Hamilton Community Cinema (HCC), a community-led nonprofit organization working to restore a movie theater to downtown Hamilton, announced that it is under contract to purchase the historic Roxy Theater building on North Second Street.
The purchase, once finalized, will mark a significant step toward reopening a permanent movie theater in the Bitterroot Valley, which has been without one since 2020. HCC’s vision is to transform the Roxy into a nonprofit, community-supported cinema featuring a mix of first- and second-run films, along with live performances, educational programming, and community events.
Originally built in 1935, the Roxy Theater has long been part of Hamilton’s cultural landscape. While the building has served several purposes since the theater closed in 2012, HCC’s board identified the Roxy as a natural home for a revived cinema due to its central downtown location, historical significance, and strong emotional connection within the community.
The Roxy Theater building on N. 2nd in Hamilton.
“This moment represents years of listening to the community and building momentum around a shared vision,” said Marisa Neyenhuis, Board Chair of Hamilton Community Cinema. “Being under contract brings us one step closer to reopening the doors of a theater that so many people remember fondly.”
HCC was formed to create accessible, community-centered arts experiences and to strengthen downtown Hamilton as a gathering place. In addition to film screenings, the organization plans to use the space as a flexible venue that supports local artists, schools, nonprofits, and regional events.
With the building now under contract, HCC will move into the next phase of the project, which includes completing inspections, finalizing renovation plans, and continuing fundraising efforts to support building acquisition, improvements, and future operations. Preserving the character and history of the Roxy while making the space functional and welcoming remains a central priority.
HCC volunteers Arlo Rohrbach (left) and Jeremiah Casper (right), preparing to sell tickets ahead of the showing of “Mighty Ducks” on January 10th at the Elks Lodge. Photo courtesy Hamilton Community Cinema.
“Hamilton Community Cinema is built on the idea that film and shared cultural experiences bring people together,” said Heather Barber, HCC Treasurer. “The Roxy gives us an opportunity to do that again, in a space that already holds meaning for this community.”
Since forming, Hamilton Community Cinema has already been actively bringing film back to the community through a series of pop-up screening events hosted at local venues. To date, HCC has organized 10 pop-up film screenings, welcoming a total of 643 attendees. These events
have served both as a preview of what a permanent community cinema could offer and as an opportunity to build connections, gather feedback, and demonstrate strong local interest in accessible, shared movie-going experiences in the Bitterroot Valley. Their next movies will be January 23rd at Sapphire Lutheran Homes and February 14th at the Bedford Building.
Community support continues to play a critical role in the project’s success. HCC is actively seeking donors, volunteers, and partners as the organization works toward reopening the theater and launching programming.
More information about Hamilton Community Cinema, upcoming events, and ways to get involved can be found at www.hamiltoncommunitycinema.org.
Leave a Reply