A Billings former opera house, concert hall and theater reopened recently to strong turnout and ticket sales, said the new owners.
The Babcock, built in 1907, has opened and closed a few different times. This past weekend, the historic venue saw the beginning of its next stage in life under the management of a local independent movie theater, the Art House Cinema and Pub.
Marketing and events director Brittany Stevens said the Babcock sold roughly 1,500 seats over the opening weekend. The venue seats 750 people.
She said over those three days, the Babcock screened a few classic movies, including “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade” and charged a $1 entry fee.
“The selection of films were some of the last films played at the Babcock in the late ‘80s when the Babcock was a movie theater,” said Stephens. “And then we picked a dollar because… we wanted to be able to honor old ticket prices to match the old films that we brought in.”
Stevens said they also screened “Top Gun,” “Three Amigos,” “The Princess Bride,” “Some Like It Hot,” and “Rocky.”
The Babcock kicks off its official season of showing first-run films today. The first feature is Creed II.
