Then and now: Fox Theater vs. Alberta Bair Theater
Take a look at how the Alberta Bair Theater, formerly the Fox Theater, has changed since it first opened in the 1930s.
Fox Theater, 1931
The Fox Theater was built in 1931 at the corner of North Broadway and Third Avenue North. Its construction was at least partially financed by the 20th Century Fox Corporation, which built similar art deco theaters around the country. A 1931 Billings Gazette article stated the cost of the marquee alone at $30,000, the equivalent of more than $475,000 in 2018.
Alberta Bair Theater, 2020
The sun sets behind the completed Alberta Bair Theater in downtown Billings in December 2020.
Fox Theater balcony, circa 1930s
The view from the balcony of the Fox Theater shows the painted walls that the theater featured upon its construction. The theater was designed by Robert C. Reamer, who was the architect behind the Old Faithful Inn and Lake Hotel in Yellowstone National Park, as well as a number of other theaters, mostly in Washington.
Alberta Bair Theater, 2020
A view from the very top of the Alberta Bair Theater balcony.
Fox Theater auditorium, circa 1930s
A packed auditorium at the Fox Theater in downtown Billings is shown in the 1930s.
Alberta Bair Theater, 2020
The Alberta Bair Theater nears completion in December 2020.
Fox Theater auditorium, circa 1930s
The auditorium of the Fox Theater is shown in its original form. The theater opened with a parade and street dance, and a showing of the 1931 film "Merely Mary Ann," starring Janet Gaynor and Charles Farrell.
Alberta Bair Theater, 2020
The Alberta Bair Theater auditorium nears completion in 2020.
Fox Theater entryway, circa 1930s
The Fox Theater opened on November 17, 1931. The theater's heating and cooling system was state-of-the-art at the time, and cost $60,000 to install, the equivalent of more than $950,000 in 2018.
Alberta Bair Theater, 2020
The upper level of the Alberta Bair Theater features a new concession stand.
Fox Theater lobby, circa 1930s
The lobby of the Fox Theater featured furniture that matched the theater's art deco exterior.
Alberta Bair Theater, 2020
The box office of the Alberta Bair Theater now features one will call and two ticket sale spots at the entrance of the theater.
Fox Theater entrance, circa 1930s
The Fox Theater originally featured a small, but ornate box office on North Broadway. The building featured a total of 2,128 lights, according to a 1931 Billings Gazette article.
Alberta Bair Theater, 2020
The Alberta Bair Theater sign is illuminated at the building’s entrance in 2020.
Montana is one of only two states where Kristin Chenoweth hasn't performed, and she'll check it off her list Sunday at the Alberta Bair Theater in downtown Billings.
Photos from the Alberta Bair Theater's $13.6 million remodel in downtown Billings.
The theater now awaits its formal debut, a fate tied closely to the pandemic.
A select few members from the Billings Symphony performed before a group of Alberta Bair Theater stakeholders Tuesday evening as part of an ef…