Wilma Building

The Wilma Building in Missoula, Montana was constructed in 1921 and originally called the Smead-Simons Building. This eight-story building commonly called the "Showplace of Montana," was constructed by William "Billy" Simons, an early western entrepreneur, who produced wild west shows and built theatres in Oregon, Idaho, and Alaska during the Gold Rush. The theatre was dedicated to his wife, Edna Wilma, a famous light opera star, who performed on the Pantages vaudeville circuit. It was the first modern steel-framed skyscraper built in Missoula. It houses three theatres (two small cinemas, 125 seats each, and one large 1,067 seat theatre), three private banquet rooms, offices, and residential space. It is located at 131 S. Higgins Ave.cite web|url=http://web.archive.org/web/20051216105509/www.thewilma.com/contact/|title=the Wilma.com: Contact|accessdate=2007-02-10]

*When the theatre was originally built in 1920, the basement held the "Crystal Plunge" swimming pool. This attraction was closed after only 10 years due to weakening the structure caused by condensation.

*The Wilma Theatre originally had a 2/6 Robert Morton pipe organ installed in 1920.

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