Dogie Theatre
New Castle, WY
Photo and info courtesy Larry Glass

The Dogie Theatre and its marquee can be found right on Main Street in Newcastle, Wyoming. While the theater itself is a local landmark, it's the sign out front that steals the show.

The theater opened in 1951 and got its name from the Newcastle High School mascot. A "dogie" is a motherless calf, making it a fitting symbol for this part of cattle country. At night, the neon calf comes to life with a simple but memorable animation. One eye lights up, then the other, then both together, giving the dogie a wink that has been entertaining locals and travelers for generations.

There are plenty of vintage theater signs across the West, but few have as much personality as this one. If you're passing through town after dark, it's worth stopping just to watch the sign do its thing. 12-07

UPDATE: The Dogie Theatre remains open and continues to show movies in downtown Newcastle. The theater was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2009, and its famous winking neon dogie still lights up Main Street today. 06-26

Information about the theatre can be found at the Dogie Theatre website.

WYO Theatre
Sheridan, WY
Photo courtesy Larry Glass

Sheridan, Wyoming is home to the WYO Theatre, one of the most recognizable buildings on Main Street. While the theater traces its roots back to 1923 when it opened as the Lotus Theatre, the Art Deco look seen today came later after a major rebuild following a 1941 fire.

The theater has worn a few different looks over the years. It began with an elaborate tropical theme, was later remodeled with a western lodge appearance to appeal to dude ranch tourists, and eventually emerged as the sleek Art Deco showpiece that still anchors downtown Sheridan. Along the way, it played an important role in Wyoming movie history, becoming one of the first theaters in the state to show talking pictures.

Like many downtown theaters, the WYO faced difficult times and closed in the early 1980s. Fortunately, local residents stepped in before the wrecking ball arrived. Their preservation efforts helped save the building and return it to life as a community gathering place.

Today, the WYO remains one of the cultural centers of northern Wyoming. Whether it's live music, theater productions, film festivals, or community events, the old theater continues doing what it has done for more than a century—bringing people together under its glowing marquee. 12-07

UPDATE: The WYO Theatre remains open as a performing arts and education center in downtown Sheridan. Its beautifully restored Art Deco facade and historic marquee continue to light up Main Street while hosting concerts, films, theatrical productions, and community events throughout the year. 06-26

Pearl Theatre (Closed)
Buena Vista, CO
Photo courtesy Larry Glass

Here is the Pearl Theatre, located in the Colorado mountain town of Buena Vista. While most people know it as an old movie theater, the building has been around much longer than that. It dates back to the 1880s and has served a number of purposes over the years, including a mercantile and even a saloon before becoming a theater.

In 1951, John and Pearl Groy purchased the building and converted it into Buena Vista's hometown movie house. The family reportedly dug the sloped theater floor by hand and operated the theater for decades. For generations of local residents, the Pearl was the place to catch the latest movie without leaving town. The sign out front became a familiar sight along Main Street and a reminder of the days when small-town theaters were a big part of community life. 12-07

UPDATE: The Pearl Theatre closed as a movie house in 1996, but the building remains one of Buena Vista's best-known landmarks. After years of sitting vacant, preservation efforts gained momentum and the building received local landmark status in 2024. Plans are currently underway to restore the theater as a community arts and performance venue. The historic Pearl Theatre sign still remains on the building. 06-26

Valley Theatre (Closed)
Fowler, CO
Photo and info courtesy Alan Culley

The Valley Theatre is a now-defunct movie theater located in the tiny southeastern Colorado town of Fowler. The theater originally opened in 1917 as the Star Theatre before being remodeled and renamed the Valley Theatre around 1948.

For decades, the Valley was where local residents went to catch the latest movies, enjoy a night out, and escape into Hollywood for a couple of hours. Like many small-town theaters across America, it was more than just a place to watch a film. It was a gathering place and an important part of Main Street life.

While the movies have long since stopped playing, the building remains a reminder of the days when nearly every small town had its own theater lighting up downtown. 04-09

UPDATE: The Valley Theatre has been closed for many years, but the building still stands in downtown Fowler. Local preservation efforts have documented the structure and helped recognize its historical significance as one of the community's longtime landmarks. 06-26