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The Great Falls Grand Opera House was built in 1891 and was dubbed Montana’s most beautiful playhouse. In its lifetime it saw hundreds of play troupes, lecturers, and entertainers. It was the shining pride of the city. Unfortunately, like all things that shine, it began to dull as movies rose in popularity and road shows declined. The Grand Opera House struggled to keep its doors open, and in 1955 it was torn down. The sophisticated dream of an opera house seems to have started with a Mr. John Maguire and prompting from the Great Falls Tribune. The following is the tale of how the Great Falls Grand Opera House came to be from the birth of the idea to opening day as told from Great Falls Tribune articles (typed as printed). This was truly a labor of love.