A Century of Silver Screen Magic
The Cheyenne Theater has been St. Francis’s entertainment hub since December 1949, when J.B. and Vera Roshong opened the doors to their gleaming 508-seat movie palace. Back then, you could catch a flick for just 50 cents—and kids got in for a mere 14 cents!
But like many small-town theaters, the Cheyenne fell on hard times and closed its doors in the mid-1980s. By 1988, it was about to become a warehouse—until the community said “Not on our watch!”
Led by Jerry Renk, locals rallied together, raising over $37,000 and volunteering thousands of hours to bring their beloved theater back to life. Art students painted movie-themed murals, volunteers hauled out old seats, and on May 1, 1992, the Cheyenne Theater reopened with The Great Mouse Detective.
The comeback wasn’t over. In 2004, the community raised another $33,000 for comfy new seats. Then in 2010, they did it again—this time for digital cinema and 3D technology. By March 4, 2011, moviegoers were watching Gnomeo and Julietin stunning 3D.
Since then, the theater has continued evolving: a gorgeous LED marquee replaced the vintage neon in 2014, climate control upgrades made everyone more comfortable, and the classic signage got a fresh look in 2018.
Today, the Cheyenne Theater stands as proof that when a community loves its local cinema, magic happens. Over 900 films and 200,000 tickets later, we’re still going strong—and we can’t wait to see you at the movies!