Bonfils Memorial Theatre facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Bonfils Memorial Theatre
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Theatre building in 2009
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 Location in Colorado
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1475 Elizabeth Street, Denver, Colorado |
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| Area | Northeast Denver, Colorado |
| Built | 1953 |
| Architect | John K. Monroe |
| Architectural style | Art Moderne |
| NRHP reference No. | 91001417 |
| Added to NRHP | December 27, 2006 |
The Bonfils Memorial Theatre, also called the Lowenstein Theatre, was a special place for live shows in Denver, Colorado. It was a community theatre, meaning it was for everyone in the community to enjoy. This theatre was open from 1953 to 1986.
A kind lady named Helen Bonfils built it to remember her parents, Frederick Gilmer Bonfils and Belle Barton Bonfils. Many different kinds of performances happened here, like plays, operas, concerts, and even movies. Over its lifetime, the theatre put on more than 400 shows! In 1985, it was renamed the Lowenstein Theatre to honor Henry Lowenstein, who was its producer for a long time.
After closing in 1986, the building was empty for twenty years. Then, in 2005, Charles Woolley bought it. His company fixed it up, and in 2006, it reopened as a Tattered Cover bookstore. Today, the theatre building is a recognized historic site on the National Register of Historic Places.
Contents
A Look Back: The Theatre's Story
The Bonfils Memorial Theatre was designed by a Denver architect named John K. Monroe. He created it in a cool style called Art Moderne. This means it had smooth, rounded shapes, like old trains or cars.
The building was one story tall and covered a huge area. It was made with cream-colored bricks. It also had special trim made of buff-colored terra cotta and red sandstone. Above the entrance, there was a unique "wing-swept" marquee (a sign that shows what's playing). A curved aluminum roof hung over the main door.
Inside, the lobby (the waiting area) was made of travertine stone. It had a "Prussian blue" rug, walls covered in wood, and orange-colored plaster. There were also tall windows. In one part of the lobby, there was a special display honoring the Abbey Theatre from England. You could go down a grand staircase to reach the lower lobby and a bar area.
The theatre could seat 550 people. The stage curtain was also Prussian blue, matching the rug. The side walls were gray, and the floor was covered in red carpet. Backstage, there were nine dressing rooms for the performers. The architect, John Monroe, even designed a special electronic lighting system. It was like a smaller version of the one used in New York City's famous Metropolitan Opera House. This system helped make sure all kinds of shows, from plays to concerts, looked great. The theatre was even set up to be used as a television studio.
Helen Bonfils, who built the theatre, got advice from the famous actor Raymond Burr on how to plan the theatre's layout. Years later, Raymond Burr even used the building to film some of his Perry Mason TV movies!
Helen Bonfils paid $1.25 million to build the Bonfils Memorial Theatre. She was a generous person in Denver and also owned The Denver Post newspaper. She wanted the theatre to be a new home for the University Civic Theatre. This was an amateur theatre group that had been performing since 1929. Helen Bonfils rented the new theatre to them for just one dollar a year!
When the Bonfils Memorial Theatre opened on October 14, 1953, it was a big deal. It was the first new live-performance theatre to open in Denver in 40 years! It quickly became a very popular place in the city. Helen Bonfils herself would often be there for the opening nights, along with many important people from society. Even President Dwight D. Eisenhower sent a telegram to Helen Bonfils to congratulate her on the opening. The very first show performed was called Green Grow the Lilacs, and 500 people came to see it.
Shows and Stars
The theatre offered many types of shows. There were big main stage productions, smaller cabaret shows, and even special theatre for children. From 1953 to 1986, the theatre put on more than 400 different performances.
Many talented people performed at the Bonfils Memorial Theatre. Some actors included John Ashton and Tony Church. The famous dancer Cleo Parker Robinson also performed there. Even celebrities appeared in plays, like Helen Bonfils herself (who was an actress and producer!). Other well-known people included Mary Jo Catlett, Kevin Kline, and Patti LuPone. Interestingly, Julia Child, a famous chef, even gave a cooking demonstration on stage! Other stars like Ted Shackelford, David Ogden Stiers, Marilyn Van Derbur (who was Miss America 1958), Joan Van Ark, Emlyn Williams, and Paul Winfield also performed. Helen Bonfils was very generous and often let the theatre use her amazing collection of fur coats, jewels, and furniture as props for the shows.
During the summer, the theatre would send a "summer festival caravan" to city parks. This caravan would entertain people outdoors. They also put on free outdoor musicals in Cheesman Park.
Henry Lowenstein started working at the theatre in 1956 as a set designer. He later became the main producer in 1967. Because of his hard work and dedication, the theatre was renamed the Lowenstein Theatre in his honor in 1985.
Why the Theatre Closed
The theatre stayed open for more than ten years after Helen Bonfils passed away in 1972. In 1973, the Denver Civic Theatre group moved to a new location, the Denver Center for the Performing Arts (DCPA). The Bonfils Memorial Theatre then became part of the DCPA's management.
The DCPA continued to run the Bonfils Memorial Theatre as a community theatre. However, in 1984, they decided to close the main stage. This was because professional theatre was becoming more popular at the DCPA. The smaller cabaret and children's shows continued until 1986. That's when the board decided to close the theatre for good.
A New Beginning: Renovation
After it closed, the theatre building was empty for twenty years. But in May 2005, Charles Woolley bought the property. He paid $1.9 million for it. His company then started a huge project to fix up the building. They spent $16 million to turn the theatre into a bookstore. They also added a record shop, an art cinema, and a large parking garage next door.
In June 2006, the theatre building reopened as a Tattered Cover bookstore. The outside of the building didn't change much. But inside, the sloped floor of the theatre had to be made flat. The whole interior was redesigned to be a store. The architect, Josh Comfort, made sure to keep many of the building's "historical details." For example, some of the original red seats were kept in two areas of the balcony. The original orchestra pit (where musicians used to sit) was filled with books about performing arts. The old dressing rooms, rehearsal areas, and offices backstage were turned into a restaurant and coffee shop. Because of this amazing project, the company received the 2006 Community Preservation Award from Historic Denver.
The theatre building was officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2006.
