The Lincoln Theatre opened November 13, 1924, showing “The Virginian” at 7:30 p.m. to a crowd so large the Troy Tribune reported “chairs were placed in the aisles so none were turned away.” For many years, even through the
Dirty Thirties, the theatre prospered, showing first run movies to entertain the residents of the town of Troy. On February 6, 1931, the theatre screened its first "talkie". In 1994 the 170 seat theatre was completely renovated and things continued to run smoothly until 2012, when the industry changed from 35 millimetre to all digital movies. The owner was in no position to fork out the $45,000 to $100,000 required for a digital projector but soldiered on screening 35 mm movies, and, as of March 21, 2014, still did. It's likely that it still does today (2017).
Though for many years the theatre screened movies four days a week, it appears that they are now down to three: Friday, Saturday and Monday. When we passed through Troy the movie playing was
Mr. Peabody.
Attached to the theatre are a cafe on the side and a house at the rear. These greatly aid the owners in creating extra revenue as well as minimizing living expenses.
Given that the theatre came precariously close to closing as a result of the industry changeover, the plight of the Lincoln Theatre garnered several news stories, excerpts from one of which follow.
LINCOLN THEATRE
CARRIES ON AS THE
MOVIE WORLD TURNS DIGITAL
March 21, 2014 at 9:48 am | Phil Johnson
... Built by Philip “Pete” Thomas Mettler in the fall of 1924, the theater has changed hands several times, but never closed since showing “The Virginian” at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 13, 1924 to a crowd so large the Troy Tribune reported “chairs were placed in the aisles so none were turned away.”
But times are changing and the 90-year-old theater still shows 35mm film. Production companies have flirted with the idea of no longer producing 35mm film for years, and Paramount Pictures recently became the first industry giant to call it quits when it announced “Anchorman 2” as the last in the non-digital line.
“We’ve been dark for three weeks because there are so few prints in the region,” Tina Moore said. “Little guys like us are few and far between.”
Fundraising efforts since 2010 raised $8,000, a far cry from the $45,000 needed to purchase a digital projector similar to the one that revitalized Libby’s Dome Theatre last year. Lincoln Theater currently uses a DVD projector.
“A digital projector would mean we don’t lose our one winter entertainment that does not require a skill,” Tina Moore said. “Even during the Depression, theaters made a profit. It’s such a community outlet.”
Tina Moore operates the neighboring Preview Café during the day. The tiny shop offers “five-star burgers” like the Robin Williams, a ?- or ? -pound patty served with grilled onions and chipotle ranch sauce. Different appetites may prefer a Sloppy Joe Pesci. The café turns enough profit to carry the theater, one of six Lincoln Theaters in the nation.
The purchase of a town historical landmark has been a lot of work for the Moores.
“I’d never seen a projector before buying the place,” Josh Moore said. “I’ve had to rewire the popcorn machine two or three times already. It was a lot of scrubbing and cleaning when we first moved in.”...
From The Western News, Libby, MT