in numerous
motion pictures and television shows. He has a star
on Hollywood's Walk of Fame (6384 Hollywood Blvd.), and
a statue in the Hollywood Wax Museum.
Noral
"Dick" Whittinghill
Whittinghill's
Helena band was broadcast live from the Marlow stage, via
telephone line, on KPFA, Helena's first radio station...
|
Archery Exhibition or Contest, December 1, 1943
"Wild West Stampede" Program • Photo by Les Jorud
COLLECTION OF KENNON BAIRD •
CLICK ON IMAGE FOR A BIG VERSION IN A NEW WINDOW
The
Cidney Munn School of the Dance "Swing Shift" Revue,
May 20 1944
THE
WES AND CAROL SYNNESS COLLECTION
•
CLICK ON IMAGE FOR A LARGER VIEW IN A NEW WINDOW
|
This
photo by Les Jorud was no doubt taken at a rehearsal for
the May 24 performance, as advertised in the Independent-Record
ad below.
The
three girls kneeling in the photo above are, from left to
right: Carol Lynch, Maureen Finstad and Mary Alice Gerard.
|
"Wildfire" Promotion, Oct. 21, 1945
| On the left is Dorothy Johnson McCreanor; the girl on the right is unidentified. |
High School Students Down Front
1947 Vigilante Yearbook
Colorized Image
1949
Remodeling
|
The
Marlow underwent several redecorations and upgrades during
its lifetime, with a final remodeling completed in 1949.
The extensive re-do included the addition of a loge section
and new "Bodiform" seats throughout. New projectors,
screen, sound system and curtains were installed. The concession
and lobby areas were brightened-up, and kidney-shaped ceiling
coves were added to the lobby area. It was also in 1949
that the vertical neon "Marlow" sign and lighted
aluminum marquee, familiar to all who remember the place,
were added. The renovation was celebrated in early 1950
with the world premier of the Warner Bros. release "Montana",
starring Errol Flynn. Flynn was in India filming "Kim"
at the time, and could not attend.
The
Marlow lobby, 1950. Scan of a newspaper photo.
|
TICKETS
COURTESY OF INEZ SLAYMAN
33rd
Anniversary of the Marlow ~ April 1, 1951
THE
WES AND CAROL SYNNESS COLLECTION
|
The
uniformed girl on the left is Donna Hannick (now Donna Wise);
the girl in the center, with the dark coat, is Gloria Smith
(now Gloria Marovich); the uniformed girl on the right is
Larie Murphy (now Larie Stoll). The man is likely Sid Page,
manager of the Marlow. The girl in the light-colored coat
is Alvina Hartman Blank
Many
thanks to the Wes and Carol Synness Collection for sharing
yet another wonderful piece of Helena's history!
|
January
12, 1958
COURTESY
OF TOM
MULVANEY •
CLICK ON IMAGE FOR A BIG VERSION IN A NEW WINDOW
COURTESY
OF TOM
MULVANEY •
CLICK ON IMAGE FOR A BIG VERSION IN A NEW WINDOW
COURTESY
OF TOM
MULVANEY •
CLICK ON IMAGE FOR A BIG VERSION IN A NEW WINDOW
COURTESY
OF TOM
MULVANEY •
CLICK ON IMAGE FOR A BIG VERSION IN A NEW WINDOW
COURTESY
OF TOM
MULVANEY •
CLICK ON IMAGE FOR A BIG VERSION IN A NEW WINDOW
COURTESY
OF TOM
MULVANEY •
CLICK ON IMAGE FOR A BIG VERSION IN A NEW WINDOW
COURTESY
OF TOM
MULVANEY •
CLICK ON IMAGE FOR A BIG VERSION IN A NEW WINDOW
| Montana
Governor J.
Hugo Aronson (1891-1978) with wife Rose and members of
the Civil Air Patrol in the Marlow foyer. Can you find the
Governor in the audience photos? |
John
F. Kennedy at the Marlow, June 1960
| Presidential
Candidate John F. Kennedy made an appearance at the June 1960
Montana State Democratic Party Convention in Helena. Kennedy
showed up at events held at the Marlow Theatre, the Civic
Center Ballroom, and at the home of Joe Reber, a Helena contractor
and politician. Ted Kennedy and Sargent Shriver accompanied
J.F.K. on this trip, and were in Helena with him. |
FROM
THE 1964 BOOK "WESTWARD I GO FREE - THE STORY OF J.F.K. IN
MONTANA" BY EDMUND CHRISTOPHERSON
Kennedy in the
Marlow lobby, his arm being gripped by Walter Marshall, local promoter
and politico.
Kennedy
in the Marlow Auditorium
FROM
THE 1964 BOOK "WESTWARD I GO FREE - THE STORY OF J.F.K. IN
MONTANA" BY EDMUND CHRISTOPHERSON
| Kennedy
addressed the convention, then returned to the Placer Hotel
to confer with State party officials. |
GENE
BROWN, MANAGER OF THE MARLOW 1960-1962
COURTESY
OF KERRY BROWN
|
Marlow
manager Gene Brown (1926-2002) stands at the Edwards St.
ticket window, 1960. Los Angeles native Gene was an accomplished
musician and educator. He served in the Army Airborne in
the South Pacific during WWII, received a degree in education
from Eastern Montana College, and worked for Fox Inter-Mountain
theaters for several years before coming to Helena to manage
the Marlow in 1960.
In 1961,
Gene produced at the Marlow the world premiere of Gary Cooper's
last film, "The Naked Edge". Several photos of
that event may be seen below.
After
his Marlow gig, Gene taught music in Helena schools for
many years, was a local radio and TV personality, and was
very active in education and the community. For more about
Gene, click
here.
Your
editor thanks Gene's son Kerry Brown (1951-2015) for sending
in these great Marlow photos, as well as other interesting
images for this site!
|
WORLD
PREMIERE OF GARY COOPER'S LAST FILM
"The
Naked Edge" - June 28, 1961
COURTESY
OF KERRY BROWN
| Gene
Brown in the Marlow lobby, the day of the premiere of "The
Naked Edge". The three posters on display at left are
from 1930s Gary Cooper movies. |
COURTESY
OF JUNE VIRAG
COURTESY
OF KERRY BROWN
|
Premiere-goers
in the Marlow lobby.
|
COURTESY
OF KERRY BROWN
| Gene
Brown and Helena politico/promoter Walter Marshall. Marshall
and his wife Doris operated the Old
Brewery Theatre, a summer stock playhouse on West Main
St. |
Walter S. Woods, Manager
| This story disappered from the newspapers in a day or two, without any further explanation. |
Costumed Marlow Employees
"Gone With the Wind" Re-release Promotion
May 1, 1969
COURTESY
OF ROBERT BERG
CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE IN A NEW WINDOW
Standing, left to right: Debbie Hamilton, Barbara Thompson, Vickie Louquet Westervelt, Diane Linjatie, Ann Gehring, Paula Westervelt Berg, Colleen Visser.
Kneeling left to right: Robert Berg, John Moore.
|
The
Marlow's Final Days
Your Tax
Dollars at Work
| In July
of 1970, Urban Renewal purchased the Marlow Theatre from Paul
Holenstein's Diversified Realty, Inc. of Butte for $97,900.
Diversified Realty was formed in 1963 as a consequence of
the bankruptcy and reorganization of Holenstein's Prudential
Diversified Services. Holenstein had numerous interests in
Montana, and operated the Placer Hotel in Helena 1961-1965.
He died in 1974. |
The
Marlow shortly before demolition, 1972
THE
WES AND CAROL SYNNESS COLLECTION
The
Marlow Seen from Fire Tower Hill, 1972
COURTESY
OF J. M. COOPER - DETAIL OF LARGER IMAGE - ©2009 BY J. M.
COOPER
From
The Independent Record, May 21 1972
CLICK
ON IMAGE TO OPEN PDF FILE
Demolition
Photos, 1972
COLLECTION
OF THE LATE HENRY W. JORGENSEN • CLICK
ON IMAGE FOR A BIG VERSION IN A NEW WINDOW
THE
WES AND CAROL SYNNESS COLLECTION
THE
WES AND CAROL SYNNESS COLLECTION
THE WES AND CAROL SYNNESS COLLECTION
Site
of the Marlow, taken from what was once Edwards St., June 2009
PHOTO
BY KENNON BAIRD
Marlow
Demolition Slideshow - WMV File
By Dick Alberts with Photos from Jan Brown
COURTESY
OF PAM ATTARDO AND THE LEWIS & CLARK HERITAGE AND TOURISM
COUNCIL
A
Face From the Marlow Façade
COURTESY
OF KERRY BROWN
| Kerry
Brown writes: "My wife and I went out to dinner tonight at
Bert
& Ernie's [the former Globe Clothing building] and as
we were leaving I noticed the sculpture you see in the attached
photo. This is one of the three, that are now owned by Toby Dewolf
(owner of Bert and Ernie's), son of Bill Dewolf who owned the
Union Market. These were proudly displayed on the front façade
of the Marlow Theater, near the top of the Building. You can see
them in some of the Marlow pictures." |
Thanks, Kerry,
for the great photo!
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back to THEATERS
|
