Orpheum Theater
1513 Welton Street,
Denver,
CO
80202
1513 Welton Street,
Denver,
CO
80202
1 person
favorited this theater
Originally built in 1903 as a vaudeville theatre. It was 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 in around 1964, the seating capacity was reduced to 1,200 when it reopened as the RKO International 70. It was closed in 1976, and subsequently was demolished.
Contributed by
TC
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Recent comments (view all 19 comments)
This website has some photos of the RKO International 70. An aka name of RKO International 70 and RKO Orpheum Theater should be added to this page.
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?
A Wurlitzer theater organ opus 34 style “J” was installed in the Orpheum Theater on 3/14/1914. That organ was repossessed. Another Wurlitzer theater organ opus 1764 style “B” was installed in the Orpheum Theater on 10/22/1927.
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!”
Here are two 1964 photos:
Photo1
Photo2
1932 Photo
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.