The SPUR building is actually gone. The plumbing store is not the theatre building. The SPUR building has been gone for many years. For a long time, the sloped, concrete floor was still on the fenced off vacant space between the row of downtown buildings. I was told the structure itself had burned down. You could look at that concrete foundation and see where the seat bolts were as well as the plumbing for the restrooms.
The Parker drive in theatre was closed permanently before 1986. I was there back then and it was already closed. The projection equipment had already been removed but the speakers were still on the poles. Now everything is gone except for the screen, snack bar foundation and ramps.
The Wadsworth drive in had another unusual feature that not many Drive ins had…the original screen was replaced by 1959 with one of the rare “MANCO-VISION” silver screens. These screens were said to offer 300% more light than a traditional white screen. They were made of thick extruded aluminum panels that were quite narrow. These screens were ok in the dry climates such as here in Arvada but oxidized in damp locations. Besides the Wadsworth, these silver screens were installed at the Tonto drive in theatre in Winslow Arizona and the Valley drive in theatre in Farmington New Mexico. Both locations have since been demolished.
I wanted to correct myself…what I meant to say was that while the Valley had an Evans address, it had a Monaco entrance leading up to twin box offices. Sorry for the confusion.
Longtime Denver theatre pioneer Vera Cockrill and business partner Charles Reagan built the Havana in 1966. Mrs. Cockrill also owned the Wadsworth drive in as well as the Denham theatre downtown. Wolfberg eventually took over the operation of both the Havana and Wadsworth drive ins. When they opened, Both the Wadsworth and Havana drive ins had a minuature train ride in the playgrounds. The Havana marquee was 2 separate changeable letter boards both meeting at a giant internally lit yellow triangle spire topped with a red ball.
The Valley 3 as it was known was indeed built by Wolberg Theatres and did have an Evans address. It did not replace the Valley drive in but was built on an adjoining lot which was not an orifinal part of the Valley drive in. The Valley drive in had a Monaco address. The entrance driveway and marquee were just to the south of the gas station on the corner. The drive in land was developed into the shopping center just south of the gas station on the corner. The screen stood at an angle at the extreme north-east corner of the property very close to the gas station. The Valley 3 was built shortly before the drive in was developed. The Valley marquee was a beautiful neon masterpiece. I have photos of the screen being built with cows standing in tge pasture across the street where the K Mart would be built. Those were the good days.
Hi there, im Scott. its so nice to see all this interest in the Colorado drive-in theatres. I was in the drive-in business and friends with many of the Colorado drive-in theatre as well ad indoor theatre operators of the past. It was a wonderful time. I have read many posts and looked at the photos. Most are accurate but some are not. I know about the elusive #47 drive in. That WAS the accurate name. It was the only one in Castle Rock. If antbody wants to know more about this or had any questions about any other drive-in mysteries (i know there were some questions about the Havana drive-in and the connection to Compass/Wolfberg) I can help there too. Would love to talk drive ins any time. They were my life. email me at
The SPUR building is actually gone. The plumbing store is not the theatre building. The SPUR building has been gone for many years. For a long time, the sloped, concrete floor was still on the fenced off vacant space between the row of downtown buildings. I was told the structure itself had burned down. You could look at that concrete foundation and see where the seat bolts were as well as the plumbing for the restrooms.
The Parker drive in theatre was closed permanently before 1986. I was there back then and it was already closed. The projection equipment had already been removed but the speakers were still on the poles. Now everything is gone except for the screen, snack bar foundation and ramps.
The Wadsworth drive in had another unusual feature that not many Drive ins had…the original screen was replaced by 1959 with one of the rare “MANCO-VISION” silver screens. These screens were said to offer 300% more light than a traditional white screen. They were made of thick extruded aluminum panels that were quite narrow. These screens were ok in the dry climates such as here in Arvada but oxidized in damp locations. Besides the Wadsworth, these silver screens were installed at the Tonto drive in theatre in Winslow Arizona and the Valley drive in theatre in Farmington New Mexico. Both locations have since been demolished.
I wanted to correct myself…what I meant to say was that while the Valley had an Evans address, it had a Monaco entrance leading up to twin box offices. Sorry for the confusion.
Longtime Denver theatre pioneer Vera Cockrill and business partner Charles Reagan built the Havana in 1966. Mrs. Cockrill also owned the Wadsworth drive in as well as the Denham theatre downtown. Wolfberg eventually took over the operation of both the Havana and Wadsworth drive ins. When they opened, Both the Wadsworth and Havana drive ins had a minuature train ride in the playgrounds. The Havana marquee was 2 separate changeable letter boards both meeting at a giant internally lit yellow triangle spire topped with a red ball.
The Valley 3 as it was known was indeed built by Wolberg Theatres and did have an Evans address. It did not replace the Valley drive in but was built on an adjoining lot which was not an orifinal part of the Valley drive in. The Valley drive in had a Monaco address. The entrance driveway and marquee were just to the south of the gas station on the corner. The drive in land was developed into the shopping center just south of the gas station on the corner. The screen stood at an angle at the extreme north-east corner of the property very close to the gas station. The Valley 3 was built shortly before the drive in was developed. The Valley marquee was a beautiful neon masterpiece. I have photos of the screen being built with cows standing in tge pasture across the street where the K Mart would be built. Those were the good days.
Hi there, im Scott. its so nice to see all this interest in the Colorado drive-in theatres. I was in the drive-in business and friends with many of the Colorado drive-in theatre as well ad indoor theatre operators of the past. It was a wonderful time. I have read many posts and looked at the photos. Most are accurate but some are not. I know about the elusive #47 drive in. That WAS the accurate name. It was the only one in Castle Rock. If antbody wants to know more about this or had any questions about any other drive-in mysteries (i know there were some questions about the Havana drive-in and the connection to Compass/Wolfberg) I can help there too. Would love to talk drive ins any time. They were my life. email me at