Bluebird Theatre

3317 E. Colfax Avenue,
Denver, CO 80206

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Bluebird Theater (Official)

Additional Info

Previously operated by: Fox Inter-Mountain Theaters Inc.

Architects: Harry W. J. Edbrooke

Functions: Concerts, Movies

Styles: Art Deco

Previous Names: Thompson Theater

Phone Numbers: Box Office: 303.377.1666

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News About This Theater

Bluebird Theatre

Opened on September 11, 1915 as the Thompson Theater. By 1941 it had been renamed Bluebird Theatre. By 1977 it was operating as an adult movie theatre. Renovated early-20th century theater with restored frescos and statues.

The Bluebird Theater currently hosts both concerts and film presentations.

It was listed on the National Register of Historic Place on January 31, 1997

Contributed by Richard Beattie

Recent comments (view all 14 comments)

William
William on March 8, 2007 at 12:34 pm

The Bluebird Theatre was operated by Fox Intermountain Theatres, Inc.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on March 9, 2007 at 2:11 am

The Directory of Colorado State Register Properties entry about the Bluebird Theatre says that it was “…the first Denver theater designed specifically for the exhibition of movies.” They give the opening year as 1914.

paulomalley
paulomalley on March 13, 2007 at 7:28 pm

I am not sure where the Colorado State Register obtained its information concerning the Thompson/Bluebird Theater, but it is inaccurate. The 600 seat Thompson Theater opened on September 11, 1915 and was far from being the “first Denver theater designed specifically for the exhibiton of movies.” The first “movie” theater opened in Denver was the Princess Theater (1620 Curtis Street) which opened on October 11, 1910 and sat 1,300. The next was the Paris/Rivoli Theater (1751 Curtis Street) which opened on October 5, 1912 and sat 2,300. This was followed by the New Isis Theater (1724 Curtis Street) which opened on May 1, 1913 and sat 2,200; and the United States/Rialto Theater (1544 Curtis Street) which opened on February 12, 1914 and sat 1,200. All of these downtown theaters opened before the Thompson/Bluebird and were larger theaters.

In addition there were three smaller (450 seat) theaters opened outside the downtown area before the Thompson/Bluebird. The Royal Theater (243 Broadway) was in the Schomberg Theater Building and opend in June 1910. The Rex/Queen Theater (110-112 Broadway) was opened on April 1, 1911 on the site of the present Mayan Theater. The York Theater (2221 East Colfax Avenue) was opened on September 1, 1911.

The Thompson/Bluebird Theater is the oldest theater site still operating as a theater in Denver. However, they have not shown films at the theater for several years and the projectors have been removed. The building that housed the York Theater is still standing, but is a watch repair store. All of the other building have been torn down.

JRed
JRed on November 22, 2008 at 4:52 am

Anyone have shots that are not of the marquee?

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on February 19, 2009 at 6:51 pm

Here is an album cover that features the theater:
http://tinyurl.com/dm2r48

bbfarmer
bbfarmer on February 5, 2013 at 1:03 pm

Was a porn theater during the short time I lived in Denver; this would be 1976.

bbfarmer
bbfarmer on February 5, 2013 at 1:05 pm

Now I see that the pictures in lostmemory’s post already made that clear.

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on March 16, 2017 at 10:58 pm

Facebook page for the Bluebird Theater.

https://www.facebook.com/bluebirdtheater/

rivest266
rivest266 on April 1, 2024 at 2:34 pm

Opened as Thompson on September 11th, 1915. Ad posted.

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