Ogden Theatre

The Ogden Theatre is a music venue and former movie theater in Denver, Colorado, United States. Located at 935 E. Colfax Avenue in the neighborhood of Capitol Hill, it was built in 1917 and has a maximum capacity of 1,600 for concerts. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[1]

Ogden Theatre
Former namesFox Theatres, National General Cinemas (NGC), Mann Theatres and Landmark Theater (1977-90)
Address935 E Colfax Ave
Denver, CO 80218-1914
LocationCapitol Hill
OwnerDoug Kauffman
OperatorAEG Rocky Mountains
Capacity1,600
Current usemusic venue
Construction
Broke groundNovember 13, 1916
OpenedSeptember 6, 1917
Closed1990-93
ReopenedSeptember 2, 1993
Rebuilt1974, 1993, 2006
ArchitectHarry W.J. Edbrooke
Website
Venue Website
Ogden Theatre
Architectural styleLate 19th and 20th Century Revivals, Mediterranean Revival
NRHP reference No.95001055[1]
CSRHP No.5DV.2609
Added to NRHPAugust 31, 1995

History

The Ogden Theatre opened in 1919 by John Thompson, who also ran the Thompson (later Bluebird) Theater. The Ogden Theatre originally hosted live performances such as weekly organ recitals, dances, lectures and vaudeville acts - most notably, the legendary Harry Houdini. By 1937 it had been converted to a movie theater that featured everything from the classics to the avant-garde. It was part of the Fox Theater circuit of movie theatres. After the DOJ ordered divestiture of the exhibition theatre division of Fox, the theatre was acquired by National General Corporation (NGC). In 1970, the theater underwent a major remodel that included a new marquee, a complete remodel of the lobby and auditorium including main floor seating and loge seating in the balcony, acoustics, and the conversion of the screen to play anamorphic and flat features. The remodel also included an update to play both optical and 4 track magnetic film soundtracks. In 1977, the theatre was acquired by Mann Theatres when it purchased Nation General Corporation's theater business. In the 1980s it was a revival house that featured the cult movie classic, The Rocky Horror Picture Show every Saturday night. The inside and outside of the Ogden Theatre have been renovated many times throughout the years, as well as a host of different marquee signs have been used. The flat marquee on the theater was added during a major remodel in the 1970s and was upgraded in 1993.

In the late 1980s, ownership of the theater changed hands numerous times until the theater was closed in 1990. The theatre was marked for demolition until Doug Kauffman of the independent live music promoter Nobody In Particular Presents purchased the building in 1992. Kauffman's vision was to turn the Ogden Theater into a premier music venue.

The Ogden Theatre was re-opened in 1993 featuring a wide variety of live performances. The theatre found its niche and has become a premier concert venue in Denver featuring approximately 150 concerts per year. In 2006, NIPP leased the venue to AEG Live.[2]

In the 2002 movie About Schmidt, Jack Nicholson drives by the theater in his motorhome when he pulls into Denver.

Hip hop artists Atmosphere mention the Ogden Theater in their song "National Disgrace" - Last thing I remember was the Ogden Theatre in the backstage bathroom, making out with all three of ya...

See also

References
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
  2. Glasgow, Greg (2007-02-15). "Musical chairs: Will a behind-the-scenes shake-up bring big changes to Denver's concert scene?". Daily Camera. Retrieved 2014-03-16.
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