For over forty years, the Sixth Street Melodrama and Theater has provided live entertainment to the Silver Valley.

In 1983, a dream of having summer entertainment became a reality when a small group brought live theater to our community. Don and Joan Springer, along with Sherrill and Pat Grounds, were the founder. Sherrill was the director and manager, and Pat wrote many of the scripts that depicted a miner's life around this area. Don and Joan used their wonderful talents, joining Sherrill onstage.

When founded in 1983, the theater originally began on the lot where the Northern Pacific Depot Museum now resides. Efforts to secure the Kelly Building were successful, and the theater location changed in 1984. After several years in the building, several grants were secured, enabling the remodeling of the downstairs, changing the storefront, installing a furnace and painting both the inside and outside of the building.

Over the years, the theater has continued to upgrade the facility, adding air conditioning, a furnace upgrade, and renovations to the second floor area.

Currently, the theater is doing some technological upgrades. Through grants and fund-raising, the theater has purchased new speakers and a new soundboard. Through a very successful fund-raising campaign, the theater was able to purchase more energy efficient LED lights. These lights were first used on the March 2025 show “Nunsense”. A new electric piano was recently purchased for the theater, using grant funding and fund-raising.

The Lux Hotel is the oldest standing structure in Historic Wallace. Built in 1890 it has survived two mining wars and two cataclysmic fires. It originally housed Frank Kelly’s paint and wallpaper store and the Lux Bordello upstairs. The site now houses the Sixth Street Melodrama, which produces summer melodrama in repertory and modern off-season shows.

Sixth Street Melodrama and theater