December 15, 1922

To Convert Brake Drums into a Fire Gong

E. Culbertson of the Powder River Garage has brake drums from an old Dodge car that he will improvise into a fire gong for Broadus. Mr. Culbertson will install these brake drums in the courthouse square, building a special platform for them, and attaching to them two levers with hammers. These hammers will be manipulated from the ground in case of a fire alarm and “Cully” says the noise will be heard around town, in intensity equal to that of a more pretentious fire bell.

December 12, 1947

Theater Opening is Scheduled for Sunday

The long awaited for opening of Carl Schaffer’s new theater in Broadus is scheduled for Sunday, December 14, in spite of the fact that the building will not be completely finished by that time. In making his plan for the show opening, Mr. Schaffer booked his pictures several months ago and will play them according to schedule.

The task of getting the show open by Sunday seems an almost insurmountable job but the building of the theater under the trying times of the past year seemed as insurmountable and it has been accomplished.

When this movie theater has been completed Broadus will have one of the finest theaters in any town of Montana and according to a film company representative there will be only one other small town in the state that can boast of such an imposing structure.

Mr. Schaffer has named his theater the “Pastime” and for his opening show will present “Home in Indiana” one of the hit pictures of the year. There will be a matinee on Sunday afternoon at 2 o’clock and an evening show at 8 o’clock. The theater will be open a half hour before show time.

The “Pastime” will be open six nights a week and will have three changes of shows each week. “Home in Indiana” will play again on Monday night, Tuesday night the theater will be dark. Wednesday and Thursday will be presented “Moss Rose” with Peggy Cummins and Victor Mature and on Friday and Saturday will be shown “State Fair” with Dana Andrews and Jeanne Crain.

A swarm of workers have been busily engaged during the past week at the theater installing the heating equipment, seats, movie machines and getting the building itself in shape for the opening show. The new equipment for the theater is the finest that money can buy and is of the very latest type.

Mr. Schaffer purchased the old Star Theater over a year ago from Aaron Macy and shortly before the first of the year this building was completely destroyed by fire with all the furnishings and equipment. For several months Mr. Schaffer tried vainly to secure a permit from federal authorities for the construction of his new building. This was finally secured late in the spring and work was started on the concrete block building. The living apartment on the second floor of the building will not be ready for occupancy for some time.

December 14, 1972

3-K Club Burglarized

The 3-K Club was burglarized “between the 22nd and 29th of November,” according to Sheriff Grant Gatlin. “On the 29th of November, Sally Brosa came up to the 3-K and discovered the theft. Millard (La-Flamme) checked the place on the 22nd and it was okay. The doors were easily opened with a pocketknife or a celluloid card. Between three and four thousand dollars worth of equipment was taken. It was all bar and restaurant equipment,” Gatlin said, and added that he is checking several suspects.

Following is a list of the equipment stolen: 1969 Wurlitzer Jukebox; two large deep fat fryers; 56 chairs, aluminum tubing, green seat and back; three upholstered back-to-back booth seats, black, four feet wide; thirteen chair stools, chrome pipe legs, black seats and back; cooler compressor out of back bar; large red and white vacuum cleaner; underbar equipment: three sinks, two bottle racks, cocktail mixer with five two-gallon jugs of mix. The unit had two ice bins and whiskey racks, plus compression motor; large case of steak knives with white handle and serrated cutting edges; two metal coat racks; and one four slice electric toaster.

Investigation is continuing by local officials.