East 70 Drive-In

I have a matchbook from East Drive In Theatre 12600 East Colfax is the address on the book “Across from Fitzsimmons Hospital” Phone Aurora 880. I also have a scrapbook from Denver from a person who managed the Broadway Theatre in the early 50’s.Lots of b&w photos including photos of the construction of a Drive In. It is labeled Valley Screen. Also in the book is photos taken of Jimmy Stewart filming “The Glen Miller Story” At Holland Hall? Also are photos of the Audience Awards Parade Oct.7 1955.I will be selling this on e-bay in a couple of weeks.Interested let me know.

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.

Compass Drive Ins?

My name is Jerry Dealey, and I was a Manager / Assistant Manager for many of the Compass Drive-ins in the mid to late 1970’s. You are so knowlegeable about the chain, that I feel I should know you. At your convenience, swing by my web site Dealey.org, where you should be able to get my eMail and drop me a line.

Kurt,

Yes I remember you. Go to my website Dealey.org.

Looks like this thread is pretty much dead, but I had to add some comments.

I worked for the North Star (capacity was 1900 by the way) as both a Manager and Assistant Manager in th mid to late 1970’s. I also closed the Arapaho (1976), and Havana Drive-Ins (1981) (parts of the Wolfberg/Compass chains, later Commonwealth). At various times I managed the West, Valley and other drive-ins, as well as worked at the North, NorWest, East, and Wadsworth. Still know one of the owners of the Cinderella Twin, which is one of the remaining drive-ins in Denver today.

Jerry Dealey

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!!! :)