Chief Theatre

21 E. Pike's Peak Avenue,
Colorado Springs, CO 80903

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Publix, Westland Theaters Inc.

Architects: Walter Farquhar Douglas, Thompson Duncan Hetherington

Firms: Douglas & Hetherington

Previous Names: Burns Theatre, Paramount Theatre

Nearby Theaters

Fulls size version of the 1958 photo via David Kroger.

The Burns Theatre was opened in December 1911. By 1931 it had been renamed Paramount Theatre and was operated by Publix Theatres. By 1934 it had been renamed Chief Theatre. The Chief Theatre was closed on November 1, 1972 with Slim Pickens in “Outdoor Rambling”. It was demolished the first week of June 1973.

Contributed by Lost Memory

Recent comments (view all 16 comments)

rivest266
rivest266 on August 17, 2011 at 12:10 pm

I believe that it stopped showing movies in 1972.

SamBrown
SamBrown on February 28, 2012 at 1:25 pm

I went there often in the 60s then in the 70s urban renewal wanted everything modern in the springs so they said the building was unsafe so they tor it down and believe it the put up a parking lot

Anthony L. Vazquez-Hernandez
Anthony L. Vazquez-Hernandez on March 20, 2014 at 3:14 am

Seated 1,363 according to the Film Daily Yearbook of 1942

Nick
Nick on September 9, 2014 at 12:47 pm

Sidney Cox was known as an “opener” for Westland as I remember it. In 1952 he moved to Grand Junction to open Westland’s “Chief” Drive-In at 2868 North Ave. After a short time (maybe a season to two) he left and Forrest Litsey took over as manager of GJ’s Chief.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on November 11, 2014 at 3:42 am

The December 2, 1911, issue of The Billboard said: “The elegant new Burns Theatre at Colorado Springs will soon be finished and it is reported there will be a large delegation of Denver people who will attend the opening performance.”

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on August 22, 2015 at 2:21 pm

1961 photo added courtesy of The Denver Eye Facebook page.

JPowers
JPowers on August 30, 2016 at 12:47 pm

Does anyone have interior pictures of this theater? I saw some of my first Disney films here, and I remember the decor as rather ornate and colorful around the proscenium. I also remember a large marble stairway to the balcony. But I never see photos posted from the inside.

Will Dunklin
Will Dunklin on May 18, 2019 at 8:01 am

Ken – that interior is amazingly distinctive for 1911. To my eye it says the architect was intimately familiar with the designs of Louis Sullivan or early F.L. Wright. I’d give you good odds the architect for the interior was George Elmslie who was working in the mid-west during the early 20th century.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on May 18, 2019 at 3:55 pm

The interior does have some elements reminiscent of Elmslie’s designs, but the facade is way too classical for him. The Burns Building and theater were actually designed by Douglas & Hetherington (Walter Farquhar Douglas and Thompson Duncan Hetherington.) I’m now digging up a bit more information about them.

50sSNIPES
50sSNIPES on July 10, 2022 at 10:10 pm

Closed on November 1, 1972 with Slim Pickens in “Outdoor Rambling” as its last film. It was demolished during the first week of June 1973.

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