Last Best News (https://montana-mint.com/lastbestnews/tag/matt-blakeslee/)
If the Billings City Council accepts the recommendation of one of its subcommittees, the Art House Cinema & Pub could soon be showing films in and operating the historic Babcock Theatre. The ad hoc committee on the future of the 110-year-old downtown theater voted 6-2 Wednesday afternoon to recommend that the full council enter into negotiations with Art House Cinema and its founder and president, Matt Blakeslee. (more…) Continue Reading →
In annoucing the proposed expansion of the Art House Cinema & Pub during an event at the downtown business Monday night, Matt Blakeslee told about going to see “The Artist” back in 2011. The black-and-white silent movie, which would go on to win seven Oscars, including Best Film, had won high praise from critics and movie-goers for many months before Carmike Cinemas, which then owned every screen in town, finally brought the movie to Billings. (more…) Continue Reading →
The Yellowstone Valley Citizens Council is partnering with Art House Cinema & Pub to present a Food Film Festival on three Tuesday evenings this month. The tagline for the festival is “Films about how what we eat matters for people and the planet.” The festival is part of the larger Community Food Campaign sponsored by the Northern Plains Resource Council, of which the YVCC is an affiliate. (more…) Continue Reading →
After a successful first year as an independent movie theater in downtown Billings, Art House Cinema & Pub has launched a membership drive. Selling memberships was always part of the plan for the nonprofit theater, which raised startup funding through an Indiegogo campaign and other donations, but founder Matt Blakeslee figured waiting a year was a good idea. (more…) Continue Reading →
A select group of friends and financial supporters got a sneak preview of the Art House Cinema & Pub in downtown Billings Friday night. Treated to beer, wine and snacks, 35 or 40 people settled into theater seats and watched a selection of Academy Award-nominated animated shorts, then heard an update and a profusion of thanks from Matt Blakeslee, CEO of the nonprofit venture. (more…) Continue Reading →
A new video celebrating the virtues of downtown Billings received its premiere Friday night and was posted to YouTube on Saturday. “Believe in Downtown Billings” was produced by Jonathan Allison of Visual Lens Productions for the Downtown Billings Alliance. It was premiered Friday night at the Pub Station during the annual meeting of the alliance. (more…) Continue Reading →
Like a lot of people born and raised in Billings, Matt Blakeslee was used to looking to other cities for arts, culture and entertainment generally. Billings was a good place to make money and it was the biggest city in Montana, “but it had never felt like the most cultural or vibrant community,” he said. (more…) Continue Reading →
Although they’ve still got some fundraising ahead of them, the people behind an “event-centric” movie theater and pub in downtown Billings will be getting down to business Saturday morning. That’s when they’ll start demolishing portions of the old Center Lanes bowling alley at 109 N. 30th St., beginning its transformation into the Art House Cinema & Pub. (more…) Continue Reading →
