Causes: Arts & Culture, Theater
Mission: To bring the excitement of the performing arts to Big Sky Country.
Results: Alberta Bair Theater finds itself at another exciting pivotal point in its history, readying to embark on the early phases of a major renovation to the building, securing its long held reputation as the jewel of Downtown Billings and the biggest and best performing arts venue in the state of Montana. The site of the theater was the original Charles M. Bair family homestead. This house, on the corner of what is now Broadway and 3rd Avenue North, is where Charles' daughter Alberta M. Bair was born. On November 13,1931 the Fox Theatre opened its doors to great fanfare on the site. This elegant theater, with its chandeliers, art deco design, dressing rooms and stage, was financed in part by the 20th Century Fox Corporation, which purchased the land from Charles M. Bair. The Fox Theater had the distinction of being the last Art Deco style theater in the United States built by the 20th Century Fox Corporation and designed by Robert C. Reamer. The Fox served as home for the Billings Community Concerts Organization for more than 50 years. It was also the home venue for the Billings Symphony Orchestra and Chorale. The Fox Theatre offered live plays and musicals that benefited the Fox Committee for the Performing Arts. This Committee was responsible for bringing such stellar performers as Dizzy Gillespie, Ray Charles, George Winston and Judy Collins to our community. The Fox Committee’s name still lives on in the popular “Fox Series” offered each season by the Alberta Bair Theater. In 1978 discussions were held regarding what to do with the aging theater. This discussion included the idea of demolishing the building to build a parking structure. The Fox Committee stepped in and involved other community leaders in a drive to raise enough funds to renovate the building. The community support of the fundraising campaign was overwhelmingly positive. Alberta Bair was the largest single donor to this campaign and the beautifully remodeled building was renamed the Alberta Bair Theater. It opened its doors to the public on Saturday, January 24,1987, with a Gala performance by Burt Bacharach. Thanks to the dedication, vision and hard work of the founding board members, the Fox Committee and numerous community-minded people, the Alberta Bair Theater still stands as a world class performing arts center for all the people of Billings and the Northern Rockies.
Target demographics: people of all ages
Direct beneficiaries per year: More than 100,000 people attend events at ABT annually. Each year, more than 26,000 school children from Billings and the surrounding area attend performances at the theater.
Geographic areas served: Theater atendees come from Montana, Wyoming, North and South Dakota and parts of Canada
Programs: performing arts performances, master classes, artist residencies
Mission: To bring the excitement of the performing arts to Big Sky Country.
Results: Alberta Bair Theater finds itself at another exciting pivotal point in its history, readying to embark on the early phases of a major renovation to the building, securing its long held reputation as the jewel of Downtown Billings and the biggest and best performing arts venue in the state of Montana. The site of the theater was the original Charles M. Bair family homestead. This house, on the corner of what is now Broadway and 3rd Avenue North, is where Charles' daughter Alberta M. Bair was born. On November 13,1931 the Fox Theatre opened its doors to great fanfare on the site. This elegant theater, with its chandeliers, art deco design, dressing rooms and stage, was financed in part by the 20th Century Fox Corporation, which purchased the land from Charles M. Bair. The Fox Theater had the distinction of being the last Art Deco style theater in the United States built by the 20th Century Fox Corporation and designed by Robert C. Reamer. The Fox served as home for the Billings Community Concerts Organization for more than 50 years. It was also the home venue for the Billings Symphony Orchestra and Chorale. The Fox Theatre offered live plays and musicals that benefited the Fox Committee for the Performing Arts. This Committee was responsible for bringing such stellar performers as Dizzy Gillespie, Ray Charles, George Winston and Judy Collins to our community. The Fox Committee’s name still lives on in the popular “Fox Series” offered each season by the Alberta Bair Theater. In 1978 discussions were held regarding what to do with the aging theater. This discussion included the idea of demolishing the building to build a parking structure. The Fox Committee stepped in and involved other community leaders in a drive to raise enough funds to renovate the building. The community support of the fundraising campaign was overwhelmingly positive. Alberta Bair was the largest single donor to this campaign and the beautifully remodeled building was renamed the Alberta Bair Theater. It opened its doors to the public on Saturday, January 24,1987, with a Gala performance by Burt Bacharach. Thanks to the dedication, vision and hard work of the founding board members, the Fox Committee and numerous community-minded people, the Alberta Bair Theater still stands as a world class performing arts center for all the people of Billings and the Northern Rockies.
Target demographics: people of all ages
Direct beneficiaries per year: More than 100,000 people attend events at ABT annually. Each year, more than 26,000 school children from Billings and the surrounding area attend performances at the theater.
Geographic areas served: Theater atendees come from Montana, Wyoming, North and South Dakota and parts of Canada
Programs: performing arts performances, master classes, artist residencies
PO Box 1556, Billings, MT 59103
406-256-8915
Arts & Culture
Billings
