Why Cinema?

Cinema has the power to bring people together, inspire empathy and unify community. The Roxy Theater has a long history of bringing together the Bitterroot Valley through the transformative power of cinema. We are building on that legacy.

Our vision as a community led organization is to bring cinema back to downtown Hamilton for the next generation of Bitterroot residents and visitors. 

  • Roxy Memory

    When we moved here in 2003 we went to the theater. A young man sold us our tickets, ran inside and ripped our tickets, ran behind the counter and sold us our movie candy, and then ran upstairs to turn the projector on. Our family said, "We love living in Hamilton!" Over 22 years later we feel the same way and would never leave. We would love to go to the movies at the Roxy again!

    - Terri Jarvis -

  • Summer of 93'

    Quote sourceOne of my fondest childhood memories is going to see Aladdin at the Roxy with my summer day camp. It was one of those triple digit summer days when the outdoors feels like an oven and there's not a hint of a breeze to cool you down. Walking down with my day camp from River Street Dance Theater to the Roxy you could feel the melting asphalt sticking to the bottoms of your shoes and the heat radiating up from the earth. As we ducked into the cool darkness of the theater, clutching our sodas and popcorn I was transported to a whole new world. The theater was packed with screaming kids and popcorn was flying through the air while the few harried counselors and other adults tried to quiet us, but the hilarity of Robin William's genie made it impossible to squelch our joy. Walking back to camp after the movie we were all belting out the songs from Aladdin and pretending to fly through the air on our magic carpets. The heat was no match for our sugar fueled delight and that day will live on in my memory as the perfect example of why small, rural towns need a movie theater. Our collective joy would never have happened if we weren't packed together on that boiling afternoon, but instead streaming Aladdin separately from our own houses. Cinema connects us and I can't wait bring that experience to the next generation of Bitterroot kids.

    - Marisa Neyenhuis -

  • Footloose

    Footloose! Packed house and people dancing in isle. I think of this every time I see the movie.

    - Keva Jordan -

  • 1975 ish

    I think it was in 1975-76, waiting in line to see a movie there, I heard laughing and turned around and my 2 year old son was standing on his head.I don’t remember what movie we were going to see.

    - Kelly Loftis Gallegos -

  • We did everything together in those days.

    First stood there with a large group of friends (couples) wondering what our pastor would think. Can't remember the name of the movie. We did everything together in those days.

    - Rose Everett-Martin. -

  • First Date

    The Roxy Theater was Troy and my first date in 1997!

    - Kerry Morris-Hanson -

  • First Real Job

    My first real job was there and the Starlite drive-in. Way too many memories! t was a simple time back then and fun

    - David Sylvester -

Share Your Movie Memory!

We want to share your memories of the historic Roxy Theater or any cinema experience that left you transformed. Memories will be shared with the community to build support for a permanent community cinema in downtown Hamilton!