Chief Theatre

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

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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.

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.

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.

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.

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

1961 photo added courtesy of The Denver Eye Facebook page.

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.”

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.

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

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

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

I believe that it stopped showing movies in 1972.

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on July 12, 2009 at 3:57 pm

This was in Boxoffice magazine, December 1951:

COLORADO SPRINGS-Sid Cox, assistant manager of the Chief for the past year, has been named manager of the 8th Street Drive-In, succeeding Ed Kelly, who has been transferred to Pueblo by Westland Theaters Co. Cos started his career as an usher at the Chief.

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on June 17, 2009 at 1:09 am

Here is a March 1972 ad from the Colorado Springs Gazette:
http://tinyurl.com/mfykyf

Wurlitzer1773
Wurlitzer1773 on October 20, 2008 at 8:01 pm

The Wurlitzer theatre organ was lovely moved to the City Auditorium (Just down the street) where it is used often and with much success.

Irene225
Irene225 on June 10, 2008 at 8:41 pm

I remember going to the Chief in the late 40’s and seeing “Rosanna McCoy”. I was about 9 or 10 years old. My dad was in the Army reserves at Camp Carson and we were in Colorado for two weeks (from California). I guess it’s now Fort Carson.

Ken Roe
Ken Roe on January 12, 2007 at 4:48 pm

Listed in Film Daily Yearbooks from at least 1941 thru 1950 and beyond.