theater
The Myrna Loy events – Helena, MT
A nonprofit film and performing arts center in the 1890 Lewis and Clark County jail at 15 N Ewing St, showing independent films nightly and presenting touring musicians.
15 N Ewing St, Helena, MT 59601 · Official site
Upcoming at The Myrna Loy
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About The Myrna Loy
The Myrna Loy is a nonprofit arts center in the old Lewis and Clark County jail, a Romanesque stone building at 15 N Ewing St built in 1890 and used as a jail into the early 1980s. Arnie Malina and Alexandra Swaney started Second Story Cinema in 1976, and the organization moved into the renovated jail in 1991 and took the name of Helena-born film actress Myrna Loy. It shows two first-run independent, foreign and documentary films nightly on its auditorium and screening room screens, presents touring musicians and performers, and runs the Jailhouse Art Gallery.
The building is on North Ewing Street in the downtown historic district, east of Last Chance Gulch. Street parking is on the surrounding blocks; the venue does not advertise a lot of its own. The box office is open Monday through Friday noon to 7:30 p.m. and weekends 2 to 7:30 p.m. (406-443-0287). Movie tickets are $8 for adults, $7 for seniors and students, $5.50 for children under 13 and $6 for matinees, and Friday matinees run with on-screen captions. Live show prices vary by performer and are sold through the website.
What happens here
- Nightly first-run independent, international and documentary films on two screens, with afternoon matinees and captioned Friday matinees
- Touring concerts and performances, from jazz pianist Judy Carmichael (August 2026) to folk, roots and world music acts
- Jailhouse Art Gallery exhibitions of local and regional artists, changing through the year
- Community events, film series and post-screening discussions
- A bar and pub area open around showtimes
Good to know
- Matinees are $6, the lowest movie price of the day, and Friday matinees have on-screen captions.
- Call the box office at 406-443-0287 for showtimes; films change weekly and some play only a few days.
- The corner tower lost its battlements in the 1935 earthquake, so the exterior looks plainer than the 1890 photographs.
The Myrna Loy FAQ
- What events happen at The Myrna Loy in Helena?
- It screens two independent or international films every night, books touring musicians and performers on its stage, and shows local and regional art in the Jailhouse Art Gallery. The current schedule is at themyrnaloy.com/whats-happening.
- Where is The Myrna Loy and where do I park?
- The Myrna Loy is in the old county jail at 15 N Ewing St in downtown Helena. Park on the street on Ewing and nearby blocks; the venue does not list a dedicated lot.
- How much are movie tickets at The Myrna Loy?
- Adults pay $8, seniors and students $7, children under 13 $5.50, and matinees are $6 for everyone. Live performances are priced separately by show.