 Lamar Theatre
Lamar, CO
Photo courtesy Larry Glass
The Lamar Theatre is one of those classic downtown movie palaces that immediately grabs your attention. Opened on November 15, 1946, this Art Deco gem has been lighting up Main Street in Lamar for generations.
From the beginning, the theater was designed to make a statement. Its streamlined facade, glass block accents, neon lighting, and towering marquee gave southeastern Colorado a first-class movie house that looked every bit as impressive as theaters found in much larger cities. For decades, locals lined up beneath the glowing sign to catch the latest Hollywood releases.
What makes the Lamar special is that it survived. While many small-town theaters disappeared or were converted to other uses, this one remained an important part of downtown Lamar and continues to draw people to Main Street. The marquee still shines brightly, serving as a reminder of the days when a night at the movies was one of the biggest events in town. For more information about the Lamar Theatre, check out the Lamar Theatre website. 05-09
UPDATE: The theater continues to operate today as The LaMar, hosting movies, concerts, and community events. The historic Art Deco building and its iconic neon marquee remain beautifully preserved and continue to light up downtown Lamar. 06-26
 Mayan Theatre
Denver, CO
Photo courtesy Tammy Terwelp
The Mayan Theatre is one of Denver's most recognizable movie houses and a true landmark along Broadway. Built in 1930, the theater opened during the golden age of movie palaces and quickly became a popular destination for first-run films.
 What makes the Mayan stand out is its incredible architecture. The building was designed in the Mayan Revival style, complete with colorful decorative details, geometric patterns, and an unmistakable facade that looks unlike anything else in Denver. Add in the towering neon blade sign and you've got one of the most memorable theater fronts in the Rocky Mountains. 09-10
Like many classic theaters, the Mayan faced difficult times as audiences shifted to newer multiplexes. By the mid-1980s, the future of the building was uncertain and demolition was a real possibility. Fortunately, preservation efforts helped save the theater, allowing one of Denver's architectural treasures to survive. Today, the Mayan remains one of the best places in town to catch an independent, foreign, or specialty film. More than ninety years after opening, the theater still lights up Broadway and continues doing exactly what it was built to do. The Mayan here in Denver resembles the Mayan Theatre in Los Angeles from the blade neon to the
front facade.
UPDATE: The Mayan Theatre remains open and operated by Landmark Theatres. The historic building was successfully preserved and converted into a triplex, while the iconic neon sign and distinctive Mayan-inspired facade continue to be among Denver's most recognizable landmarks. 06-26 |
Rialto Theatre (Closed)
Florence, CO
Photo courtesy Robin McCracken |
Here's a look at the Rialto Theatre in Florence, Colorado. Located right on Main Street, the theater opened in 1923 as a vaudeville house before making the transition to movies a few years later. Like many small-town theaters across the West, it became a gathering place where generations of local residents went to catch the latest films and spend an evening downtown.
The theater operated for decades before eventually closing in 1969. While many buildings like this disappeared altogether, the Rialto managed to survive. Its classic facade remained a familiar sight along Main Street, even as the interior sat quiet for years.
What I like about this one is that it represents the determination of a community that refused to let one of its landmarks fade away. Since the early 1990s, local volunteers and preservation advocates have worked to bring the theater back to life and preserve an important piece of Florence history. 01-13
UPDATE: Restoration efforts at the Rialto Theatre continue under the direction of a local non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the building. The historic theater remains one of Florence's most recognizable downtown landmarks and continues to host occasional community events as work progresses. 06-26 |
|
|
|
