Valley Drive-In
6360 E. Evans Avenue,
Denver,
CO
80222
6360 E. Evans Avenue,
Denver,
CO
80222
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I’ve put together a booking history for the Valley Drive-in, from 1953 up to 1978 so far, in case anyone might like to know when a particular movie played there. I’ll be happy to share my research with you. Take care – Ken Mitchell ()
Although it wasn’t its Grand Opening, the Valley first advertised on June 6, 1953, showing “Titanic” with Barbara Stanwyck and “Watusi”.
Also opened with “The Dalton women”.
Although the Valley was advertising and showing movies weeks earlier, it held its formal Grand Opening on Thursday, June 25, 1953. The program that night was “The Snows of Kilimanjaro” plus free candy for the children, flowers for the ladies, and cigarettes for the men.
Boxoffice, July 18, 1977: “Wolfberg Theatres have closed the Valley Drive-In at East Evans and Monaco streets. The ozoner will be completely dismantled and the facility will be converted to commercial property.”
Boxoffice, Aug. 1, 1977: “Increasing taxes and land values, along with several other economic considerations, instigated the shuttering of the Valley Drive-In, which was one of the area’s oldest outdoor theatres. After the property is cleared, the site will be developed into a shopping center. The drive-in, which opened in the ‘40s (sic?), was operated by the Wolfberg circuit.”
Boxoffice, Dec. 20, 1976: “DENVER – The Valley Triplex, a contemporary-styled Wolfberg Theatre will be open Christmas Day (25) with "King Kong” showing on two of the screens. The trip, built on grounds adjacent to the circuit’s Valley Drive-In, will have plenty of parking space."
Motion Picture Herald, July 4, 1953: “The Wolfberg Theatres officially opened their new 1,000-car Valley drive-in southeast of Denver, and will operate it first run and date with the North drive-in and the downtown Paramount.”
I am putting together a series of books on the history of the Denver area’s drive-ins and indoor theatres – and one of the few photos I am missing is a marquee shot of the Valley drive-in. Would you perhaps be able to send me a copy ? I have hundreds of other photos I can trade. Thanks ! Ken Mitchell.
The Valley drive-in opened 6/6/53. If anyone has questions about drive-ins and indoor cinemas in the Denver area, please feel free to contact me at and I’ll be happy to share my research with you. Thanks !
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.
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.
The indoor theater in question was a small 3-screen business. It eventually closed down and was replaced by the Rainbow Music Hall (now closed down. The theater is mentioned in the first paragraph of this historical piece from a local paper … http://www.westword.com/music/the-rainbow-music-hall-first-opened-34-years-ago-this-week-with-shows-from-jerry-jeff-walker-5698169
Oh, and not to nitpick but while this was indeed a part of Wolfberg Theatres (since they owned Compass), Compass Drive-In Theares was Wolfberg’s drive-in circuit so I feel it would be pertinent to add that along with Wolf berg to the previous operators and the description. I realize that most of us know things like this but there are many, many people who don’t know the business who use this site for a countless number of research activities.
I have noticed that this 6360 E. Evans Avenue address is shared by Valley 3 Theatres (Wolfberg’s next door indoor house) not only on CT but on Cinematour and a handful of other internet sources. I find this shared address to be quite odd, especially since as far as I know, both these theatres operated at the same time for many years, meaning this wasn’t a case of a hardtop replacing a drive-in on the same site, as was/is fairly common. Can someone please shed some light on this?
It was gone by 1980.