The Roman Theater

Austrian immigrant Steve Roman built the theater in 1917. One of fourteen sons, nineteen-year-old Roman came to Red Lodge in 1897 to work in the mines. He launched into the theater business, operating several local theaters before he built the Roman. Roman’s wife, Librera, ran the upstairs Hotel Isabella, and at various times Roman’s six children took tickets, performed on the theater’s stage, accompanied silent movies on the organ, operated the projector, and ran the box office. In 1935, Roman extensively remodeled the theater adding air conditioning, new seats, draperies, lighting, and the eight-foot Art Deco style neon marquee. The remodel, by architect Bjarne Moe and contractor C. W. Hamrick, both of Seattle, caused considerable local excitement. The opening gala featured special appearances by the nationally renowned Crockett Family. Admission cost 35 cents for adults and 15 cents for children. Daughter Mary managed the theater until 1977.

The Roman Theater is Montana’s oldest, continuously-running moving picture theater.

MISSION STATEMENT 2026

Roman Theater Productions aims to foster community through the Arts,
providing enriching film and performing arts experiences that educate and inspire.
RTP is dedicated to preserving the Roman Theater’s historic legacy as a vibrant
gathering space, ensuring the theater remains a vital cultural touchstone at the
base of the Beartooths.

“This is the true joy in life: Being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one, being a force of nature instead of a feverish, selfish little clod of ailments and grievances, complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy. I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community and as long as I live, it is my privilege to do for it what I can. It is a sort of splendid torch which I have got hold of for the moment and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations.” -George Bernard Shaw

We’ll be really honest with you: this theater is work. It is day in, day out. It is lunch pale labor. It is a constant and singular source of sleep deprivation. Booking movies is needlessly complicated and we’re constantly at the mercy of a turbulent film industry.  Coordinating events, productions, fundraisers, and a large host of other shenanigans is tiresome. On top of a building that is rapidly falling apart, in need of constant repair and renovation, held together by hopes and dreams, and definitely haunted. 

But, if you asked the dedicated RTP Board, our tough volunteers, and all the other folks who keep this theater alive… they’d all tell you the same thing: This theater is important. This theater is alive.  And this theater belongs to the community. It holds the memories of 109 years worth of plays, movies, concerts, moving performances, community gatherings, first dates, missed lines, summer hangouts, and so much more. We hope to honor those memories by continuing to make new ones so that in another 109 years it’s still standing and thriving. So as far as we’re concerned: There’s Only One Way Up.