The Roxy theater, Choteau’s new business enterprise, will begin operation July Fourth, marking the opening of the largest new building constructed at Choteau in more than 20 years.
A milestone in the advancement of the city, the big brick and tile structure located on Main street near the Beaupre hotel was started on November 3 of last year and recently was completed by Dale (Duke) Blakely, Choteau contractor. The theater is owned by the Choteau Realty company, a corporation in which Arnold C. Hanusa, Dr. C. W. Boussard and Guil Homan are the principal stockholders. Homan, who supervised construction of the 40 by 290 foot building, will be manager of the cinema house.
The Roxy will have a seating capacity of 486 persons, the largest single room capacity in the city or county.
Various Rooms
The theater is equinned with two rest rooms, a drinking fountain, check room, box office and heating, advertising and dressing rooms. The marquee was supplied by the Electrical Products Co. of Great Falls.
In the building is a foyer and sub-foyer with four sets of draperies to prevent noise from the street and lobby from being heard. The theater has a "cry room” for babies with a large window so that mothers may view the picture and may hear the sound from a speaker in the room.
Projection Arcs
High intensity projection arcs, which throw a pure white light on the screen will be a feature of the theater, said Manager Homan. Simplex front and rear shutter mechanisms which allow 30 percent light on the screen, new Bausch and Lomb super-cinephor coated lenses, and the Walker Plastic screen, all coupled together, give the Roxy one of the finest projected pictures in the country, he said. The light is said to make for clear vision on black and white reproductions and is particularly good for technicolor pictures. One of the finest projection rooms in the state is equipped with new projectors in the Roxy, it is stated.
From the Choteau Acantha