The Missoula Community Theater began producing plays in Missoula, Montana, in 1951. Generally, the volunteer civic group put on three plays per season. They rented a variety of theater locations including the Simpkins Little Theatre, the Roxy Theatre, The Montana Power Company Auditorium, and the Sentinel High School Little Theater. In the early 1960s the theater group was making plans and raising funds to build a theater of their own. By November 1967 the group, apparently disbanding, was selling flats, lights, costumes, and props and returning personal property to members.
The collection was compiled by Shirley Smuin, who was very active in Missoula arts organizations including the Missoula Community Theater, DanceMontana, Missoula Children's Theatre, Missoula Civic Symphony, Montana Arts Council, Garden City Ballet, and others. Smuin died August 25, 2005.
The Missoula Community Theater collection include articles and clippings about the volunteer civic group as well as clippings, programs, posters and congratulatory correspondence for individual productions. The collection was originally compiled by Smuin in a scrapbook and was rehoused by her friend, Julie Kahl, after her death.
The photos, clippings, correspondece and other papers were removed from a scrapbook compiled by Smuin, and re-organized and housed by Julie Kahl, Shirley Smuin's friend. Kahl's largely chronological arrangement was maintained by the Archives.
Researchers must use collection in accordance with the policies of Archives and Special Collections, the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, and The University of Montana-Missoula.
Researchers are responsible for using in accordance with 17 U.S.C. and any other applicable statutes.
[Name of document or photograph number], Shirley Smuin Missoula Community Theater Collection, Archives and Special Collections, Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, The University of Montana-Missoula.
The scrapbook created by Shirley Smuin was passed to her son, Doug Smuin, who gave it to Julie Kahl.
Donated to the Archives by Julie Kahl, January, 2010.
The exisiting foldering and organization were maintained.
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the online catalog. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or places should search the catalog using these headings.