Denver Theaters

by Coi on November 19, 2014

Denver, Queen City of the Plains, was the biggest thing between Chicago and San Francisco in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Throughout a thousand miles of sparsely populated countryside all directions, "night life" was the stuff of legend. Denver was the place to go to see the wonders of theater, movies, and electricity, to dress up and walk around among other elegant people, to see a show, and stroll and bask in the glittering lights of Curtis Street, the Great White Way. Theater in all of its forms thrived in Denver then as it does now, and our Digital Collections depict a wide selection of these wonderful palaces of entertainment that have come and gone over the years.

Denver Theaters
Theatre
Night Life
Exhibits
Rooftop view of the Rivoli Theater at 1741 Curtis Street in downtown Denver, Colorado. The four-story building has an ornate entryway decorated with electric lights. Signs read: "Fox Rivoli," "Thos. H Ince's Great Drama 'The Cup of Life,'" and "Hotel Elwood."
View of the Victory Theater in Denver, Colorado; shows the arched entry, ornate plaster work, and the ticket window. Display depicts a cowboy with pistols and reads: "Richard Dix, in Womanhandled."
Night view of the Victory Theater in Denver, Colorado; neon signs and marquee read: "Victory, Girls, Fun For Adults Only, Girlesque, Acapulco Uncensored, Big Sin City, Spicy Films," and "Discount Credit Jewelers."
Night view of the 16th street entrance of the Denver Theater at 510 16th (Sixteenth) Street in Denver, Colorado; shows electric signs and the marquee: "Joan Crawford in Modern Maidens," and "Ted Hack in Say It With Music." Banner reads: "Cuba - U.S.A."
Night view of the State Theater in Denver, Colorado; electric lights ornament the arch, facade, and sign. Showcards read: "My Own Pal - Tom Mix."
View of the Tabor Theater entrance at 1014 16th (Sixteenth) Street in Denver, Colorado. Signs and marquee read: "Pioneer Theater of the West," "Invasion U.S.A.," "Prince of Pirates," "A Bomb Blasts in U.S. Cities," and "Highlander Blue and Gold Drill Team." Feltman & Curme and Leed's Shoe stores are to the sides.
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."
Nighttime view of the Orpheum theater at 1537 Welton Street in downtown Denver, Colorado. The three-story building is illuminated with electric lights and has an ornate facade. A clock is on the roof.
View of the Aladdin Theatre (with Moorish arches and onion dome) at 2010 Colfax Street, in Denver, Colorado; also shows streetlamps and cars. Marquee reads: "Monte Blue - Wolf's Clothing."
Curtis Street movie theaters
Nighttime view of the America theater at Curtis and 16th (Sixteenth) Streets in Denver, Colorado; shows storefronts, a popcorn cart, and electric signs: "America Theater - Mary Maclane in Men Who Have Made Love To Me," "Greater Vitagraph Photoplays," and "Empress."
Night view of the 16th street entrance of the Denver Theater at 510 16th (Sixteenth) Street in Denver, Colorado; shows electric signs and the marquee: "Joan Crawford in Modern Maidens," and "Ted Hack in Say It With Music." Banner reads: "Cuba - U.S.A."
Night view of the Strand theater in Denver, Colorado; shows an ornate entry with entablature and electric lights. Display depicts a spider web. Marquee reads: "Alice Joyce - The Prey" and "Bride 13 the Torture Chamber." Signs read: "Dr. Murphy's Root Beer" and "Shoe Shine."
Rooftop view of the Rialto Theater at 1540 Curtis Street in downtown Denver, Colorado. The four-story building has ornate trim and is decorated with electric lights. The marquee reads: "Jack Holt and Agnes Ayres in Bought and Paid For."
View of the Egyptian Theater at 2644 West 32nd (Thirty-second) Avenue in the Highland neighborhood of Denver, Colorado. The two-story brick building is painted with Egyptian figures and has a sign that reads: "The White Sister" and "With Lillian Gish and Ronald Colman MGM News."
View of the Isis Theater at 1722 Curtis Street in downtown Denver, Colorado. Automobiles are parked near the three-story building with an ornate theater facade. Signs read: "William Fox Isis," "James Cagney in 'G Men' Jessie Matthews in Evergreen," "Mickey Mouse Cartoon," and "Baer-Louis Fight Returns Round by Round."
View of the Bluebird Theater at 3317 East Colfax Street in Denver, Colorado; electric sign depicts a bird and reads: "Bluebird," banners read: "Wallace Beery in Viva Villa." Corbeled brick and urns ornament the building.
Rooftop view of the Rialto Theater at 1540 Curtis Street in downtown Denver, Colorado. The four-story building has ornate trim and is decorated with electric lights. The marquee reads: "Jack Holt and Agnes Ayres in Bought and Paid For."
View of the Webber Theater, at 119 South Broadway Street in the Speer neighborhood of Denver, Colorado. The marquee reads: "Roy Best and Scott Brady in Canon City and Lady at Midnight." The building has a curved marquee and art deco style towers. Cast iron street lamps, bicycles, and storefronts are to the sides.
View of the Victory Theater at 1620 Curtis Street in Denver, Colorado; shows the arched entry, entablature, and cars. Marquee and neon signs read: "Here Comes the Band, Wallace Ford, Another Face," and "Sobule's Liquors."
View of the Strand theater in Denver, Colorado; shows an ornate entry with entablature and electric lights. People, bicycles and cars are in the street; marquee reads: "Frank Mayo in Dr. Jim," signs read: "Dr. Murphy's Root Beer," "Shoe Shine," and "Razor Blade Hospital."
View of the America theater at 16th (Sixteenth) and Curtis Streets in Denver, Colorado. Cars and people are in the streets; electric roof sign depicts an eagle and shield and reads: "America Theater - See America First - Nazimova In A Dolls House." The Empress Theater is next door.
An exterior view of the Orpheum Theater, a vaudeville theater, located on 1537 Welton Street in Denver, Colorado. The theater is decorated with ribbons and small international flags for All Nationality Week. A sign reads: "Orpheu[m] Modern Vaudevi[lle]." The Orpheum Theater opened in 1903, was razed in 1930 then rebuilt two years later.
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 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."
View of the Victory Theater in Denver, Colorado; shows the arched entry, ornate plaster work, and the ticket window. Display depicts a woman and reads: "Lights of Old Broadway, with Marion Davies."
Men and women pose outdoors near the Palace theater at 15th (Fifteenth) and Blake Streets in downtown Denver, Colorado. One group of men and women pose on the balcony on the second floor of the theater.
People crowd the entrance of the Denver Theater at 1545 Glenarm Place in Denver, Colorado; band members wear helmets, and the neon marquee reads: "Kit Carson," and "Charlie Chan at the Wax Museum."
Night view of the Strand theater in Denver, Colorado; shows an ornate entry with entablature and electric lights. Display depicts a false front. Marquee reads: "Sunset Jones." Signs read: "Dr. Murphy's Root Beer" and "Shoe Shine."
Nighttime view of the America theater at Curtis and 16th (Sixteenth) Streets in Denver, Colorado; shows storefronts, a popcorn cart, and electric signs: "America Theater - Mary Maclane in Men Who Have Made Love To Me," "Greater Vitagraph Photoplays," and "Empress."
View of the Tabor theater 16th (Sixteenth) Street entrance in Denver, Colorado. People, boys, and bicycles are by the arched entry and ticket window; electric signs read: "Continuous Vaudeville 5 [cents] 10 [cents]." Poster advertises "The Balkan Princess."
Night view of the Victory Theater in Denver, Colorado; neon signs and marquee read: "Victory, Girls, Fun For Adults Only, Girlesque, Acapulco Uncensored, Big Sin City, Spicy Films," and "Discount Credit Jewelers."
Rooftop view of the Empress Theater at 1615 Curtis Street in downtown Denver, Colorado. Pedestrians walk nearby. The three-story building has decorative trim and is topped with minarets. Signs on the building read: "Pantage's Vaudville" and "Now Showing 10 Acts Spring Festival Show."
View of the Denver Theater, at 1545 Glenarm Place in Denver, Colorado; shows Glenarm Place, parked automobiles, and "The Powers Behen Co." building at 510 16th (Sixteenth) Street. The marquee reads: "Pride of the Rockies."
Men pose on a truck near the Mayan Theater at 110 Broadway in the Speer neighborhood of Denver, Colorado. The men wear cowboys hats and chaps. Signs read: "Warm Air Furnace Heating Tin and Galvanized Iron Work," "Wheeler Organist," "Gala Opening Fox Mayan Theatre Tonight," "Are Always Welcome at the Park Lane Hotel," "Beauty Nook," and "South Broadway National Bank."
View of the Center Theater entrance and marquee at 1621 Curtis Street in Denver, Colorado; shows neon sign and lettering: "Vaudeville Sensational Nude Dancer Flo Ash," "Louise Fazenda - Maude Eburne Doughnuts and Society."
View of the Berkeley Oriental Theater at 44th (Forty-fourth) Avenue and Tennyson Street in the Berkeley neighborhood of Denver, Colorado. The three-story building has decorative trim and an electric sign that reads: "Oriental." Signs and lettering read: "Eggs," "Quality Market," "Oriental Barber Shop & Beauty Parlor," "William Boyd The Flying Fool," "Dr. S. C. Lutz "Dentist," and "Guy D. Lucas Coal Co. Direct from the Mines Sack Coal & Wood."
Nighttime view of theaters along Curtis Street in downtown Denver, Colorado. Automobiles line the street. Signs read: "Empress Where Everybody Goes," "Colonial," "Mozart," "Royal," "Drugs," "Iris," "The Nanking," "Pool," "Hotel," "Princess," and "Onyx."
View of the Mission Theater at 1465 South Pearl Street in the Platt Park neighborhood of Denver, Colorado. The two-story building has a tile roof and arched window wells. Signs read: "Mens Suits Overcoats Dresses Plain Ladies Coats," "The Man I Love With Mary Brian & Richard Arlen Also Comedy," and "Always the Best Show in South Denver."