Montana's Capital City, with its old west pedigree and colorful characters has always been rich material for the arts.
There's a theater in Helena that provides a unique venue for artists from a multitude of genres.
It's named after Myrna Loy, a Helena native, who became one of Hollywood's most famous movie stars.
The Myrna Loy brings a variety of regional, national, and international artists to Helena.
“Whether it’s dance, music, theater, or standup comedy ," said The Myrna Loy executive director Benji Cosgrove," we try to bring something here that you just wouldn’t otherwise see.”
The theater features first run independent and foreign films.
It's known across the region for its live performances.
It embraces diverse entertainment.
Standing outside The Myrna, Benji motioned to a new sculpture that welcomes visitors into the arts center.
Designed and sculpted by Richard Swanson, it's called 'The Lady Beckons.'
“This is it," Benji told NBC Montana. "This is where the magic happens.”
The Myrna Loy's magic is evident the minute you step into its lobby.
Everywhere you look, you see pictures of the late Myrna Loy herself, an iconic star from Hollywood's Golden Age.
But long before she was Myrna Loy, she was Myrna Williams, a Montana girl.
“She was born in Radersburg, Montana, which is about 40 miles southeast of Helena," said Benji. "She grew up on Fifth Street just about four blocks from where we are right now.”
The executive director showed us to a wall where there are a number of publicity pictures of Myrna Loy.
They feature her with leading men of the time like Clark Gable and Leslie Howard.
But her beginnings in performance began in Helena.
“Our favorite picture of her ," said Benji, "is at her dance recital at the Marlow Theater back in 1916.”
She would spend the early part of her childhood in Helena.
Her dad served in the Montana legislature.
“Her dad died of the influenza pandemic," said Benji, and her mother moved her to Los Angeles.
He said Myrna was about 12 or 13.
She began her film career in silent pictures.
“Once talking pictures started," said Benji, "they realized she was also a great actress.
" She had a great voice," he said. " People really enjoyed her, and so she was able to make that transition.”
Her popularity would continue for decades.
Benji said whether it was "comedies or dramas," she was just successful in everything."
Myrna Loy made more than 100 movies in her career.
One of her most popular films was The Thin Man, a 1934 release with William Powell.
“If you’ve ever seen the Thin Man," said Benji, "Oh man! She was great. Everyone in Hollywood really seemed to love her."
Myrna Loy would act in major films until her 70's.
But she was also known for her commitment to humanitarian work.
“That was her working for the Red Cross in WWII," he said of a photo on the wall of Myrna Loy in uniform.
“She loved veterans. She loved children and animals," he said. "Her work in charitable giving was just amazing.”
Then Senator Max Baucus, and the Center's board of director's president, went to her home in New York to ask Myrna Loy for her blessing to use her name for the new arts center.
They brought with them a bouquet of roses and a box of Parrot candy.
“She said she didn’t have any money to give to us, because she had given it all away to different causes over the years," said Benji.
They told her " they didn't want any money." They just wanted to name it in her honor.
"Absolutely," Benji said she told them, "She couldn’t have been more pleased, so she gave us her blessing to use her name and likeness however we saw fit.”
There are photos from the Montana Historical Society of Myrna visiting her home state, including one of her posing at her parent's home in Radersburg.
Myrna Loy spent most of her life in Los Angeles and New York.
But in the end she came home.
She is buried in Helena next to her parents-A real Montana girl.
“My thought," said Benji, "is that Montana instilled in her this work ethic, and this down to earth nature of trying to help people.”
Her generosity, kindness, and star power have certainly helped make The Myrna Loy a top-notch center of the arts.
Before it was renovated the building had been the Lewis and Clark County Jail.
That's a whole story unto itself.
Benji points to two huge wooden doors leading into the center.
“These are the original doors for the county jail," he said. "This is where prisoners would actually walk in.”
Where the box office is, was where the inmates were handed out toothbrushes, jail clothes and other supplies.
The center has two theaters.
The main auditorium was once the two-tiered cell block.
It's now used to feature movies and live performances.
“We seat up to 230 people. It’s a great room acoustics wise," said Benji. "Bands love playing here. People love watching bands here.”
The building, with its stone construction is beautiful, but at first glance, somewhat imposing too.
Especially on a winter day.
But Benji thinks the coldness of the old jail's given way to warmth and excitement when people arrive for an event to be specially entertained.
Call it a throwback to Hollywood's Golden Age, when the girl from Radersburg was a top box office draw.
The Myrna Loy has come a long way since its days as a county jail.
Benji likes to think that Myrna herself would approve, and that she’d get a kick out of it.
