The Wilma Theatre: Missoula's Palace of Cinema
"Since 1921, the Wilma Theatre has stood as a monument to arts and culture in downtown Missoula, hosting grand cinema screenings and live performances along the Clark Fork River."
First opened in 1921 by William "Billy" Simons and named for his wife, light opera singer Wilma Simons, the Wilma Theatre is an iconic centerpiece of downtown Missoula. Designed as a grand eight-story "skyscraper" along the banks of the Clark Fork River, it housed a magnificent theater, offices, apartments, and a swimming pool in the basement. Over the decades, it has transitioned from vaudeville and silent films to a premier concert venue and the main screening site of the Missoula Film Festival. To this day, its glowing neon marquee acts as a warm beacon of arts and culture for the entire Garden City.