70mm East Drive-In
Aurora,
CO
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favorited this theater
I lived behind the East Drive In when it was in full operation (1955-1964). Many of us worked there during the summer washing windshields for tips and walking the back rows to clear out stragglers.
We had many a play hour there during the day, since the layout was quite amenable to go karts. We would race from Colfax street to the entrance booth and whip around the corner into the vast sea of speakers on poles.
I happened to drive by on a visit to Aurora the day the wrecking crew was committing architectural homicide on the place and felt a genuine loss. I’m sure it was living on life support, but I still hated to see it go.
The North, South, East, West and Monaco drive-ins were part of the Compass chain of theatres when I was there. The 70mm East Drive-In had a 1,700 car capacity.
Contributed by
John Gillen
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Recent comments (view all 25 comments)
Compass Drive Ins?
My name is Jerry Dealey, and I was a Manager / Assistant Manager for many of the Compass Drive-ins in the mid to late 1970’s. You are so knowlegeable about the chain, that I feel I should know you. At your convenience, swing by my web site Dealey.org, where you should be able to get my eMail and drop me a line.
…I moved to COlorado in around late 1995 after the drive-end theater was closed…I lived in an Apartment Complex behind the theater (The manager of the complex said a ghost of a woman walked the grounds of the drive-in late at night) (My living room window looked over the weed-infested parking lot, and the huge white movie-screen)… sadly I lost the photos I had taken of the once giant screen. I still have the letter “C” which I found near the old marquee.
I heard the main reason the theater closed was a “murder-robery”..? Is the true. I have lived in Colorado off and on for over 8 yrs and I have heard this form everyone. Please confirm..??
The tragedy at the East was a robbery which resulted in the stabbing of 2 young teens. Both survived the attack. The way I understand that it happened is that it was some sort of inside job between an employee and her boyfriend (that did the actual robbery). The drive in remained open for the rest of the season but did not reopen the following spring. We looked in to re-opening the theatre but the city of Aurora was not too keen on the idea of giving the theatre a long term operation permit. I think the city was already looking down the road to the Fitzsimons redevelopment and the proximity of the drive in property to that project.
Are there any closed drive-in theaters in the Denver area that may still have a screen up? I’m looking into this for a film shoot.
Thanks!
The only closed drive in that still has a screen is the Nor West in Broomfield. This is located at 120th and Perry street. Take I-25 North to 120th and turn left or West. The theatre will be on your right several miles down 120th ave. This is private property and is owned by the church that sits behind the theatre. If you would like to use an open theatre, I can probably get permission for you to use the Cinderella in Englewood.
Does anyone have a copy of the Compass Drive-In Jingle?
“There’s a Compass Drive-In right near you
With two big features- count ‘em, two.
Delicious food for all the family.
Kids under 12 are free.
Tonight at Compass Drive- In, it’s the place to be!”
I grew up in Edgewater and WR and we had FOUR drive-ins within 5-15 minutes of each other! The Wadsworth (I-70/Wads), the West (6th/Kipling), the Colfax (Colfax/Oak) and the Lake Shore (19th/Sheridan).
I have a matchbook from East Drive In Theatre 12600 East Colfax is the address on the book “Across from Fitzsimmons Hospital” Phone Aurora 880. I also have a scrapbook from Denver from a person who managed the Broadway Theatre in the early 50’s.Lots of b&w photos including photos of the construction of a Drive In. It is labeled Valley Screen. Also in the book is photos taken of Jimmy Stewart filming “The Glen Miller Story” At Holland Hall? Also are photos of the Audience Awards Parade Oct.7 1955.I will be selling this on e-bay in a couple of weeks.Interested let me know.
Three people have listed the address for this drive-in, now that Ken is doing updates maybe the address will be added.
Ask Ken If he would like a photo of the matchbook cover. I also have a matchbook cover for the Compass Drive In Theatres
Also the Paramount Theatre, the Crest Theatre, Thae Arvada Plaza, were also part of the Wolfberg Chain. I worked at the Paramount Theatre from 1968 to 1978. I beleive they all went privately owned after the 80’s,not quite sure of commonwealth owning them.Allof the drive-in were under Wolfberg umberella for quite sometime except the Lake Shore Drive -in. Those were the good times.