Movie Theaters...
Bluebird Theatre
Photo © 2012 Scott Murdock
Guest photographer Scott Murdock with an iconic shot of the Bluebird Theater on Colfax.
The theater was designed by Harry Edbrooke in 1913 for John Thompson and was originally called the Thompson Theater. While movies had been playing in town before 1913, the Bluebird was the first theater in Denver designed specifically for screening films. Edbrooke is probably the most famous and prolific of downtown Denver’s architects. (And he later designed the Ogden Theater for Thompson as well.)
Harry Huffman, the Denver movie theater mogul (who built Shangri-La), bought the theater in 1921, changed the name and added the first Bluebird signage, which originally had a very large bird placed on top. I assumed the sign was replaced with the current Art Deco sign in the ’30s.
May 22nd, 2012 / No Comments » / by Scott Murdock
Mayan Theatre interiors
Creepy stares from the faces on the Mayan Theatre walls.
Built in 1930 at the end of the construction of grand Art Deco palaces,
this theater adopted the rare Mayan Revival style.
Designed by Montana Fallis with the aid of local artisans, sculptor Julius Ambrusch
and even Victor Hornbein who worked for Fallis at the time.
(6 fingers, 4 toes?)
I took these photos at Doors Open Denver on the yearly tour
of the theater by Chris Citron, who was one of the leaders of
the movement to preserve the Mayan.
The stock market crash put an end to the construction of Art
Deco film theaters and time has taken away most of them.
The Paramount Theater is the other great preserved Art
Deco theater in Denver.
April 21st, 2011 / No Comments » / by Tom Lundin
Historic Park Theatre
Colorado’s oldest movie theater, the Historic Park Theatre in Estes Park was built
in 1915, the tower was built in 1922.
This neo-Classical theater was originally designed by J.R. Anderson.
June 12th, 2010 / No Comments » / by Tom Lundin
Inside the Mayan Theatre
The Mayan Theatre was designed 1930 by Montana Fallis.
Denver is extremely fortunate that this outstanding example of
Art Deco Mayan Revival has remained intact.
Others involved included sculptor Julius Ambrusch and architect
Victor Hornbein.
The Mayan was opened just as the stock market crash put an end to the construction
of Art Deco film theaters.
This theater went through an unused period which helped preserve it from being renovated
and updated over the years.
June 6th, 2010 / No Comments » / by Tom Lundin
Oriental Theater
The Oriental Theater on W. 44th. Designed 1927 by Leo Desjardins.
Lakeside Waffles is on the first floor.
Remodeled in the ’50s and renovated in recent years.
Nice terracotta details on this 20th century commercial building.
May 3rd, 2010 / No Comments » / by Tom Lundin
Paramount Theater Wurlitzer
The Art Deco Paramount Theater was designed 1930 by Temple Buell.
The Paramount has a twin console Wurlitzer organ, designed by organist Jesse Crawford 1930.
For special events the Rocky Mountain Chapter of the American Organ Society provides musicians that can play the mighty Wurlitzer.
The beautiful Paramount Theater is the last original movie theater in downtown Denver.
April 30th, 2010 / No Comments » / by Tom Lundin
Mayan chieftain
The Mayan, Art Deco theater design 1930 by Montana Fallis
October 24th, 2009 / 1 Comment » / by Tom Lundin
