What a quaint and beautiful theater! I visited in February of 2009 and saw “Frost/Nixon” in 35mm. The seats are stadium seating with the back row being round booths with tables that are make out of 6k 35mm reels. The theater is very comfortable to watch a movie in. it features a very beautiful pressed ceiling. The theater is very tastefully built and gives one the impression that they are in an historic(or at least vintage) movie house. There is also an old-style and impressive marquee on the front of the building. There is a beautiful antique candy case in the concession stand where they also sell the tickets. I did not visit the booth but I know for 35mm, they employ a Century projector and a platter system. I spoke with a lady name Lindy (not sure if that is the proper spelling of her name) before and after the show. She is the co-owner and a very sweet, hospitable person.
A very beautiful and fun arthouse to visit! PS, they also show classics on Sunday evenings and other occasions!
Myself and my family have volunteered at the Rialto for many years. I basically grew up around this theater! I still volunteer downstairs during live events and digital movies and am a projectionist for them during films.
It has been beautifully restored and so has the beautiful terra cotta interior. It just had new, historic looking seats installed throughout last year as well has having the wood flooring refinished. The theater continues to grow in popularity and improve vastly each year. It features everything from concerts, plays, conventions/meetings and arthouse and classic films. Sadly, many of the films these days are shown via a Christie DLP projector (DVD or VHS) downstairs at the soundrack but it does still run film and has a very nice booth. The booth contains two Kodak Ektagraphic 16mm projectors with changeover box and 2 Simplex E-7 projectors that date from 1938. The projectors were originally installed in the Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs, Colorado and were donated to the Rialto in 1998. They were converted to Xenon lamps and reverse-scan LED readers in 2003 but are still quite original and still have the 2 thousand foot reel magazines that were necessary during the flammable nitrate film days.
A very classy historic theater in trendy downtown Loveland
I would also like to note that this is a very original drive-in. It still runs 2 thousand foot changeover, on two RCA projectors with a carbon arc light source.
The Comanche Drive-In in Buena Vista, Colorado is not closed but its future is up in the air (no pun intended). The theater was open intermittently throughout the ‘07 season due to sound equipment issues. On May 8th of 2008, the owner’s wife very suddenly and unexpectedly passed away right before the drive-in was to reopen, so needless to say, the drive-in never opened that year. John Groy,the owner (who also built the theater) is about 80 years old and his wife was some 15 years his junior so I personally suspect that she had quite a bit to do with the theater’s upkeep and management. It is still unknown if it will reopen this year. It may be a good idea to give Mr. Groy a call and encourage him to open up for '09.
The Boulder Theater is a wonderful venue. I am a projectionist there and have been involved with the theater for 3 years. The theater still has most of its historic features intact including two very large and beautiful murals, one on each wall. It also plays host to a very fun and creative staff. There are no traditional theater seats in the main auditorium. Instead, there is a large bar as well as versatile seating that sometimes includes tables. The balcony still has its vintage theater seats. The theater plays host to many events including concerts, plays, film festivals, and a weekly film series. The theater just got a brand new sound system for its films in January of 2009. The booth has two Ballantyne Pro-35 projectors equipped for 6 thousand foot reel changeover. Occasionally, a film will be shown digitally via a DLP projector downstairs on the soundrack.
The head Union projectionist, John Templeton is an expert technician who has been involved in every end of the entertainment business including tech work for concerts, plays, political events, camera crews, athletic events and has projected at many theaters and drive-ins in the area. He has around 35 years experience and has been projecting at the Boulder Theater for 30 years.
Iv'e enjoyed visiting the Esquire on a number of occasions for their “Midnight Madness” film series. This program features classic and cult films on the big screen, on Friday and Saturday nights at midnight. This theater is very clean and well run with a friendly staff, many of whom have worked there for years. The theater is now a four plex with two screens upstairs and two downstairs. Still the auditoriums are very attractive with comfortable, yet vintage seats and a curtain that opens just as each feature starts and closes after it is over. The audience also loves this theater and there are great audience reactions to each film. I have visited with Matt Morris, a younger guy who programs the Midnight Madness series and assists with the management of the theater. He has a true passion for film, the movie theater business, quality projection and The Esquire Theater. At least one of the auditoriums is also capable of 70mm projection. A wonderful theater in a wonderful neighborhood to support!
The Mayan is a very beautiful treasure to have in Denver. I have visited recently on two occasions…one in December of ‘08 to see “Milk” in the large auditorium on the main floor and once in January '09 to see “Doubt” which was playing in one of the two upstairs theaters (what was once the balcony). Although I am not a fan of splitting up single screen theaters, this triplexing was done in a very tasteful manner. Both lobbies, upstairs and down, are very beautiful and inviting. The upstairs lobby features a bar and on the west wall, an article and photographs regarding the restoration. The huge main theater is simply stunning complete with a screen curtain, beautiful murals on the walls and sculptures around the proscenium arch. The wall sconces are made to resemble Indian masks. This auditorium is equipped with both platter and changeover projection. Although “Milk” was a stunning movie, I found it hard to keep my eyes from wandering from the screen to the grand auditorium during my visit. The upper theaters are also very nice and pretty original. The seating configuration is the same as it was when it was the balcony and it is easy to imagine that you are actually sitting in a balcony viewing the screen down below when watching a film up there.
Another highlight is the fact that you still buy your tickets from a box office on the street…a very rare feature indeed.
Landmark Theaters gets and A+ from me for this theater that was restored in a historically sensitive fashion and is extremely clean,comfortable and well run!
I visited the Fox back in January to see “Bride Wars” when visiting a friend who lives in the area. The theater is very clean, well kept and well managed. It had been closed for many years but was purchased by a Joel Johnson and family about a year and a half ago and renovated. It is still a twin and has a very large lobby. The theaters are made up by splitting the main floor auditorium in two. They feature new seats, carpeting and restored wood floors and other nice features. Not many original details remain in the auditoriums but the lobby is quite original and has a display of artifacts from the theater and historic photos. I visited with Mr. Johnson for quite a while after the show and he is a very kind man with a passion for the theater. He even took me upstairs and allowed me to see the original balcony. This area is quite a time capsule and murals adorn the walls depicting native American/cowboy and western scenes. There are also many vintage seats, the old (but empty) projection booth and a beautiful proscenium arch and antique asbestos fire curtain. When the theater was twinned in the 1970’s, the ceiling in the bottom auditoriums was lowered and this area was sealed off. Mr. Johnson stated that he hopes one day to restore this area in a historically correct manner and open it as a 3rd screen.
This is an amazing theater. Go and see a movie and support the owner’s hard labor and efforts if you are ever in the area!
I’m sorry to report that as of February 24th, 2007 the Cinderella Twin Drive-In has been completely demolished with the sole exception of the marquee. This may be gone by now too as it looked as though that was next on the developer’s hit list due to the positioning of the construction equipment. A source that I do not know very well stated that as of February 16th, 2007 the two screens were still standing although the concession/projection building and ticket booth were gone so I am assuming the demolition occurred between these dates. And the projection/concession building were still standing but half demolished in early February…I saw them myself.
I cannot believe that in a neighborhood full of blighted sites and buildings that would actually be benefited by redevelopment that they decided to go after a classic drive-in that made good money for its owners, was well kept and was enjoyed by many Coloradoans.
Will keep you posed when the marquee finally comes down.
No, not the oldest if it was built in 1912. The theater I help run, The Historic Park Theatre in Estes Park was built in 1913 for the sole purpose of showing films. Also, we are still a single screen. I also got a print from this Minor Theatre at one of my other theaters that was filthy and almost completly distroyed at the ripe old age of less than a year (sprockets on the sound track side completely chewed uo). I’m not saying it was them but…..
I took around 2 rolls of film I took of the interior of The Unique in April ‘06. Included are the auditorium, lobby, concession stand, projection booth, back stage and balcony. Email me at if I can provide copies of any of these for you. Thank you so much for your efforts to preserve this wonderful theater!
I took around 2 rolls of film I took of the interior of The Unique in April ‘06. Included are the auditorium, lobby, concession stand, projection booth, back stage and balcony. Email me at if I can provide copies of any of these for you. Thank you so much for your efforts to preserve this wonderful theater!
I am going to visit and photograph The Fox Theater, Trinidad CO Movie Picture SHow House, Trinidad CO and The El Raton Theater, Raton NM. I will also visit and photograph The 85 Drive In, Raton NM and The Peak Drive In Trinidad, CO tomorrow thru Sunday. I see you have quite an interest in these colorado theaters, Longislandmovies. You should feel free to contact me directly to request photos or ask specific questions; I’d love to share the fruit of my journeys.
The Bijou Theater in Beach,ND is now closed. It closed in early June with the final picture being “Cars”. The owner is an elderly widdow who is becoming ill and could no longer take care of it or find a buyer/manager while it was still open. Her father constructed it in the 40s and her and her husband started running it in the mid 50s. It is for sale. I will post the full article as soon as I find it.
Ummm…I do have a few pictures of the inside and out. I really don’t want to post these on a web site as Mr. Groy and his wife were so kind as to allow me to photograph and tour their business but if you are a true theater enthusiast and would like to view them, I could prob. arrange to scan a couple to you.
Hey longislandmovies! Yes, I sure did get in to the Unique and I get chills just remembering it. In fact, I was there on two occasions over the summer and saw two movies, Aquamarine and The Omen. It is truly like stepping into the past in this caverous, art deco theater that was built as an opera house in 1890 and converted to movies in the 1920s. They use 6000' change over on Simplex XL projectors. The balcony is closed. The owners (Mr. and Mrs. John Groy) are very kind hospitable people. The balcony is closed due to insurance resaons.
Sadly, The Unique was forced to close earlier this month by the city due to fire and structural hazards. Here is an article that talks about that:
I also got a few nice photos of this theater…I should add it as it is not on Cinematreasures yet. Just ask if you have any questions about any of these two theaters.
A very Unique theater that was installed in a historic retail building in about 1990. Te theater sits right next door west of The Unique Theater. This theater has two very small auditoriums… the north one with slanted floors and the south one with stadium seating. The manager does all the repairs and renovations himself and hopes to install stadium in the north auditorium this winter. Had the honor of attending “Cars” this summer in the south auditorium and getting a tour by the manager.
The projection port holes are so low that when one stands (I am 6'), you can see your shadow on the screen. They have one Century projector in each theater (the south was a Century, the north might have been a Simplex though, don’t remember for sure) that feed off one set of platters.
The theater was recently sold to a local businesslady after being closed a short while and is alive and well. I will post the owner’s name when I find/remember it.
A wonderful, nostalgic single screen drive in. My all time favorite drive in! As of summer ‘06, the theater still employs carbon arc lamps and 2000’ change over system. Owned and opeated by The Groy Family who constructed it in 1966.
Link to and interesting news article about the theater:
The information by Lost Memmory should be clarified: There are two John Groys in the Groy Family…John Sr. and John Jr.
John Senior is the actual current owner and he is the one who constructed it. It was named for John Sr.’s first wife, Pearl Hazard-Groy (now deceased), John Jr.’s mother. John Jr. manages the Comanche Drive In in Buena Vista. This theater was constructed in the remains of a defunct harware warehouse. It is a wonderful theater and anyone in the area should visit when it is open.
The Groy Family also owns The Unique Theater in Salida, Colorado and The Comanche Drive In which all still operate. They also owned and operated at one time: The Ute Theater, Saguache,CO, The Pines Theater, Buena Vista,Co, and the Groy Drive In, Salida,CO all of which are now closed.
What a quaint and beautiful theater! I visited in February of 2009 and saw “Frost/Nixon” in 35mm. The seats are stadium seating with the back row being round booths with tables that are make out of 6k 35mm reels. The theater is very comfortable to watch a movie in. it features a very beautiful pressed ceiling. The theater is very tastefully built and gives one the impression that they are in an historic(or at least vintage) movie house. There is also an old-style and impressive marquee on the front of the building. There is a beautiful antique candy case in the concession stand where they also sell the tickets. I did not visit the booth but I know for 35mm, they employ a Century projector and a platter system. I spoke with a lady name Lindy (not sure if that is the proper spelling of her name) before and after the show. She is the co-owner and a very sweet, hospitable person.
A very beautiful and fun arthouse to visit! PS, they also show classics on Sunday evenings and other occasions!
Myself and my family have volunteered at the Rialto for many years. I basically grew up around this theater! I still volunteer downstairs during live events and digital movies and am a projectionist for them during films.
It has been beautifully restored and so has the beautiful terra cotta interior. It just had new, historic looking seats installed throughout last year as well has having the wood flooring refinished. The theater continues to grow in popularity and improve vastly each year. It features everything from concerts, plays, conventions/meetings and arthouse and classic films. Sadly, many of the films these days are shown via a Christie DLP projector (DVD or VHS) downstairs at the soundrack but it does still run film and has a very nice booth. The booth contains two Kodak Ektagraphic 16mm projectors with changeover box and 2 Simplex E-7 projectors that date from 1938. The projectors were originally installed in the Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs, Colorado and were donated to the Rialto in 1998. They were converted to Xenon lamps and reverse-scan LED readers in 2003 but are still quite original and still have the 2 thousand foot reel magazines that were necessary during the flammable nitrate film days.
A very classy historic theater in trendy downtown Loveland
I would also like to note that this is a very original drive-in. It still runs 2 thousand foot changeover, on two RCA projectors with a carbon arc light source.
The Comanche Drive-In in Buena Vista, Colorado is not closed but its future is up in the air (no pun intended). The theater was open intermittently throughout the ‘07 season due to sound equipment issues. On May 8th of 2008, the owner’s wife very suddenly and unexpectedly passed away right before the drive-in was to reopen, so needless to say, the drive-in never opened that year. John Groy,the owner (who also built the theater) is about 80 years old and his wife was some 15 years his junior so I personally suspect that she had quite a bit to do with the theater’s upkeep and management. It is still unknown if it will reopen this year. It may be a good idea to give Mr. Groy a call and encourage him to open up for '09.
The Boulder Theater is a wonderful venue. I am a projectionist there and have been involved with the theater for 3 years. The theater still has most of its historic features intact including two very large and beautiful murals, one on each wall. It also plays host to a very fun and creative staff. There are no traditional theater seats in the main auditorium. Instead, there is a large bar as well as versatile seating that sometimes includes tables. The balcony still has its vintage theater seats. The theater plays host to many events including concerts, plays, film festivals, and a weekly film series. The theater just got a brand new sound system for its films in January of 2009. The booth has two Ballantyne Pro-35 projectors equipped for 6 thousand foot reel changeover. Occasionally, a film will be shown digitally via a DLP projector downstairs on the soundrack.
The head Union projectionist, John Templeton is an expert technician who has been involved in every end of the entertainment business including tech work for concerts, plays, political events, camera crews, athletic events and has projected at many theaters and drive-ins in the area. He has around 35 years experience and has been projecting at the Boulder Theater for 30 years.
Iv'e enjoyed visiting the Esquire on a number of occasions for their “Midnight Madness” film series. This program features classic and cult films on the big screen, on Friday and Saturday nights at midnight. This theater is very clean and well run with a friendly staff, many of whom have worked there for years. The theater is now a four plex with two screens upstairs and two downstairs. Still the auditoriums are very attractive with comfortable, yet vintage seats and a curtain that opens just as each feature starts and closes after it is over. The audience also loves this theater and there are great audience reactions to each film. I have visited with Matt Morris, a younger guy who programs the Midnight Madness series and assists with the management of the theater. He has a true passion for film, the movie theater business, quality projection and The Esquire Theater. At least one of the auditoriums is also capable of 70mm projection. A wonderful theater in a wonderful neighborhood to support!
The Mayan is a very beautiful treasure to have in Denver. I have visited recently on two occasions…one in December of ‘08 to see “Milk” in the large auditorium on the main floor and once in January '09 to see “Doubt” which was playing in one of the two upstairs theaters (what was once the balcony). Although I am not a fan of splitting up single screen theaters, this triplexing was done in a very tasteful manner. Both lobbies, upstairs and down, are very beautiful and inviting. The upstairs lobby features a bar and on the west wall, an article and photographs regarding the restoration. The huge main theater is simply stunning complete with a screen curtain, beautiful murals on the walls and sculptures around the proscenium arch. The wall sconces are made to resemble Indian masks. This auditorium is equipped with both platter and changeover projection. Although “Milk” was a stunning movie, I found it hard to keep my eyes from wandering from the screen to the grand auditorium during my visit. The upper theaters are also very nice and pretty original. The seating configuration is the same as it was when it was the balcony and it is easy to imagine that you are actually sitting in a balcony viewing the screen down below when watching a film up there.
Another highlight is the fact that you still buy your tickets from a box office on the street…a very rare feature indeed.
Landmark Theaters gets and A+ from me for this theater that was restored in a historically sensitive fashion and is extremely clean,comfortable and well run!
I visited the Fox back in January to see “Bride Wars” when visiting a friend who lives in the area. The theater is very clean, well kept and well managed. It had been closed for many years but was purchased by a Joel Johnson and family about a year and a half ago and renovated. It is still a twin and has a very large lobby. The theaters are made up by splitting the main floor auditorium in two. They feature new seats, carpeting and restored wood floors and other nice features. Not many original details remain in the auditoriums but the lobby is quite original and has a display of artifacts from the theater and historic photos. I visited with Mr. Johnson for quite a while after the show and he is a very kind man with a passion for the theater. He even took me upstairs and allowed me to see the original balcony. This area is quite a time capsule and murals adorn the walls depicting native American/cowboy and western scenes. There are also many vintage seats, the old (but empty) projection booth and a beautiful proscenium arch and antique asbestos fire curtain. When the theater was twinned in the 1970’s, the ceiling in the bottom auditoriums was lowered and this area was sealed off. Mr. Johnson stated that he hopes one day to restore this area in a historically correct manner and open it as a 3rd screen.
This is an amazing theater. Go and see a movie and support the owner’s hard labor and efforts if you are ever in the area!
I’m sorry to report that as of February 24th, 2007 the Cinderella Twin Drive-In has been completely demolished with the sole exception of the marquee. This may be gone by now too as it looked as though that was next on the developer’s hit list due to the positioning of the construction equipment. A source that I do not know very well stated that as of February 16th, 2007 the two screens were still standing although the concession/projection building and ticket booth were gone so I am assuming the demolition occurred between these dates. And the projection/concession building were still standing but half demolished in early February…I saw them myself.
I cannot believe that in a neighborhood full of blighted sites and buildings that would actually be benefited by redevelopment that they decided to go after a classic drive-in that made good money for its owners, was well kept and was enjoyed by many Coloradoans.
Will keep you posed when the marquee finally comes down.
***Sorry, I meant 1914 in my first sentence of the above comment
No, not the oldest if it was built in 1912. The theater I help run, The Historic Park Theatre in Estes Park was built in 1913 for the sole purpose of showing films. Also, we are still a single screen. I also got a print from this Minor Theatre at one of my other theaters that was filthy and almost completly distroyed at the ripe old age of less than a year (sprockets on the sound track side completely chewed uo). I’m not saying it was them but…..
This Theater has no balcony. The consession stant sitll has the 1930s Manley popcorn machine.
Theater has a balcony that sits in the front and to the sides of the projection booth.
Hello,
I took around 2 rolls of film I took of the interior of The Unique in April ‘06. Included are the auditorium, lobby, concession stand, projection booth, back stage and balcony. Email me at if I can provide copies of any of these for you. Thank you so much for your efforts to preserve this wonderful theater!
Tony “Pearl” Hernandez
Hello,
I took around 2 rolls of film I took of the interior of The Unique in April ‘06. Included are the auditorium, lobby, concession stand, projection booth, back stage and balcony. Email me at if I can provide copies of any of these for you. Thank you so much for your efforts to preserve this wonderful theater!
Tony “Pearl” Hernandez
View link
Another two Articles on the Unique.
View link
No, I don’t believe it has reopened. Here is an older artical but it is the most recent I have found:
View link
I am going to visit and photograph The Fox Theater, Trinidad CO Movie Picture SHow House, Trinidad CO and The El Raton Theater, Raton NM. I will also visit and photograph The 85 Drive In, Raton NM and The Peak Drive In Trinidad, CO tomorrow thru Sunday. I see you have quite an interest in these colorado theaters, Longislandmovies. You should feel free to contact me directly to request photos or ask specific questions; I’d love to share the fruit of my journeys.
The Bijou Theater in Beach,ND is now closed. It closed in early June with the final picture being “Cars”. The owner is an elderly widdow who is becoming ill and could no longer take care of it or find a buyer/manager while it was still open. Her father constructed it in the 40s and her and her husband started running it in the mid 50s. It is for sale. I will post the full article as soon as I find it.
Ummm…I do have a few pictures of the inside and out. I really don’t want to post these on a web site as Mr. Groy and his wife were so kind as to allow me to photograph and tour their business but if you are a true theater enthusiast and would like to view them, I could prob. arrange to scan a couple to you.
Hey longislandmovies! Yes, I sure did get in to the Unique and I get chills just remembering it. In fact, I was there on two occasions over the summer and saw two movies, Aquamarine and The Omen. It is truly like stepping into the past in this caverous, art deco theater that was built as an opera house in 1890 and converted to movies in the 1920s. They use 6000' change over on Simplex XL projectors. The balcony is closed. The owners (Mr. and Mrs. John Groy) are very kind hospitable people. The balcony is closed due to insurance resaons.
Sadly, The Unique was forced to close earlier this month by the city due to fire and structural hazards. Here is an article that talks about that:
View link
I also got a few nice photos of this theater…I should add it as it is not on Cinematreasures yet. Just ask if you have any questions about any of these two theaters.
I visted the drive in in July of ‘06 and saw “Over The Hedge”. The presentation was god. This drive in features first run films.
It shows first run features…
A very Unique theater that was installed in a historic retail building in about 1990. Te theater sits right next door west of The Unique Theater. This theater has two very small auditoriums… the north one with slanted floors and the south one with stadium seating. The manager does all the repairs and renovations himself and hopes to install stadium in the north auditorium this winter. Had the honor of attending “Cars” this summer in the south auditorium and getting a tour by the manager.
The projection port holes are so low that when one stands (I am 6'), you can see your shadow on the screen. They have one Century projector in each theater (the south was a Century, the north might have been a Simplex though, don’t remember for sure) that feed off one set of platters.
The theater was recently sold to a local businesslady after being closed a short while and is alive and well. I will post the owner’s name when I find/remember it.
A wonderful, nostalgic single screen drive in. My all time favorite drive in! As of summer ‘06, the theater still employs carbon arc lamps and 2000’ change over system. Owned and opeated by The Groy Family who constructed it in 1966.
Link to and interesting news article about the theater:
View link
The information by Lost Memmory should be clarified: There are two John Groys in the Groy Family…John Sr. and John Jr.
John Senior is the actual current owner and he is the one who constructed it. It was named for John Sr.’s first wife, Pearl Hazard-Groy (now deceased), John Jr.’s mother. John Jr. manages the Comanche Drive In in Buena Vista. This theater was constructed in the remains of a defunct harware warehouse. It is a wonderful theater and anyone in the area should visit when it is open.
The Groy Family also owns The Unique Theater in Salida, Colorado and The Comanche Drive In which all still operate. They also owned and operated at one time: The Ute Theater, Saguache,CO, The Pines Theater, Buena Vista,Co, and the Groy Drive In, Salida,CO all of which are now closed.