Chief Theatre
21 E. Pike's Peak Avenue,
Colorado Springs,
CO
80903
21 E. Pike's Peak Avenue,
Colorado Springs,
CO
80903
4 people
favorited this theater
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
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
Want to be emailed when a new comment is posted about this theater?
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater.
Recent comments (view all 16 comments)
I believe that it stopped showing movies in 1972.
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
Seated 1,363 according to the Film Daily Yearbook of 1942
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.
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.”
1961 photo added courtesy of The Denver Eye Facebook page.
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.
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.
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.
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.