Orpheum Theater
1513 Welton Street,
Denver,
CO
80202
2 people favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Orpheum Circuit, RKO
Architects: John J. McNamara
Styles: Art Deco
Previous Names: RKO Orpheum Theater, RKO International 70
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News About This Theater
- Jul 13, 2009 — Remembering Cinerama (Part 35: Denver)
The original Orpheum Theatre was built in 1903 as a vaudeville theatre. It was demolished in 1930 to build this new Orpheum Theatre which opened February 11, 1932. Taken over by RKO and modernised several times. In 1955 after a modernisation by architect John J. McNamara, the seating capacity was for 2,600.
Remodeled again, the seating capacity was reduced to 1,200 when it reopened on December 25, 1963 as the RKO International 70. It was closed September 10, 1967, and subsequently was demolished.
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Recent comments (view all 19 comments)
The RKO Orpheum Theatre went through a remodel in 1955, the architect was John J. McNamara. The seating capacity was still 2600 seats till it was remodeled for the International 70.
The fourth photo that ken posted on March 5, 2006, shows the original marquee just before opening day. It also shows someone being hung if effigy! Any ideas on who it might be? “Old Man Depression” maybe? Guesses anyone?
Some Mighty WurliTzer Theater Pipe Organs must have been “Born under a wondering star”! As best as can be figured out from incomplete 94 year old records, Opus 34 first went out as Opus 16 to an unknown place in Cincinnati, Ohio, was reposessed and then went to this theater. It became Opus 34 and was a 2 Manual/7 Rank and it somehow became Opus 57. At least that’s as best as I can figure it out! At any rate it is not known what happened to the organ.
Opus 1764 was also a 2/7 and it is not known what happened to it either.
If you know anything about what happened to either organ, please email us!
“Gee Dad, they were both WurliTzers!”
While known as the International 70, this theater showed (single-strip) CINERAMA during 1965-66.
Denver’s complete CINERAMA exhibition history has been included in the “Remembering Cinerama” series and is posted here.
Here is a Boxoffice magazine spread on the theatre, with eight photos, from the issue of February 4, 1956:
View link
1964 photos show what the real theatre business was all about.sadly.that is gone today.
The original Orpheum, that was on this very same site (1537 Welton Street in those days) opened in October of 1903 at the cost of $200,000. It was completely demolished in 1930 and was subsequently replaced with the last Orpheum to occupy the site which opened on February 11th, 1932.
Obviously, this existing description needs to be changed and a few of the photos are of the original Orpheum while a few are from the new.
How should this be handled-a case where a theater was closed, demolished and completely rebuilt as a theater with the same name. Should a new listing for the old Orpheum be created? What do you all think???
Anthony L. Vazquez-Hernandez: I have added a page for the original 1903 Orpheum Theatre.
The theatre reopened as the International 70 on Christmas Day, 1963. I’m currently putting together a series of books on the Denver area drive-ins and indoor theatres, including some booking histories. If anyone has any questions on the subject I’ll be happy to share my research with you. See you at the movies ! – Ken Mitchell
you can reach me at . – Ken Mitchell