Situated at 145 West Deloney, in the heart of Jackson’s original town site, one block west of todays town square, the Jackson Hole Playhouse is the oldest framed building in Jackson.
Built in 1916 by Pap Deloney, it served as a blacksmith and buggy shop. As times changed rapidly at the beginning of the century, so did the building. It became the towns first car dealership, it’s first bowling alley, a billiard hall, an electric shop, a western union outpost, and a house of ill-repu…Well, that’s just a rumor. In any event it was a building with plenty of character by the time it became Jackson Hole’s first live theater in the 1950′s and the social event of people far and near.
Over the years since it’s foundation as the Pink Garter Theatre to a stint as the Diamond Lil’ and on to the last twenty years as the Jackson Hole Playhouse, it has entertained families and travelers of all different shapes, sizes, and disposition.
From memorable visitors such as Peter O’Toole, Rock Hudson, and Henry Fonda, in the early days, to modern day memorable’s that range from Olivia Newton John to Harrison Ford to you! The Jackson Hole Playhouse is the areas premier spot for a rompin’, rowdy, western good time in Jackson.
Each summer the Playhouse offers nightly entertainment beggining at 7:00 PM with our authentic and famous pre-show right here in our antique lobby. That’s where your evening begins with a bucket of the hottest, butteryest popcorn this side of the Mississippi and glass of the coldest Sarsaparilla south of the North Pole.
Then, like past audience members, you will see such Broadway Musical favorites as Oklahoma, Big River, Calamity Jane, The Sound of Music, The Unsinkable Molly Brown, Paint Your Wagon and many more. So if you are looking to experience the rowdy elegance of western theatre to entertain your family or friends while visiting the Yellowstone area, The Jackson Hole Playhouse is your ticket to the “Last and Best of the Old West!”
Jackson was first settled by pioneer families as late as 1889. Charles Deloney, one of Jackson’s early settlers, constructed the building in 1916, and it is one of the oldest landmarks in the town.
The building was first used a s a blacksmith and buggy shop. Sometime later, it became an automobile dealership. In 1953, the building was sold to D. Edward and Vera Cheney, who first leased it to the Grand Teton National Park as a garage for its snow removal equipment. Later, it became a bowling alley, bus depot, snack bar, and their electrical appliance store. The west side of the building was a secondhand store for the summer months and became a billiard hall in the winters.
In 1959 the building was changed into a theater by the Cheneys. It had only 145 seats and has been enlarged four times to its present capacity of 320 seats. In the last few years, performances have been presented to over 30,000 people each summer. Vicki and Cameron Garnick have produced theater since 1980. The Jackson Hole Playhouse continues to pride itself on quality family theater, providing the best of Broadway Musicals and drawing its talent from all of the 50 states. We hope this tradition continues on with your future families in keeping the Jackson Hole Playhouse the last and best of the Old West.