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Maintaining The Cinema Legacy In Anaconda By Connie Daugherty At the center of the Anaconda community sits the Washoe Theater as it has for 81 years. And Jerry Lussy, soft-spoken, and always smiling, is the heart of this historic theater. “It’s in my blood,” he says. He means it literally as well as figuratively. His great-grandmother was a major investor of the Washoe Amusement Company that started building the theater in 1929, rising from the ashes of the former Margaret Theater. “My father got her shares,” Jerry adds, and he ran the theater for several years. Jerry and his three siblings grew up there, and today, Jerry’s three-year-old grandson refers to the theater as, “Papa’s house.” It continues to be a family affair. Anaconda’s Washoe Theater was the last theater built in the U.S. in the art deco style and is still among the most beautiful theaters in Montana. The doors opened for the first shows in 1936. Stepping into the lobby today takes you back to the glory days when a trip to the theater for a movie (talkies were new then) or a live performance was a special event where women wore their best jewelry and men their top hats. In the 1950s, a Saturday afternoon matinee cost ten cents. Jerry Lussy dedicates his time to preserving that nostalgic allure while at the same time providing the small town of Anaconda contemporary entertainment experiences – changing from 35mm film to digital in 2013 including 3D movies. Even though they don’t need to change film reels any more, they kept the traditional intermission. “We’re probably one of the few in the country that do it,” Jerry says. That pause during the movie isn’t something that younger audiences are used to, but it is a part of the charm of the Washoe. The intermission provides a few minutes to stretch, go to the bathroom, get popcorn, or chat with others around you, similar to a live performance and a pleasant holdover from a time when life moved at a slower pace. While Jerry is the owner and the heart of the Washoe Theater, there are also stockholders, a board of directors, and some part-time employees including two long-time managers and custodial staff. “I call myself the one who is responsible for the books, rather than the owner,” Jerry declares with a laugh. Jerry also hires local high school students to work during show times. He recalls his own high school days working at the theater – “the place to meet” and take a date in the 70s and 80s. He remembers sneaking in after hours with his friends. He also remembers being caught and his (Continued on page 48)
Gather the Hidden Eggs! Win $25! Just for fun, we have hidden eighteen Easter eggs throughout this issue of the Montana Senior News. Search for them and mail us a list of the page numbers on which you find them to Easter Egg Hunt, PO Box 3363, Great Falls, MT 59403. This is a fun activity to
do with those grandkids or great grandkids, and who knows, with that $25 cash prize to the
person who finds all of the eggs; you can take the little rascal(s) out for an ice cream cone. If there are multiple correct entries, the winner will be determined by a drawing. None of the hidden eggs is located within an advertisement. Have fun! MSN