Block 1, Lot 4 Part III
by Roy Millegan

In December 1922 a movie company visited the Virginia City and Deer Lodge areas to film a story about the Vigilantes, the name of it not stated. One of the company officials stopped off in Whitehall and gave a lecture about the purposes of the company and how filming was done. To promote this lecture they planned to drive an old time stage coach ( it had only been about 20 years since the last one had gone out of Whitehall ) through the streets with trumpets blaring, alerting everyone that they out to come and listen. The paper did not state if this actually occurred but one can only wonder where the horses that were in town might have actually ended up if it did, probably scattered from here to Pipestone.

In December 1923, the Yellowstone Billiard Parlor moved up the street to the Borden Block. Huber opened up his own poolroom in the space with Fred Armfield soon taking it over. In December 1926 the Yellowstone Confectionery, still operated by Martindale's, gave tickets with every 10 cents worth of purchase.
These could be used toward the purchase of an $ 8 box of chocolates or a large baby doll carriage. The chocolates had a beautiful picture in a frame on it.

Other entertainment continued to appear on the stage as well. " I am the Law, " a road show, had Christy's famous orchestra with it and they not only played for the stage performance but for a dance afterwards. The Montana State College Chorus drew a good crowd when they came through here on tour. In August 1926, another big dance took place when the Scotch Highlanders Orchestra, from Los Angeles, California, in full Scotch dress, played the latest music, admission $1. The Valencia, a new dance just out, was probably included.

When Lon Chaney's " The Unholy Three " played on the screen. Tom Greene's four piece orchestra was hired to play the score.

In October 1927, the theatre issued its usual warning: "Those that throw peanut shells, put their feet on the back of the chair in front of them, strike matches, noisiness, etc., will be thrown out with no refund."

In July 1929, Pan's famous Norwegian Accordian Band provided some good music, singing, comedy and starred nationally known Pandelfo, all for 25 cents.

" Should a Girl Marry, " a talking picture show was presented in August 1929. They had to use special equipment, for this photo-play came with musical synchronization and talking sequences, admission 50 cents instead of 35 cents. It was billed as a sure box office history maker for it was equipped with music, dialogue and sound. The song " Haunting Memories " was associated with this movie.

In 1930 " talkies " really caught on so C. H. Miller and Son were hired to elevate the theatre seats from the door to the stage, put in air conditioning and add additional seats so 350 could be handled at one showing. The last silent film in Whitehall was shown on August 24, 1930, " She Goes to War " with Eleanor Boardman. Martindale stated he had waited to install " talkies " until he was sure they would be successful and better equipment came along. He installed a Western Electric Sound System, the best that money could buy. Installation was done by L.F. Lepp under the supervision of N. D. Owens, an installation engineer with Electrical Research Products of Hollywood. The total cost of the remodeling and installation of equipment came to about $&,000. Admission prices went up from 20 cents to 35 cents to 25 cents and 50 cents. Locals did not mind however for this brought a metropolitan air to the town.

On September 5, 1930, the era of talking movies started in Whitehall with " Good News " starring Bessie Love and featuring Gus Shy, a well known stage comedian. This MGM film, a musical comedy, had originally been a Broadway play. Abe Lyman's band played the score for the film with some of the songs in the movie being Varsity Drag, Good News, Lucky in Love, The Best Things in Life are Free, He's a Ladies Man, Walking Collegiate, Flaming Youth, Happy Days, Tait Song, Todays the Day and Girls of Pi Beta Phi. Some of these became all time hits. The story behind the film was about a love triangle between a football hero and two co-eds, the championship game the deciding factor. It was said to have been a lavious number with a gorgeous finale in natural color. Along with the feature film was a Laurel and Hardy comedy and the Metro Sound News. Large crowds made the arrival of " talkies " a huge success. James Peacock was the projectionist. Reminiscing then was found around town. People were recalling the thrill of the " Great Train Robbery, " a silent film, the one reel romances of vita-graph days and the incrongruity of it all at first. Lovers lips used to move soundlessly, Bill Hart's pistol flashed in pantomime in the back-room of the frontier bars. Some recalled the big production " The Birth of a Nation, " this one including a large, live orchestra that followed the shadows racing through the Griffith epic. Later came the mighty organ, which projected every mood of the silver screen into the hearts of the audience. They stated the illusion was complete - almost. Now, a new era was upon them.

In July 1932, Willard the Wizard, evidently a hypnotist, was on stage here. A.G. Manning, George Taylor and Bud Murphy, called the he-men of Whitehall, maneuvered to the stage to take part in the spiritual seance. When a ghost appeared Taylor dropped from the stage. Manning tested his heart and floated from the platform. Unmarried Murphy took his seat beside Mrs. Murphy in the audience. Then three more knew they could not be put under but Lester Painter lifted 5 men, Cliff Byler couldn't wipe a smile from his face while dancing with a chair and a show follower ably entertained the audience with a bucking horse exhibition.

In 1936, Billy Barton, later to become a well-known midget by starring in movies and TV, played the drums while his two sisters, Dolores and Audrey Dennison, performed on stage. Additional renovation within the theatre was also done this year, three colonnades being added to each side. A new Rainbo Vari Kolor lighting system allowed one to merely press a switch in order to get different color combinations, the light being diffused through a special type of glass. In the winter the color combination allowed you to have a warm feeling while in the summer it was one of cheeriness, coolness and freshness. Bill Nichols was engaged to paint the interior ivory and green. A new screen, which gave clearer reproduction of pictures and voices, was also installed.