The Odeon was the first of four theatres located just south of the post office. The Odeon address was 17 South Nevada Ave. Later theatres on this site would be the Strand, the Tompkins and the Cooper 1-2-3.
The article announcing the new Odeon theatre was in the Gazette on September 15, 1911, page 1.
The Odeon opened on Monday, December 11, 1911, at 2:00 pm. First attraction was “The Two Orphans.” Seating capacity was 720.
The Strand opened on November 7, 1923. The ad announcing this was in the Gazette on that same date, page 9. I don’t have an article that states the last day the Odeon was open, but it might have operated into October or November 1923. The Strand would be torn down in 1929 or 1930 (don’t know exact date) to make way for the Tompkins.
The Tompkins opened on Tuesday, June 10, 1930 and closed in early 1963. It was replaced by the new Cooper, which opened in November 1963.
“The Liberty” theatre opened on Tuesday, February 12, 1918. It was actually not a new theatre — it was the old “Pike” theatre but with a new name.
On page 10 of the February 123, 1918 Colorado Springs Gazette was an ad for the new Liberty theatre:
“J.E. Tompkins, Mgr.
Forget The Pike
REMEMBER
‘The Liberty’
We appreciate your liberal support in the past. We solicit your continued patronage. Our efforts shall always be the best in motion pictures, the best in music, the most courteous treatment.
Today’s special attraction, Wm. A. Brady presents
Kitty Gordon in ‘The Divine Sacrifice’ "
This is the same Tompkins (J. “Tommy” Tompkins) who would later build and operate the Tompkins Theatre in Colorado Springs.
The Liberty theatre’s final performances took place on September 15, 1940. The pictures showing that day were “Cowboy From Brooklyn” and “The Gladiator”.
I was hired in December 1974 (by “kornpopper76”!!) as an usher at the Cooper 1-2-3. Over the next ten years, I managed several Colorado Springs theatres, including the Cooper from January 1983 to July 1984. I have numerous photos of the Cooper that I’ll upload soon. I do have some additional info about the theatre:
Grand opening of the Cooper, scheduled on Friday, November 22, 1963, was to be a benefit for the March of Dimes. “Take Her, She’s Mine” was to be shown that evening with its star, James Stewart, in attendance. As mentioned previously, the benefit was cancelled due to President Kennedy’s assassination.
Grand opening of the new Cooper 1-2-3 was Christmas Day, 1970. Cooper 1 played “Tora! Tora! Tora!”, Cooper 2 played “Catch-22” and Cooper 3 played “I Love My…Wife”.
Cooper Foundation leased its theatres, including the Cooper and Ute in Colorado Springs, to Highland Theatres in January 1975. The company operating the theatres became known as Cooper-Highland.
Cooper Foundation sold its theatres, including the Cooper and Ute in Colorado Springs, to Commonwealth Amusement Corp. in October 1979.
The Cooper’s final day of operation was December 17, 1987.
The Cooper building was used briefly as a church. In October 1997, developers announced that the Cooper building would be remodeled and renamed “One City Centre”. It would house offices, retailers and a small restaurant.
“One City Centre” was short-lived. On the site today is a 2-story office building.
This thread brings back a lot of “Commonwealth” memories! I worked for the Cooper, Cooper-Highland, Commonwealth and United Artists chains from 1974 – 1993 (with a few breaks in service!). My theatres were in Colorado Springs, Greeley and Rapid City, South Dakota. All theatres are closed now, but I managed the Cooper 1-2-3, Ute 70, Mall of the Bluffs Twin, Rustic Hills North Twin and Rustic Hills Cinema in Colorado Springs; Wilshire Twin in Greeley; and I was City Manager in Rapid City based out of the Rushmore Cinema. My City Manager in Colorado Springs was Carl Rolfes. After Carl was promoted to District Manager, Mike Rosencutter replaced him as City Manager. After Commonwealth Theatres purchased Cooper-Highland, I remember the occasional visits and inspections from Dale Stewart, Phil Blakey and Bruce Young. I always enjoyed talking to Bruce Young, but Dale and Phil weren’t very friendly – ha!! They knew the theatre business though. Mike Rosencutter passed away in 1983. Carl Rolfes is retired and living in Colorado. Does anyone remember Chuck Kroll? He lives in the Denver area. I remember ordering “Point of Purchase” materials from Jack Poessiger! I don’t remember the name of our booker out of Denver — I know I have his name somewhere in my box of theatre memorabilia. Thanks for letting me reminisce!! Tim Hyland
Hi Nick, Was the city manager you mentioned … Mike Smaha?
Hi Andrew,
I have some info on the Odeon:
The Odeon was the first of four theatres located just south of the post office. The Odeon address was 17 South Nevada Ave. Later theatres on this site would be the Strand, the Tompkins and the Cooper 1-2-3.
The article announcing the new Odeon theatre was in the Gazette on September 15, 1911, page 1.
The Odeon opened on Monday, December 11, 1911, at 2:00 pm. First attraction was “The Two Orphans.” Seating capacity was 720.
The Strand opened on November 7, 1923. The ad announcing this was in the Gazette on that same date, page 9. I don’t have an article that states the last day the Odeon was open, but it might have operated into October or November 1923. The Strand would be torn down in 1929 or 1930 (don’t know exact date) to make way for the Tompkins.
The Tompkins opened on Tuesday, June 10, 1930 and closed in early 1963. It was replaced by the new Cooper, which opened in November 1963.
Hope this helps!
“The Liberty” theatre opened on Tuesday, February 12, 1918. It was actually not a new theatre — it was the old “Pike” theatre but with a new name.
On page 10 of the February 123, 1918 Colorado Springs Gazette was an ad for the new Liberty theatre:
“J.E. Tompkins, Mgr. Forget The Pike REMEMBER ‘The Liberty’
We appreciate your liberal support in the past. We solicit your continued patronage. Our efforts shall always be the best in motion pictures, the best in music, the most courteous treatment.
Today’s special attraction, Wm. A. Brady presents
Kitty Gordon
in
‘The Divine Sacrifice’ "
This is the same Tompkins (J. “Tommy” Tompkins) who would later build and operate the Tompkins Theatre in Colorado Springs.
The Liberty theatre’s final performances took place on September 15, 1940. The pictures showing that day were “Cowboy From Brooklyn” and “The Gladiator”.
I was hired in December 1974 (by “kornpopper76”!!) as an usher at the Cooper 1-2-3. Over the next ten years, I managed several Colorado Springs theatres, including the Cooper from January 1983 to July 1984. I have numerous photos of the Cooper that I’ll upload soon. I do have some additional info about the theatre:
Grand opening of the Cooper, scheduled on Friday, November 22, 1963, was to be a benefit for the March of Dimes. “Take Her, She’s Mine” was to be shown that evening with its star, James Stewart, in attendance. As mentioned previously, the benefit was cancelled due to President Kennedy’s assassination.
Grand opening of the new Cooper 1-2-3 was Christmas Day, 1970. Cooper 1 played “Tora! Tora! Tora!”, Cooper 2 played “Catch-22” and Cooper 3 played “I Love My…Wife”.
Cooper Foundation leased its theatres, including the Cooper and Ute in Colorado Springs, to Highland Theatres in January 1975. The company operating the theatres became known as Cooper-Highland.
Cooper Foundation sold its theatres, including the Cooper and Ute in Colorado Springs, to Commonwealth Amusement Corp. in October 1979.
The Cooper’s final day of operation was December 17, 1987.
The Cooper building was used briefly as a church. In October 1997, developers announced that the Cooper building would be remodeled and renamed “One City Centre”. It would house offices, retailers and a small restaurant.
“One City Centre” was short-lived. On the site today is a 2-story office building.
This thread brings back a lot of “Commonwealth” memories! I worked for the Cooper, Cooper-Highland, Commonwealth and United Artists chains from 1974 – 1993 (with a few breaks in service!). My theatres were in Colorado Springs, Greeley and Rapid City, South Dakota. All theatres are closed now, but I managed the Cooper 1-2-3, Ute 70, Mall of the Bluffs Twin, Rustic Hills North Twin and Rustic Hills Cinema in Colorado Springs; Wilshire Twin in Greeley; and I was City Manager in Rapid City based out of the Rushmore Cinema. My City Manager in Colorado Springs was Carl Rolfes. After Carl was promoted to District Manager, Mike Rosencutter replaced him as City Manager. After Commonwealth Theatres purchased Cooper-Highland, I remember the occasional visits and inspections from Dale Stewart, Phil Blakey and Bruce Young. I always enjoyed talking to Bruce Young, but Dale and Phil weren’t very friendly – ha!! They knew the theatre business though. Mike Rosencutter passed away in 1983. Carl Rolfes is retired and living in Colorado. Does anyone remember Chuck Kroll? He lives in the Denver area. I remember ordering “Point of Purchase” materials from Jack Poessiger! I don’t remember the name of our booker out of Denver — I know I have his name somewhere in my box of theatre memorabilia. Thanks for letting me reminisce!! Tim Hyland