Denver Movie Theaters: A Look Back

It wasn't so very long ago that the city of Denver boasted more than 66 movie theaters within its city limits, including the huge cluster on Curtis Street that became known as, Denver's Great White Way.

If you're looking to learn more about the Denver movie houses, check out Denver Movie Theaters: The Glory Years.

Building History

View of the Art Deco style Mayan Theater (Montana S. Fallis, architect, 1930) at 110 Broadway Street in the Speer Neighborhood of Denver, Colorado. The four story building is stone clad with Pre-Columbian motifs and a bas relief of a ritual officiate in multi-color terra cotta ornament by Julius P. Ambrusch of the Denver Terra Cotta Company. The marquee reads: "Oscar Winners, Room With A View, Color of Money, Hannah and Her Sisters, Radio Days, My Sweet Little Village."

Detailed view of the top of the facade of the Mayan Theater (architect Montana S. Fallis, 1930) at 110 Broadway in the Speer neighborhood of Denver, Colorado. Shows a polychrome terracotta Mayan figure (crafted by Julius P. Ambrusch of the Denver Terra Cotta Company) on the front of the Art Deco-style theater. The facade was restored by architects Midyette-Seieroe, in 1985.

Night view of Curtis Street in Denver, Colorado; shows snow and movie theaters. Electric signs read: "Marquette," "Iris Theater," "Isis," and "The Nanking Chop Suey, Pool."

View of Curtis Street, in Denver, Colorado; shows wet pavement, and electric signs: "Iris Theatre 5 cent Pictures," "Isis," "The Nanking Chop Suey," "Princess," "St. James," "Tabor Grand," "Marquette Hotel," "Pantages," and "Paris Theater."

View of Curtis Street in Denver, Colorado, at night; shows theater row (Great White Way), street lights, and electric or neon signs: "Watrous Cafe," "Isis Theater," "The Nan King," "Iris Theatre, 5 Cents Pictures," "Pool," "Billards," "Princess," and "Alto."

View of the Isis Theater at 1722 Curtis Street in downtown Denver, Colorado. The three-story building has an ornate theater facade with electric lights and signs that read: "First Run Conway Tearle and Faire Binney in" and "A Wide Open Space." Automobiles and a delivery truck that reads: "The Buerger Bros. Supply Co. Barbers Supplies."

View of an electric sign on the roof of the Isis Theater at 1722 Curtis Street in downtown Denver, Colorado. The sign reads: "William Fox Isis."

Moving picture row, Curtis St., Denver

Blue Bird Theater

View of the Mayan Theater at 110 Broadway in the Speer neighborhood of Denver, Colorado. The four-story building has an ornate theater facade and a marquee that reads: "Bebe Daniels, 'My Past' and Ben Lyon Lewis Stone Comedy 'His Error' 'Novelty' Paramount News."

View of the art-deco style Paramount Theater building, designed by Temple Hoyne Buell, at 16th (Sixteenth) and Glenarm Streets in downtown Denver, Colorado. Automobiles are parked nearby. Signs in the window read: "Richard Barthelmess Dawn Patrol Tabor Theater [...]" and "New Home Colorado Chiropractic University."

Boys and girls crowd into a hallway of the Paramount Theater designed by Temple Hoyne Buell at 16th (Sixteenth) and Glenarm Streets in Denver, Colorado. The children wait to be seated for a free movie.

Men in suits perform stunts on a trampoline near the Paramount Theater designed by Temple Hoyne Buell at 16th (Sixteenth) and Glenarm Streets in downtown Denver, Colorado. A woman in costume and spectators stand nearby. Signs on the building read: "Paramount," "Basil Rathbone 'The Black Sleep' Lon Chaney [...]an Donlevy 'The Creeping Unknown' Margia Dean," "Akim Tamiroff, John Carradine, Bela Lugosi," "All New Double Shock S Horror Show," "It's Cool Inside," and "Look Gave 'Trapeze' a 6 Page Story."

View of the foyer of a balcony in the Paramount Theater designed by Temple Hoyne Buell in Denver, Colorado. A statue of a woman in lotus position is on a table. A mirror and drapes are on the wall near a set of love seats.

View of the Victory Theater in Denver, Colorado; shows the arched entry, ornate plaster, and signs: "D. W. Griffith's That Boyle Girl, A Paramount Picture."

View of the Ogden Theater on Colfax Avenue in Denver, Colorado. The two-story brick building has a tile roof and ornate entryway. Automobiles and a bicycle are parked nearby. A sign reads: "This Theater Will Open Thurs. Sept. 6th."

View of the Ogden Theatre (1917; Harry Edbrooke) at 935 East Colfax in the North Capitol Hill neighborhood of Denver, Colorado. Shows the two-story Mediterranean Revival-style theater. The walls of the theater are brick and the roof is covered in red tile. The entrance is flanked by two octagonal towers with windows, cornices, brackets, pilasters, and pediments. The marquee reads "Ogden Theatre" and "Fri Sat, Midnight, Rocky Horror," and "Tonight, La Dolce Vita, Roma."

16th Street illumination