Dome Theater: Under New Ownership

Jamie Arnold has a pile of paperwork to fill out, several bills to pay and a lifetime of restoration work ahead of her. But it will be worth the effort, she says, once the historic Dome Theater is up and running again. 

Arnold and her husband Charles purchased the Dome Theater on Friday and immediately began removing old hardware and damaged equipment from the darkened halls of the 65-year-old building, which was erected the same year that Humphrey Bogart’s “The Treasure of the Sierra Madre” and John Wayne’s “Red River” were first shown in theaters. 

It will take at least two months to clean the building, repair the roof and install the equipment needed to begin showing movies at the Dome, but the Arnolds are hoping to have everything in place to re-open Libby’s only movie theater by May 1.

“There are just so many things that need to get done,” Jamie Arnold said. “It’s going to be a lot of work, but we are excited for the chance to do something positive for the community, especially kids who need something else to do around here.”

The Arnolds did not disclose how much they paid for the theater, but they said the cost of restoration would be at least $70,000. That figure includes about $45,000 for a digital projector, $15,000 for roof repairs and another $10,000 to replace damaged equipment such as water-stained curtains and dilapidated doors.  

They are planning to hold fundraisers and raffles to help pay for the new projector.  

“I think the community is behind us with this,” Jamie Arnold said. “There are a lot of people who want to see the theater succeed in Libby. It’s not just for showing movies – we can open it up to community groups that would like to use it for their events. There are a lot of things we can do.”

Charles Arnold, 44, who retired from the Army after 21 years of service, said the goal is to make sure the community continues to have enough amenities to keep people entertained. 

“We don’t expect to make money with the theater,” he said. “We just want to give kids something to do, instead of going out to drink around a bonfire. It’s for the community. We just want to make enough money to break even and stay open.”

The Dome operated successfully under several different owners since it opened in 1948. But the theater fell on hard times in recent years as Lincoln County’s population dwindled, families reduced discretionary spending, and costs for theater owners rose due to changes in the movie industry.

Allie Gilden, who sold the Dome to the Arnolds, unexpectedly stopped showing movies at the theater in January. Since then, Gilden has not returned phone calls from The Western News and the playbill at the Dome has remained static, indicating falsely that the movie “Fun Size” was showing at 7 p.m.

Shanda Jennings, director of the Libby Area Chamber of Commerce, said she tried to contact Gilden on several occasions to help her find ways to keep the Dome running, but got no response.

“So many people wanted me to jump in as Chamber director and do something. And I tried to contact the former owner,” Jennings said. “This is such a relief that it’s being saved. All of Libby will benefit because they are doing something with it.”

Downtown business owners were generally excited to hear that the Dome was under new ownership and is gearing up to re-open. 

“It will be nice to have one more thing to do in Libby instead of driving to Kalispell,” said Mary Devlin, owner of Shoes and Socks clothing store. “For a while there, high school athletics were the only show in town.”

Jamie Arnold, 35, said construction work at the theater would take at least one month, although the timetable is contingent upon an upcoming asbestos inspection by the Environmental Protection Agency. 

In the meantime, the Arnolds will have their hands full. 

The carpet needs to be cleaned. The floors need to be scrubbed. The fabric wall-hangings need to be aired out. The doors need better seals to keep warm air in during the winter. The theater needs a new popcorn machine. And that’s only the short list. 

“We’re trying to get the word out that this is going to be a nice, clean place,” Jamie Arnold said. “It needs to lose the stigma that it has.”

Right now, the Arnolds are organizing a series of community events to pay for a digital projector, which the studios now require to show new movies. They hope to host a dinner fundraiser and raffle later this spring, and they will soon start soliciting sponsorships from local businesses and individuals who may want to pay for bulk tickets in advance or put their name on one of the theater seats.

“The reason the studios are requiring everyone to switch to digital projectors is the cost and security,” Jamie Arnold said. “It costs $1,500 to create a roll of 35 millimeter film, and it only costs about $150 to distribute a film digitally. And with digital, you need a code from the studios to unlock the movie, so only the theater can play it.”

Going digital will bring the theater into the future, but part of the Arnolds’ plan is to tap into the past.

Jamie Arnold said she is researching grant programs offered to historic theaters. One such program is offered by the Save American Films Association, to which Arnold has already turned in a grant proposal. 

“Anything over 50 qualifies as historic,” she said. “And this building is 65 years old, so we would be eligible.”

The theater site on Mineral Avenue is actually much older than the building. Before it was the Dome, it was the Opera House, which operated from 1910 until it burned down in 1948. The Opera House was founded by William Kienitz, a Libby pioneer who also served as mayor and chairman of the Chamber of Commerce.

Anyone wishing to contribute to the Dome Theater restoration project can call Jamie Arnold at 283-1243.