National Register of Historic Places

Bluebird Theater

Denver, Denver County, Colorado
Listed
January 31, 1997
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
97000018

About this property

The Bluebird Theater (originally known as the Thompson Theater) is a theater in Denver, Colorado on East Colfax Avenue. The theater was designed by Harry W. J. Edbrooke and built during 1913–1914. It was renamed in 1922. It is currently used as a live music venue. It was listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1997. The Bluebird Theater was built in 1913 and originally named after the prominent Denver grocer and druggist, John Thompson. The theater was renamed in 1922 and became an important part of the community. During the Fox Intermountain Theaters era, the Bluebird was managed by Harvey Gollogher, who participated alongside Helen Spiller of the nearby Esquire Theatre in a corporate safety incentive program with the Gates Rubber Company that pooled ticket books from nine Denver Fox theaters for Gates' 4,500 employees. In 1949, the Bluebird and the Esquire held a joint holiday toy matinee, partnering with the Denver Santa Claus Shop, the Lions Club, and the American Legion, with films donated by Warner Bros. and Columbia Pictures. Denver historian Phil Goodstein wrote that the Hiawatha Theatre (later the Esquire) was built in 1927 "at the behest of John Thompson of the Bluebird," though contemporary sources identify Gordon B. Ashworth as the builder. The theater was also initially a movie house and went through various phases over the years. In 1994, Chris Swank and Evan Dechtman invested in the Bluebird and it re-opened as a live music venue, as it remains today. The theater is laid out in tiers with a balcony overlooking the entire space. In 2006, AEG Live took over the Bluebird Theater and made significant upgrades. Deprecated link at archive.today (archived November 12, 2013)

Location

3315--3317 E. Colfax Ave.
Denver, Denver County, Colorado
39.74042, -104.94825

Categories

ARCHITECTUREENTERTAINMENT/RECREATION
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Nearby Historic Sites

Bastien's Restaurant
Industrial
0.1 mi
Fountain Inn
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0.2 mi
East High School (Additional Documentation)
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0.4 mi
Bonfils Memorial Theater
Industrial
0.4 mi
Denver Orphans' Home
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0.5 mi

Questions about this property

When was Bluebird Theater listed on the National Register?

Bluebird Theater was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on January 31, 1997.

What type of historic resource is Bluebird Theater?

Bluebird Theater is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Bluebird Theater?

The period of significance for Bluebird Theater is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Bluebird Theater?

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