Jen Mann and her husband Kerry have built several technology‑based businesses over the years.
Kerry has created apps, run online gaming sites, and is currently finishing a documentary. Jen is a digital advertising consultant and had an online business for mothers (created after she learned she was expecting triplets).
So, it might come as a surprise to learn they are owners of one of the oldest buildings in Montello and determined to restore it to its heyday.
The Montello Theater was built in 1859 by Frank Dodge, who lived next door in a home that is now a short‑term rental. Mann says the theater hosted magicians, athletic contests, musicians and more.
“I want to see this place thrive,” says Mann, whose family discovered the theater about 11 years ago when they moved to Montello. The theater was inexpensive (and still is), and with five children it became a draw.
Mann says her daughters loved that they could pay for it themselves, and she loved the history of the building. She let the owners know they would be interested in the business if they ever wanted to move on.
The moment came a little more than four years ago, and the Manns bought the theater.
They stuck to the tried‑and‑true business model of inexpensive movies.
“The big draw for us is that we are family friendly. Our prices are lower than most places. We bring in new movies and kids’ movies and stuff,” Mann says.
Montello Theater charges $5.25 for a movie, and it is free for veterans. They connected with a theater owner in Minnesota who books programming for small theaters in Wisconsin and Minnesota that have one to three screens.
Mann says they make more money on concessions than tickets since studios take a cut, and the theater has only 133 seats.
“Myself and my husband, we have never paid ourselves. Every penny that we make goes directly back into the theater,” Mann says.
The theater shows movies on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, with some additional hours in the summer when the area draws visitors for camping and outdoor activities. People can visit the Montello Theater website at montellotheater.com or follow them on Facebook for movies, times and other information.
The theater offers rentals and has hosted birthday parties, but it also can accommodate gamers, businesses
and more. It hosted Madison musician Sam Ness in late June and hopes to bring in a candle‑lit orchestra performance.
“What I’m trying to do is bring back the live performances,” Mann says. “People are really excited about it.”
She also says they are leaning into the history of the building. They have collected and displayed historical items related to the theater and the era in which it was constructed.
Montello Theater offers history tours that end with the showing of a Buster Keaton silent film and hopes to add silent films with piano accompaniment.
The history has become a bit of an obsession, leading the Manns to comb through government records and historical archives. It also has been appreciated by the community, and Mann says people bring historical items and clippings to the theater.
“It’s a passion of ours to talk about it,” she says of the history.
In a recent YouTube video, the Manns hinted at possible direction for that passion, asking viewers if they should purchase the Frank Dodge House next door and reunite the two properties under a single owner for the first time in at least 100 years.
