This closed theatre is in the Ajo “Plaza” downtown. The front lobby was used for a deli for many years. Last I heard the auditorium was converted to office space.
The Fox is up and running as a movie theatre again. The front of the building as well as the upright FOX sign and the marquee have been restored. The neon looks GREAT!!
This drive in will close permanently on Saturday September 29, 2007 It will be demolished to make way for apartments. R.I.P. Cinderella Twin. You will be missed.
The Broadview drive in was built in the 1950’s. We owned the drive in in the neighboring town and we purchased all the speakers and some of the other equipment when it closed. We bought that equipment in 1988. It was a nice drive in and had a big snack bar with knotty pine panneling. The screen and buildings stood well into the 80’s but were demolished by the early 90’s.
I have one of the original hand painted wall murals from the Aladdin as well as the cast iron “onion domes” which were on the corners of the marquee of the Aladdin. I would be happy to post a photo of them but I am unsure how to do this.
Hi KPRESTON, The other theatre you are thinking of is the Century 21 which was also on Colo. Blvd. The Century 21 building actually is still standing but has been converted to the Soundtrack store which is next to Hooters restaurant. In my opinion the Century 21 was OK but couldn’t hold a candle to the fabulous Cooper.
This theatre is still standing in downtown Bisbee. The front lobby and the area under the balcony is used as a real estate office but the auditorium and stage are still in back.
You are correct…the building in the front of the photo on the CNN story is the Villa Italia Twin. It was built by General Cinemas and became a Mann Theatre in the 80’s when General sold it’s Denver theatres to Mann. It stood boarded up for many years prior to the demolition of Villa Italia.
The Brentwood shopping center which housed the Brentwood 4 still stands at Federal Blvd. and Evans. The center is split into 2 seperate buildings and the theatre was in the center of the Northern building. It has been converted to retail space. There is a double arch structure out on the sidewalk in front of what was the entrance to the theatre.
The Broadway was removed in 1956 however the Metropole hotel structure stood until 1984. The Cosmopolitan hotel which was built next door to the Metropole eventually took over the Metropole. When the Broadway was removed from the interior of the Metropole, the theatre lobby became the Trader Vic’s Restaurant (later becoming Don the Beachcomber) and the actual theatre auditorium became a parking garage for the Cosmopolitan hotel. The Cosmopolitan hotel closed on January 1 1984. The Metropole hotel/Broadway theatre building which was sandwiched between the Cosmopolitan hotel and the Mile High Center was dismanteled brick by brick in order to create some space so that the Cosmopolitan hotel could be imploded in May of 1984. A flat paved “by the hour” parking lot sits where both buildings originally stood.
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.
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.
The 12800 E. Colfax address is correct. It was called the “New” East 70. 70mm (Norelcos) were installed in this theatre but was used possibly once. It was removed years ago and replaced with a Simplex XL head and a platter system. The Simplex head is now in operation at the Cinderella drive in on screen one.
The Centennial was near the corner of Federal at Belview. It sat on the southwest corner. It was actually on the Centennial race track property. In fact you had to enter the parking lot for the race track to access the theatre. There was a strip center anchored by a Safeway store (now closed) built on the site. It was a beautiful twin screen theatre which ended it’s life as a single screen and a flea market. Opening night publicity was marked by the first feature (which was “The High And The Mighty”) to be flown in to the theatre by 2 little planes which landed on the Centennial race track parking lot. The Centennial had a very attractive neon marquee which sat on top of a fieldstone pedistal. A back-lit comedy and tragedy mask was recessed into the base of the pedistal on each side. They had a midget named “Zero” who would run around the theatre entertaining kids and promoting his famous “Zeroburgers” which were always “fresh at the concession stand”. It was a truly great drive in.
The Compass chain was a division of the Wolfberg theatre chain. The East was actually a project of Mr. Leonard Albertini. He purchased the franchise rights from PARK IN THEATRES (Richard Hollingshead) for the Denver terratory. Originally from California, he moved his family to Denver to open the Denver drive in (East drive in). When one of the partners left the group, John and Ruth Wolfberg bought into the venture. From there, the South, West and Valley drive ins were built by the group. The North was a rebel drive in which was actually built by a Utah man. Opened as the MOTORENA, it was not a franchised part of PARK IN and was forced to sell to Wolfberg. They renamed it the North. Wolfberg (Compass) also built the Arapahoe, and North Star (1600 car capacity). The Wadsworth and Havana drive ins were built by a family named Kochrill. They owned the Denham theatre in 16th st. Vera Kochrill sold the drive ins to Wolfberg after her husband passed away. The curved screen at the Wadsworth was not the original…the curved screen was new for the 1959 season and was a process called MANCO VISION (I have a chunk of it) and was made out of aluminum. Supposedly it was 300% brighter than a normal white screen. The Nor West was built and operated by a man from Spearfish S. Dakota. He leased it to Commonwealth in it’s last years. The Lake Shore was built by Civic theatres of Kentucky on what was landfill from Sloan’s Lake. The Cinderella, and the West Colfax were built by Highland theatres of Longmont. All the drive ins in the Denver metro area were operated by Commonwealth (later United Artists) except for the Centennial, Evans,and 88th. All the major members of Wolfberg Theatres have now passed away except for the original founder of the Denver drive ins…Leonard Albertini. I would be happy to answer ANY questions on Denver theatres……. ESPECIALLY the beloved drive ins!!! :)
The Denver Cooper was on Colorado Boulevard. I grew up with the Cooper and have 8x10 professional photos of it during construction. I would be happy to share them (scan them) with all the other Cooper fans if there is any interest.
The Uptown is actually just a shell. The auditorium roof caved in some time ago. The back wall of the theatre has been rebuilt but still no roof.
This theatre building is still standing. It is now a funeral parlor.
This closed theatre is in the Ajo “Plaza” downtown. The front lobby was used for a deli for many years. Last I heard the auditorium was converted to office space.
Yes, this is the Dustbowl theatre. Eloy only had one theatre besides the “Y” drive in.
The Fox is up and running as a movie theatre again. The front of the building as well as the upright FOX sign and the marquee have been restored. The neon looks GREAT!!
Was also named the Trident theatre.
The Kar Vu Screen has been demolished.
This drive in will close permanently on Saturday September 29, 2007 It will be demolished to make way for apartments. R.I.P. Cinderella Twin. You will be missed.
The Broadview drive in was built in the 1950’s. We owned the drive in in the neighboring town and we purchased all the speakers and some of the other equipment when it closed. We bought that equipment in 1988. It was a nice drive in and had a big snack bar with knotty pine panneling. The screen and buildings stood well into the 80’s but were demolished by the early 90’s.
I have one of the original hand painted wall murals from the Aladdin as well as the cast iron “onion domes” which were on the corners of the marquee of the Aladdin. I would be happy to post a photo of them but I am unsure how to do this.
Hi KPRESTON, The other theatre you are thinking of is the Century 21 which was also on Colo. Blvd. The Century 21 building actually is still standing but has been converted to the Soundtrack store which is next to Hooters restaurant. In my opinion the Century 21 was OK but couldn’t hold a candle to the fabulous Cooper.
This theatre is still standing in downtown Bisbee. The front lobby and the area under the balcony is used as a real estate office but the auditorium and stage are still in back.
I have one of the original art deco ceiling light fixtures from the back of the auditorium of the Phoenix Fox. It’s a spectacular piece.
You are correct…the building in the front of the photo on the CNN story is the Villa Italia Twin. It was built by General Cinemas and became a Mann Theatre in the 80’s when General sold it’s Denver theatres to Mann. It stood boarded up for many years prior to the demolition of Villa Italia.
The Brentwood shopping center which housed the Brentwood 4 still stands at Federal Blvd. and Evans. The center is split into 2 seperate buildings and the theatre was in the center of the Northern building. It has been converted to retail space. There is a double arch structure out on the sidewalk in front of what was the entrance to the theatre.
The Broadway was removed in 1956 however the Metropole hotel structure stood until 1984. The Cosmopolitan hotel which was built next door to the Metropole eventually took over the Metropole. When the Broadway was removed from the interior of the Metropole, the theatre lobby became the Trader Vic’s Restaurant (later becoming Don the Beachcomber) and the actual theatre auditorium became a parking garage for the Cosmopolitan hotel. The Cosmopolitan hotel closed on January 1 1984. The Metropole hotel/Broadway theatre building which was sandwiched between the Cosmopolitan hotel and the Mile High Center was dismanteled brick by brick in order to create some space so that the Cosmopolitan hotel could be imploded in May of 1984. A flat paved “by the hour” parking lot sits where both buildings originally stood.
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.
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.
The 12800 E. Colfax address is correct. It was called the “New” East 70. 70mm (Norelcos) were installed in this theatre but was used possibly once. It was removed years ago and replaced with a Simplex XL head and a platter system. The Simplex head is now in operation at the Cinderella drive in on screen one.
The Marquee was unfortunately destroyed when the theatre was removed from the property.
The Centennial was near the corner of Federal at Belview. It sat on the southwest corner. It was actually on the Centennial race track property. In fact you had to enter the parking lot for the race track to access the theatre. There was a strip center anchored by a Safeway store (now closed) built on the site. It was a beautiful twin screen theatre which ended it’s life as a single screen and a flea market. Opening night publicity was marked by the first feature (which was “The High And The Mighty”) to be flown in to the theatre by 2 little planes which landed on the Centennial race track parking lot. The Centennial had a very attractive neon marquee which sat on top of a fieldstone pedistal. A back-lit comedy and tragedy mask was recessed into the base of the pedistal on each side. They had a midget named “Zero” who would run around the theatre entertaining kids and promoting his famous “Zeroburgers” which were always “fresh at the concession stand”. It was a truly great drive in.
The Compass chain was a division of the Wolfberg theatre chain. The East was actually a project of Mr. Leonard Albertini. He purchased the franchise rights from PARK IN THEATRES (Richard Hollingshead) for the Denver terratory. Originally from California, he moved his family to Denver to open the Denver drive in (East drive in). When one of the partners left the group, John and Ruth Wolfberg bought into the venture. From there, the South, West and Valley drive ins were built by the group. The North was a rebel drive in which was actually built by a Utah man. Opened as the MOTORENA, it was not a franchised part of PARK IN and was forced to sell to Wolfberg. They renamed it the North. Wolfberg (Compass) also built the Arapahoe, and North Star (1600 car capacity). The Wadsworth and Havana drive ins were built by a family named Kochrill. They owned the Denham theatre in 16th st. Vera Kochrill sold the drive ins to Wolfberg after her husband passed away. The curved screen at the Wadsworth was not the original…the curved screen was new for the 1959 season and was a process called MANCO VISION (I have a chunk of it) and was made out of aluminum. Supposedly it was 300% brighter than a normal white screen. The Nor West was built and operated by a man from Spearfish S. Dakota. He leased it to Commonwealth in it’s last years. The Lake Shore was built by Civic theatres of Kentucky on what was landfill from Sloan’s Lake. The Cinderella, and the West Colfax were built by Highland theatres of Longmont. All the drive ins in the Denver metro area were operated by Commonwealth (later United Artists) except for the Centennial, Evans,and 88th. All the major members of Wolfberg Theatres have now passed away except for the original founder of the Denver drive ins…Leonard Albertini. I would be happy to answer ANY questions on Denver theatres……. ESPECIALLY the beloved drive ins!!! :)
The Denver Cooper was on Colorado Boulevard. I grew up with the Cooper and have 8x10 professional photos of it during construction. I would be happy to share them (scan them) with all the other Cooper fans if there is any interest.