A historic program for our historic theatres.
IDAHO’S HISTORIC THEATRE REVITALIZATION SUBGRANT PROJECTS
The following projects were selected to receive $821,000 in funding through IHT’s Historic Theatre Revitalization Subgrant Program. This program is supported by the Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grant Program funded by the Historic Preservation Fund as administered by the National Park Service (NPS), Department of the Interior and the Idaho Heritage Trust Fund. The recipients will match (10%) or more of the award amount to complete their restoration projects.
After determining whether the proposed projects were eligible for funding through this program, award determinations were based on the capacity for each project to achieve the four primary goals of this program: Restoration and Preservation of Historic Buildings, Access to Arts & Culture, Main Street Stabilization and Revitalization, and Stimulating Heritage Tourism.
Learn more about the goals, selection criteria, and eligible programs HERE.
The listed projects are subject to Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review process. The public comment period for this will be open until 4/25/2024, and you are welcome to send any questions, comments, or concerns to hello@idahoheritage.org before this date.
OVERVIEW OF HISTORIC THEATRE PROJECTS
Kenworthy Performing Arts Center
Moscow
Kenworthy Performing Arts Center
Moscow
History:
The Kenworthy Theatre and Performing Arts Center began its life as the Crystal Theater in 1908, but soon after it became a car dealership where the building served as the garage. In 1925 Milburn Kenworthy purchased, lengthened, and extensively remodeled the building, which reopened as a silent movie venue in 1926. The building was expanded further in 1928, and the iconic neon blade sign was installed in 1930. The handsome terracotta tile façade was added in 1949 along with an enlarged marquee. By 1979, the stage was converted into a coffee shop.
Milburn and his wife Marjorie brought a very theatrical approach to film, and provided patrons with an immersive atmosphere, occasionally bringing a real horse to walk down the aisle before a western movie or when they burned incense during the showing of Salome to add an exotic touch to the experience.
The Kenworthy family gifted the eponymous theater to the community in 2000, and it now serves as a multipurpose venue for plays, musicals, films, live music, and an all-around event space. It is overseen by a dedicated nonprofit organization and has undergone extensive restoration and rehabilitation to return this beloved local institution to prominence.
Project:
The Kenworthy intends to use this grant to restore their iconic marquee, which is an indelible part of Moscow’s picturesque Main Street. In addition to advertising their own programming, the Kenworthy also posts important PSAs in times of disaster and need, messages of loss and condolences, and reminders of important community events, such as elections. The Kenworthy also hosts events for many local nonprofits, community organizations, and schools, each of which benefit from being featured in the bright lights.
The massive marquee hangs out over a busy sidewalk, so ensuring the piece is structurally sound is of utmost concern. The project will ensure the physical integrity of the sign, as well as maintaining one of the most recognizable pieces of Moscow’s historic fabric for countless more events to come.
Historic Opera House
Glenns Ferry
Historic Opera House
Glenns Ferry
History:
The Gorby Opera House opened its doors in 1914 across the street from the Union Pacific Railroad Depot in Glenns Ferry. It was originally intended as a vaudeville venue and included projection equipment for moving pictures. Often referred to as Movie Palaces, the Gorby is one of 4000 such buildings built in the US between 1914 and 1922. Programming would usually consist of a variety of different stage acts followed by a film to round out the evening. The space also hosted many community events like socials, dances, bazaars, and funeral receptions due to its location next to the mortuary. The theatre reopened in 1993, and it has resumed its place at the heart of arts and culture in Glenns Ferry. The late-Victorian era Craftsman/Art Nouveau building retains its original façade, hardwood floors, bannisters, stairs, seats, and fans, and features a 100-year-old piano.
Newly rechristened as The Historic Opera House, school students attend drama classes in the building and melodramas are performed on the stage each summer. Glenns Ferry is located near the popular Three Island State Park, which attracts a quarter of a million visitors every year. This combined with the rural nature of the surrounding area means that the Opera House attracts more than 70% of its patrons from outside Elmore County, which is a great boon to local businesses.
Project:
The 2023 Historic Theatre Grant will go towards restoring “broad brick parapet crests” that mysteriously disappeared from atop the exterior sometime between 1914 and the early 1960s. The project, based on the original plans from Tourtelotte and Hummel, will not only restore this unique piece of ‘proto-deco’ style during the brief period of transition from craftsman architecture to art deco, but it will also address the causes and effects of prolonged water damage to the roof.
Nuart Theatre
Blackfoot
Nuart Theatre
Blackfoot
History:
The Nuart Theatre is a jewel in the historic downtown of Blackfoot, ID, and is described as “one of the best examples in Idaho of the modern style rendered in brick on a modest scale.” Built in 1929, the Nuart is distinct from many of Idaho’s other historic theaters in that it was built to accommodate talking pictures. As such, the owners secured the services of Walter DeMordaunt to design the building in a new style befitting the new technology. Advertising at the time of its grand opening proclaimed it “was all the name implies.”
The exterior of the building is notable for its intricate brick patterns and terracotta ornamentation. The interior is similarly splendid, with green marble pillars, art deco lights on the walls and ceiling, and pastel plaster reliefs. J. Charles Schnorr of Pueblo, Colorado, who was responsible for the interior plaster work, was a former student of John Singer Sargent. Both the interior and exterior are notable for their exquisite craftsmanship and detailing.
The Nuart is now owned and operated by the Blackfoot Community Players, who put on regular performances throughout the year. It is also rented out and used for various community gatherings, such as city council meetings, school functions, and special events.
Project:
The Blackfoot Community Players intend to use these funds to reupholster their original aging seats, which will be a great boon to patrons for all of their many events. The seats were last addressed in 1980, and both the exterior fabric and interior cushions are in definite need of an update. The new upholstery will cover both the seats and the backs to form a handsome, matching whole. Many of the seats are currently stuffed with a combination of cotton batting and straw, which provides little if any cushion between patrons and the springs beneath. New foam cushions and thicker set frames will make for a much-improved viewing experience for all concerned.
Liberty Theater
Lewiston
Liberty Theater
Lewiston
History:
The Liberty Theater is an exquisite Art Deco venue located within the Lewiston Historic District. The movie palace was remodeled from a farm implement store into a luxurious, state-of-the-art movie house in 1921. The iconic Liberty entertained generations of families until its closure in 2005. In 2015, the Liberty Theater Preservation Alliance (LTPA) was established to return the theater to its former glory as an arts and entertainment hub for Lewiston and the surrounding area. The Liberty is one of six arts and culture organizations comprising Beautiful Downtown Lewiston’s cultural corridor, and its return to prominence of this ‘Crown Jewel’ will only enhance other community efforts to revitalize the area.
Project:
The plan is for The Liberty to return to full use in 2025 following a series of substantial restoration projects. The overarching plan will begin with funding from this grant to restore the distinctive exterior marquee, which will serve as a very public demonstration of LTPA’s intentions to restore The Liberty to its rightful place of prominence and will be a key feature of their Capital Campaign. Once restored, the theater’s core programming shall include an array of classic films, independent cinema, live theater, music events, public gatherings, special events, and more.
The Roxy Theater
Cascade
The Roxy Theater
Cascade
History:
The Roxy showed its first film in July of 1939 and has been a fixture of Cascade and Valley County recreation ever since as the only motion picture house in the area. A charming single-screen affair, The Roxy was nearly shuttered for good in 2013 due to the cost of switching over from film to digital projectors. Thankfully for all involved, The Roxy was retrofitted and continues to show first-run Hollywood films to audiences drawn from far and wide.
The Roxy was designed by Hugo Claussen of Salt Lake City to be a wonderful blend of old Hollywood glamour and small-town charm. It was the most technologically advanced theatre in Idaho at the time, all for the cost of $25,000. With state-of-the-art projectors and a sound system to match, the Roxy was the ultimate movie experience, and, thanks to the work done in 2013, The Roxy is again among the most technologically advanced theaters in Idaho.
Project:
The funds for this grant will be applied to removing the currently failing stucco and replacing it to match the original aesthetic. Originally applied in the 1930s, a subsequent paint job and leaking roof has hastened the deterioration of the exterior, jeopardizing the interior support structures. The new stucco will not only be more aesthetically pleasing, but it will also protect the building from future degradation by the outside elements.
Bovill Opera House
Bovill
Bovill Opera House
Bovill
History:
Once the 3rd largest town in the county, lumber concerns, rowdiness of the lumber camps scared off the Bovill family to Coeur d’Alene, exact dates of construction are uncertain, newspaper references events held there as early as 1911 (both public and private dances, soirees, masquerades, performances, and at least one trial), newspaper accounts state that the existing entrance and façade were added in 1913 after the initial construction, a 1916 map of Bovill labels the theatre as a ‘Motion Picture Hall’ which was initially powered by a generator before Bovill had electricity, by the 1930s, in the late 30s or 40s murals were painted on the interior and ornamentations were added to the proscenium by Joe Breckenridge, equipment was added to accommodate ‘talkies’, you’d be forgiven for thinking it was a former setting for a Western film given its wooden façade, much of Bovill’s historic downtown was destroyed by fire in 1914 and never rebuilt, leaving this structure as one of the last remnants of Bovill’s bustling history. The main floor was used for live entertainment and to screen motion pictures, while the second floor was at various times a dance hall, roller skating rink, and miniature golf course. The Opera House was closed in 1955 and locked up, used for storage by the family who owned it (Hall), but otherwise left relatively untouched, including the original projector equipment.
Project:
Sadly, this regional icon is currently in unusable condition. Weathering from harsh winters and summer sun have taken their toll, and an act of vandalism in 2022 all but destroyed the front entrance. Bovill Improvement Group is spearheading the restoration. The focus of this project will be to restore the main entrance and replace in kind the exterior wood siding of the facade to prevent further damage. In addition, an ADA ramp will be added to the side entrance along with replacement doors. Recent survey results show both a strong desire to see the Opera House returned to usability, while also revealing a prevailing notion that it is unsavable in its current dilapidated state. By focusing on the exterior first, Bovill will retain its most recognizable landmark, signify to the community and passersby that these restoration efforts are serious and able to be carried through, and provide a safe and appealing venue for outdoor fundraising events to engage the local and regional community and continue the restoration process through various fundraising ventures keying off this project.
Burley Theatre
Burley
Burley Theatre
Burley
History:
The Burley Theatre is one of the last remaining historic buildings in Burley’s downtown. Built in the 1910s, The Burley Theatre was long a popular venue for film, live performances, and other community events. It reached the height of its popularity in the 1940s and 50s and has sadly been in decline in recent years both in terms of consistent programming and the overall health of the structure itself. The Burley still shows the occasional film and hosts the odd event, but the goal is to fully restore this gem to its glory days along with modern amenities and capabilities.
Project:
The funds from this grant will go directly to restoring the front elevation to match the original design as the first phase of a larger restoration/rehabilitation of the property. The Burley is located between two diverse and developing neighborhoods and provides an important cultural and economic hub for Burley residents and beyond. From the Mount Harrison Heritage Foundation: “Our collective effort to restore this historic theater transcends bricks and mortar – it represents a lifeline to the arts, an economic catalyst, and a testament to the resilience and unity of our community. By preserving the theater’s legacy, we ensure its ability to continue bringing people together, fostering cross-cultural connections, and lighting the way towards a more vibrant and inclusive future.”
Shoshone Showhouse
Shoshone
Shoshone Showhouse
Shoshone
History:
Built in 1911 and dubbed the WH Baugh Building, the Shoshone Showhouse began as an opera house and home to many traveling vaudeville and other acts due to its proximity to the rail lines. Film projectors were installed in 1933 and were still in use as recently as 2015 when films ceased to be printed in this format. Dr. Zech took ownership of the building in 1985, showing first-run movies with an eye towards family-friendly pricing and entertainment. The building has been used intermittently for public events since its 2015 closure, but the intent is for it to reopen in time for the 40th anniversary of the Zech family’s ownership.
Project:
Funding from this grant will go toward repairing damage to the asphalt shingled roof and masonry chimney’s, as well as repairing and recapping the parapets. The leaks present in the roof threaten further damage, deterioration, and dangerous decay. Shoring up these issues will provide protection for the newly purchased seats that have yet to be installed.
Panida Theater
Sandpoint
Panida Theater
Sandpoint
History:
The Panida Theater was built in 1927 during the Golden Age of movie palaces and was built with both vaudeville and movie screenings in mind. Contemporary articles at the time described the architecture as “distinctive with lush interior furnishings.” Built in a Spanish Colonial Revival Style based on designs by Edward A. Miller of Portland, OR, contemporary articles at the time described the architecture as “distinctive with lush interior furnishings.” The cry room within the building was touted as one of the first in the West, and its presence allowed parents to bring their children to the space without worry of upsetting others.
By the early 1980s the theater was in serious disrepair and needed attention. In 1985, The Panida Theater Company formed and raised over half a million dollars to purchase the 575-seat event space. Soon after, restoration work began in earnest to restore its natural charm. The success of this ongoing restoration garnered several awards and has inspired similar projects in the region. It is the cultural hub of the entire Sandpoint area, and has hosted such notable performers as Bonnie Raitt, Arlo Guthrie, Wynton Marsalis, and the San Francisco Opera in addition to the countless local and regional theatre groups, recording artists, and film screenings over the years.
Project:
Due to previous deterioration of the roof, water has seeped into the structure, doing significant damage to the interior plaster and the attached decorations of the Panida’s ceiling and walls. The Panida was awarded a Heritage Grant from IHT in 2022 to help address the roofing issue that caused the water damage in the first place, which will ensure the successful and lasting restoration of the interior walls. This is one of the largest remaining preservation concerns of this majestic building, and the intent is for the Panida to be completely restored for its 100th anniversary in 2027.
