Alberta Bair Theater

"to bring the excitement of the performing arts
to the Big Sky Country"

Description:
In just one year at the ABT, there were nearly 90,000 patrons were served, approximately nearly 28,000 school children attended matinee performances. 1,600 people were given access to the arts through tickets given by local social service agencies, for use by their clients. This past year we had 220 public performances, educational and community outreach programs, rehearsals, private events and meetings held at the ABT.

History:
Our History. . .
Built in 1931, the Fox Theater was one of the final art deco theaters built by Metro-Goldwyn Mayer. For many years, this was the place to go on a first date to the movies, meet friends for a night of vaudeville, or attend an important meeting in Billings. In the mid-seventies, the Fox was falling into disrepair, and the plans entailed razing the theater into a parking lot or refurbishing the space into a multiplex cinema house. Mayor William Fox created the "Save the Fox" committee to garner broad-based community support. The committee evolved into the Fox Committee for the Performing Arts, offering patron memberships and a fuller season of performances. In late 1980, word was out that the Fox was for sale. The Fox Committee invited Washington theater experts to Billings to offer their opinion on renovation. In 1981, the seeds of the Bair Theater Corporation were planted. Dr. Hewes Agnew, chairing the fund drive to purchase the theater, approached community leaders to help in the effort. As part of the capital renovation fund drive, the group received the lead gift from Ms. Alberta Bair. Ironically, the Fox Theater sat on the corner of Broadway and 3rd Avenue North - the exact spot where Alberta had been born in 1895. The Fox Theater became the Alberta Bair Theater for the Performing Arts and celebrated its grand re-opening on January 24, 1987, upon conclusion of its two-year renovation.

Contact person: Lisa Geda, Administrative Assistant, (phone), (email)

Office fax number: (406) 256-5060

Address:

PO Box 1556 Billings, MT 59102

Web Site: http://www.albertabairtheater.org

Directions:

The Alberta Bair Theater is located on the corner of North Broadway (28th Street North) and 3rd Ave. North in downtown Billings Montana

Last updated on June 15, 2009