7 Historic Theaters In Colorado Still In Use

Colorado’s historic theaters are more than performance spaces – they’re cultural landmarks that preserve the stories of communities across the state. From mountain towns to Denver’s bustling neighborhoods, these venues have survived fires, floods, and decades of change to remain active gathering places. Their restored architecture, unique histories, and ongoing programs connect past and present, proving that the magic of live entertainment continues to thrive in Colorado’s most iconic theaters.

1. Paramount Theatre (Denver)

The Paramount Theatre in downtown Denver is among the city’s most celebrated architectural treasures. Opened in 1930, the building immediately stood out for its intricate Art Deco design, with a façade that continues to captivate passersby on Glenarm Place.

Inside, the theater’s lobby and auditorium preserve lavish details typical of early 20th-century movie palaces, including ornate plasterwork, chandeliers, and decorative ceilings. The Paramount is also home to a Wurlitzer twin-console organ, one of the few remaining in its original installation, which adds to the site’s historical authenticity.

Over time, the Paramount has evolved from a traditional cinema into a versatile venue. Today, it hosts concerts, comedy acts, film screenings, and community events, adapting seamlessly to Denver’s expanding cultural scene. The theater’s balance of historical preservation and modern functionality is a key reason it has survived while other venues of its era were lost.

For Denver residents, the Paramount is more than just a performance space; it is a preserved fragment of the city’s architectural and cultural identity, offering a link between past entertainment traditions and contemporary performing arts.

2. Historic Elitch Garden Theater (Denver)

The Historic Elitch Theatre holds a special distinction as one of Colorado’s earliest cultural landmarks, originally part of Elitch Gardens when it opened in 1891. Unlike many theaters of its era, it began as a multi-purpose entertainment space within the broader setting of Denver’s first combined zoo and botanical garden.

Throughout its early history, the Elitch Theatre hosted stage productions that featured notable performers, and it became a training ground for emerging talent who later rose to national prominence. Though the adjacent amusement park eventually relocated, the theater building itself remained, surviving years of decline before preservationists stepped in.

Restoration efforts, beginning in the late 20th century, ensured that the structure would be stabilized and returned to use for cultural programming. Today, while it no longer hosts a full season of professional theater, it serves as a venue for summer film screenings, educational workshops, and special events.

The restored wooden structure, with its distinctive roofline, provides a tangible reminder of Colorado’s cultural history. The Elitch Theatre stands as proof that preservation can keep alive spaces once thought lost, offering a bridge between Denver’s early entertainment traditions and the city’s contemporary identity.

3. Historic Park Theatre (Estes Park)

The Historic Park Theatre in Estes Park holds a special place in Colorado’s cultural heritage as one of the state’s most iconic entertainment landmarks. Built in 1913, it is often described as the oldest single-screen motion picture theater in the western United States still operating.

Its story is one of resilience, having withstood economic challenges, natural disasters, and the dramatic technological shifts that reshaped the movie industry throughout the 20th and 21st centuries. One of its most recognizable features, the distinctive tower added in the 1920s, continues to define the theater’s profile against the mountain backdrop.

Inside, the Park Theatre retains its original charm, including architectural elements that reflect early cinema’s golden age. Family stewardship has helped maintain the theater’s continuity, while programming has adapted to changing times by mixing classic films with newer releases and occasional community events.

What makes the Park Theatre remarkable is not only its age, but its ability to remain a gathering place in a mountain town known for its gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park. For both locals and visitors, stepping inside feels like entering living history, where the nostalgia of cinema’s earliest days blends seamlessly with the ongoing story of Colorado’s cultural landscape.

4. Mayan Theatre (Denver)

Denver’s Mayan Theatre, located in the Baker neighborhood, is an enduring example of early 20th-century design and cultural resilience. Built in 1930, the theater is an Art Deco and Mayan Revival masterpiece, distinguished by its dramatic façade and elaborate interior inspired by pre-Columbian motifs.

Facing possible demolition in the 1980s, the Mayan was saved through community activism, leading to restoration and its continuation as a hub for film and culture. Today, operated by Landmark Theatres, it focuses on independent, international, and art-house films that might not appear in larger multiplexes.

Visitors are often struck by the unique combination of cinematic programming and interior details, from intricate carvings to balcony seating that provides striking views of both the screen and architectural elements. Beyond its role as a movie venue, the Mayan reflects Denver’s commitment to preserving cultural landmarks that serve both practical and symbolic purposes.

It represents not just a place to see films, but a cultural crossroads where history, art, and community engagement intersect. This preservation effort has allowed new generations to experience cinema in a space that retains both the atmosphere of the 1930s and the vibrancy of a modern urban theater.

5. Bluebird Theater (Denver)

The Bluebird Theater on Colfax Avenue is one of Denver’s best-known historic performance spaces, with a history stretching back to 1913. Originally built as a movie house, the venue was renamed in 1922 and eventually adapted to changing entertainment trends as vaudeville gave way to silent films, talkies, and live performances.

Its survival is due in part to its ability to evolve with the times while preserving its early 20th-century architecture. The theater’s intimate size and sloped floor ensure excellent sightlines, and many architectural details, such as decorative plasterwork, remain intact. In the modern era, the Bluebird is primarily recognized as a live music venue, hosting both national touring acts and local performances.

Its place along Colfax Avenue, a historic corridor in Denver, situates it as part of the city’s cultural fabric. The Bluebird exemplifies how historic buildings can adapt to new purposes while retaining their legacy.

For audiences, the experience of attending a performance here combines contemporary energy with the sense of continuity that only a century-old space can provide.

6. Oriental Theater (Denver)

The Oriental Theater, built in 1927 in Denver’s Berkeley neighborhood, is another example of how historic movie palaces can continue to serve communities in new ways. Originally designed with exotic revival architectural influences, the building features Middle Eastern–inspired decorative elements that gave audiences in the 1920s a sense of glamour and transport.

Its original function as a cinema eventually gave way to live events, and today the Oriental serves as a performance space for concerts, comedy shows, film screenings, and community gatherings. Unlike large corporate venues, the Oriental has retained much of its independence, which allows it to focus on locally relevant programming alongside national acts.

Restoration work has ensured that the building’s unique architecture remains visible and appreciated, including its original projection booth. For Denver residents, the Oriental represents more than nostalgia – it is an active space that fosters creativity and serves as a neighborhood anchor.

Its continued operation demonstrates the enduring appeal of theaters that combine historical character with contemporary purpose.

7. Ogden Theatre (Denver)

The Ogden Theatre on East Colfax Avenue first opened in 1917 as a silent film house, later transitioning into a venue that supported vaudeville, cinema, and eventually live concerts. Its terracotta façade and early 20th-century architectural design stand out as reminders of Denver’s growth during that period.

Inside, the sloped floor and balcony seating provide excellent sightlines, which suit both its original cinema design and its present use as a concert venue. Over the decades, the Ogden has hosted a wide range of performances, making it one of the city’s most versatile entertainment landmarks.

While unconfirmed stories of famous early performers add to its mystique, what is clear is its established place in Denver’s cultural landscape. Today, the Ogden is primarily known as a live music destination, with programming that draws diverse audiences.

At the same time, the preservation of its original decorative details ensures that visitors experience both the vibrancy of current performances and the atmosphere of a historic Denver theater that has remained relevant for more than a century.