The intricate design and dazzling vertical neon signage of the Montana Theater greeted movie-goers for decades. Built in 1901, the theater, designed by architect Henry Patterson, boasted 2,175 seats. It once hosted a live production of “Ben Hur,’’ complete with chariot races, and performances by ballerina Anna Pavlova and singer Al Jolson (according to Richard Gibson’s book “Lost Butte, Montana’’). The theater was one of Patterson’s last projects in the Mining City. Over the years, it also went by the names Sutton’s New Grand Theater and Broadway Theater. It stood at 11 N. Montana St. After surviving more than 80 years — it was condemned and demolished in 1988. Its destruction prompted the city to establish a community decay ordinance, preventing owners from allowing their historic structures to fall into disrepair, according to Gibson’s book.