Denver Theatre

510 16th Street,
Denver, CO 80202

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Fox Inter-Mountain Theaters Inc., Publix

Architects: William N. Bowman, Cornelius Ward Rapp, George W. Leslie Rapp

Firms: Rapp & Rapp

Nearby Theaters

1980 photo and copy courtesy of The Denver Eye Facebook page.

The Denver Theatre opened by Publix on November 19, 1927 with Bebe Daniels in “She’s a Sheik”. It was located across the street from the Paramount Theatre. It was operated by Fox Intermountain Theatres Inc. It was twinned in May 1972. The Denver Theatre was demolished around 1980.

Contributed by Chuck

Recent comments (view all 30 comments)

Sagebrushed
Sagebrushed on December 31, 2010 at 6:38 pm

The Denver to my view was the finest of all the Denver classic theatres and I would have wished for its preservation over the Paramount accross the street. Before it was twained it was one of the finest theatres in how it was arranged interior with the side balconies towards the front. The balcony stairs were a bit steep and a bit dangerous compared to today’s. As metro area native with either parents and later as teen I was lucky in having visited all of the theatres now gone.

roundgrandma
roundgrandma on August 9, 2011 at 10:48 pm

I’m with you, Sagebrushed, having enjoyed many films at both theaters. My late husband used to tell me stories about someone who lived in the Denver Theatre, not too difficult, considering the many levels and sections, to include dressing rooms, etc. in the lower levels. I was privileged to see a “Nutcracker” performance at the Majestic Theater in Dallas, years back, that had a someone similar interior feeling. It was lovely. One of the last management type employees at the Denver, was a lady who always reminded me of Merle Oberon. Elegantly wearing long dark hair into a thick crescent atop her head. In those days, booking agents had to bid for films, guaranteeing specific returns for the studios. Popcorn was heated out of huge plastic bags, and hot dogs, cups and popcorn buckets were counted for inventory/income purposes. From “Jungle Book” to “Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song” – and now only the memory remains. Too bad.

paulomalley
paulomalley on May 21, 2013 at 9:10 pm

I am not sure of the opening date listed for the Denver Theater. The theater was built during the latter part of 1926, and was listed in the 1927 City Directory as the Metropolitan in April 1927. This might be the date on which the theater was renamed. It was a Publix theater, built by Paramount, before becoming a Warner theater.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on January 15, 2015 at 10:12 pm

A promotional booklet published by the Federal Cement Tile Co. of Chicago has a photo of the auditorium of the Metropolitan Theatre in Denver under construction at center left on this page. The caption attributes the design to architect William N. Bowman. He apparently designed the building the theater was in, while Rapp & Rapp designed the theater interior.

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on August 22, 2015 at 11:30 am

1980 auditorium photo and copy added courtesy of The Denver Eye Facebook page.

Inside of The Denver Theatre, 1980, shortly before the wrecking ball

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on May 18, 2017 at 5:38 am

1956 photo added courtesy of Marc Sagrilloā€ˇ. Appears to show a remodeled front behind the blade sign.

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on August 8, 2017 at 9:11 am

1965 photo added, credit Save the Signs Facebook page. Double feature 8 years before it was divided.

It should be noted that a number of the photo links embedded in previous comments, now link to a generic Chinese web page.

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on January 20, 2018 at 3:46 pm

Circa 1967 photo added courtesy of Wade Winsor.

kennyjames
kennyjames on January 9, 2019 at 11:39 am

in its later history, the denver closed for remodeling 4/18/72 – 5/23/72 and reopened as a twin 5/24/72. i am currently putting together books on the history of the denver area’s drive-ins and indoor theatres. if anyone has questions on the subject, please feel free to contact me at . i am always happy to share my research. see you at the movies ! – ken mitchell

MichaelKilgore
MichaelKilgore on November 30, 2019 at 2:14 pm

A lengthy article from the Rocky Mountain Journal about Denver’s downtown theaters was reprinted in the Oct. 24, 1977 issue of Boxoffice. It began, “On Nov. 19, 1927, the cream of Denver society paid their 60 cents to see Bebe Daniel’s latest movie "She’s a Sheik” at the Denver Theatre. The patrons were awed by the new two million dollar structure built in French renaissance style and illuminated by more than 5,000 lightbulbs."

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