Orpheum Theater
1521 Welton Street,
Denver,
CO
80202
1521 Welton Street,
Denver,
CO
80202
2 people
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Orpheum Circuit, RKO
Architects: John J. McNamara
Styles: Art Deco
Previous Names: RKO Orpheum Theater, RKO International 70 Theatre
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News About This Theater
- Jul 13, 2009 — Remembering Cinerama (Part 35: Denver)
The original Orpheum Theatre was opened by the Orpheum circuit on October 2, 1903 as a vaudeville theatre. It was demolished in 1930 to build for RKO this new Orpheum Theatre, which opened February 11, 1932 with Bert Wheeler & Rober Woolsey in “Peach O'Reno” on the screen an RKO vaudeville on the stage. It was equipped with a Wurlitzer 2 manual 7 ranks organ. It was modernised several times. It was closed in 1953. It reopened on August 31, 1955 after a modernisation by architect John J. McNamara, the seating capacity was for 2,600.
Remodeled again, the seating capacity was reduced to 1,200 when it reopened on December 27, 1963 as the RKO International 70 Theatre with Tom Tryon in “The Cardinal”. It was closed September 10, 1967, and subsequently was demolished for a parking lot.
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Recent comments (view all 22 comments)
While known as the International 70, this theater showed (single-strip) CINERAMA during 1965-66.
Denver’s complete CINERAMA exhibition history has been included in the “Remembering Cinerama” series and is posted here.
Here is a Boxoffice magazine spread on the theatre, with eight photos, from the issue of February 4, 1956:
View link
1964 photos show what the real theatre business was all about.sadly.that is gone today.
The original Orpheum, that was on this very same site (1537 Welton Street in those days) opened in October of 1903 at the cost of $200,000. It was completely demolished in 1930 and was subsequently replaced with the last Orpheum to occupy the site which opened on February 11th, 1932.
Obviously, this existing description needs to be changed and a few of the photos are of the original Orpheum while a few are from the new.
How should this be handled-a case where a theater was closed, demolished and completely rebuilt as a theater with the same name. Should a new listing for the old Orpheum be created? What do you all think???
Anthony L. Vazquez-Hernandez: I have added a page for the original 1903 Orpheum Theatre.
The theatre reopened as the International 70 on Christmas Day, 1963. I’m currently putting together a series of books on the Denver area drive-ins and indoor theatres, including some booking histories. If anyone has any questions on the subject I’ll be happy to share my research with you. See you at the movies ! – Ken Mitchell
you can reach me at . – Ken Mitchell
1903 and 1932 grand opening ads posted.
Closed in 1953 and reopened on August 31st, 1955. Grand opening ad posted.
Reopened as the RKO International 70 on December 27th, 1963. Grand opening ad posted.