1964

The Park County Theatre Guild was founded by Livingston native Don Johns, whose leadership and vision shaped the Blue Slipper Theatre for nearly three decades. The Guild's first production, A Mighty Man is He, premiered in March 1964 at the Livingston Golf & Country Club, with admission set at $1.50. Following its debut, the roving troupe performed its second production, the melodrama Dirty Work at the Crossroads, at Winans School in May of the same year.

By August 1964, the Guild found its first dedicated space at 213 South Main Street. Renting the former Browning Tool Company building, members transformed it into a theatre, where the inaugural production, The Heiress, took the stage in September 1964.

The following year brought a significant milestone. In September 1965, the Guild adopted the name Blue Slipper Theatre, inspired by Guild member Klairaine Haskins, who often wore a pair of blue high heels. That same year, Grace and Finus Lewis, local movie theatre owners, generously donated seating to furnish the space.

The Guild’s most transformative gift came in 1966 when contractor Jay McLaughlin provided a substantial donation, enabling the purchase of the Park County News building at 113 East Callender Street from Fred and Dorothy Martin. In a further act of generosity, the Martins returned part of the sale proceeds to fund the building’s remodeling.

Originally built in 1901 as the home of the Livingston Post, the building had always housed newspapers or printing shops. Renovations began in January 1967 to convert the historic structure into the Blue Slipper’s permanent home. Since then, the former Livingston Post building has proudly served as the heart of the Blue Slipper Theatre, preserving its rich history while fostering the arts in the Livingston community.