Valley 3 Theatres

6360 E. Evans Avenue,
Denver, CO 80222

Unfavorite 3 people favorited this theater

Additional Info

Previously operated by: Commonwealth Theaters Corp., Wolfberg Theatres

Architects: Mel C. Glatz, Maynard W. Roman

Firms: Mel C. Glatz & Associates

Functions: Drugstore

Previous Names: Valley Theatres I II III, Rainbow Music Hall

Nearby Theaters

Valley 3 - Denver, CO

Modern 3-screen multiplex built in the late-1970’s on Evans Avenue at Monaco Street by Wolfberg Theaters. The Valley Theatres I II III opened on January 7, 1977. Each screen had 350 seats. Was run by Commonwealth Theaters, but closed in November 1978 for renovations. It never reopened. It was acquired by Denver concert promoter Barry Fey and was a venue for rock concerts named Rainbow Music Hall.

Was sold to Walgreens in the late-1980’s and remodeled into a drug store. The original marquee is still in place with the store name where the letter board used to be and Rainbow Music Hall name still on top.

Contributed by MGB

Recent comments (view all 6 comments)

MickeyDal
MickeyDal on June 1, 2005 at 12:37 pm

The shopping center south of the Valley 3, was until after the summer of 1976, the Valley Drive-In theater. Also part of the Wolfberg theatres, in the “Compass” Drive-In chain. (Also, the North, South, East and West (hence the “Compass”), the Wadsworth, Havana, North Star and Arapaho. I started that last season of the Valley, then the manager of the Valley 3 operated both, while I went on to other theatres.

Jerry Dealey

LoveBreezy
LoveBreezy on June 6, 2006 at 6:48 pm

I was the manager of the Valley 3 when it closed. I always heard that the Valley DI closed because the new KMart accross the street refused to turn off (down) their parking lot lights after they closed causing too much light on the movie screen. Does anyone know if this is true?

MickeyDal
MickeyDal on July 22, 2008 at 10:28 am

LoveBreezy,

No. The property the Valley was on simply became too valuable for the lease to be renewed. The Valley Drive-In was directly south of the Valley 3 (right behind it), with the projection pointing to the east onto a west facing screen. For a while, Ray Wagnor, managed BOTH the 3 and the Drive-In, and simply slipped out the back door of the Valley 3 to the box office of the Drive-In. It was torn down, and immediately replaced by a shopping center. (Sorry for the late reply.)

Jerry Dealey

Jerry Dealey

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on July 30, 2011 at 2:03 pm

I noticed an awful lot of Denver Drive-ins not on Cinema Treasures.Didn’t know if they were in Denver or out in the Metro area under different town names.

kennyjames
kennyjames on October 16, 2019 at 12:17 pm

the valley 3 opened 1/7/77. i’m putting together a series of books on the history of the denver area drive-ins and indoor theatres. if anyone has any questions about the subject, i’ll be happy to share my research with you ! see you at the movies – ken mitchell (.)

rivest266
rivest266 on April 6, 2024 at 9:32 pm

Opened January 7th, 1977. Grand opening ad posted.

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