Elitch Theatre facts for kids

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Elitch Theatre
U.S. National Register of Historic Places


Location in Colorado Show map of Colorado Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	W. 38th Ave. and Tennyson St., Denver, Colorado
Area	Highlands
Built	1890
Architect	Lee & Liden
Architectural style	Stick/Eastlake, Shingle Style
NRHP reference No.	78000844
Added to NRHP	March 21, 1978

Elitch Theatre, as it appeared in 1923

The Historic Elitch Theatre is a famous old theatre in Denver, Colorado. It opened in 1890 as a main part of the original Elitch Gardens amusement park. This park was special because it had the first zoo west of Chicago! The theatre was Denver's very first professional theatre. It was home to America's first and oldest summer-stock theatre company from 1893 until the 1960s. The first movies ever shown in the western United States were seen here in 1896. Famous director Cecil B. DeMille even called it "one of the cradles of American drama."

History of the Elitch Theatre
Restoring the Elitch Theatre
Stars Who Appeared at The Elitch Theatre
Gallery
See also

History of the Elitch Theatre

Early Days and First Shows

John Elitch and Mary Elitch Long opened Elitch Gardens on May 1, 1890. It had animals, music, beautiful flowers, and an outdoor theatre. The mayor of Denver, Mayor Londoner, even spoke there. The theatre was inspired by Shakespeare's famous Globe Theatre. At first, it showed vaudeville acts with talented performers from all over the country.

In 1891, the theatre was made bigger and enclosed. It cost $100,000 to rebuild! The Boston Opera Company then started performing musicals and light operas. Their first show was The Pirates of Penzance. In 1893, the first summer stock theatre company, the Norcross Company, came to the gardens. Vaudeville shows continued until 1900.

Movies and Famous Actors Arrive

In 1896, something new and exciting happened. Edison's Vitascope was shown at the theatre. This meant the very first films in Colorado were seen right here!

The Elitch Gardens Stock Theatre Company started performing in 1897. It was managed by Mary Elitch Long herself. The first season opened with a leading actor named James O'Neill. He had promised John Elitch he would act in the new theatre. The first play they performed was Helene. This company became well-known for putting on ten plays in a ten-week summer season. Many internationally famous stars of theatre and movies came to perform there.

In 1906, the famous actress Sarah Bernhardt came to Denver. She was supposed to perform in San Francisco, but an earthquake destroyed the theatre there. At Elitch's, she performed Camille in the afternoon and LaSorcier at night. Douglas Fairbanks was also hired into the same company. A year before, in 1905, he had swept the stage just to get free tickets!

Changes and Challenges

Running the park became too expensive for Mary Elitch. In 1916, John Mulvihill bought Elitch Gardens. Mary gave up control of the park and theatre, but two theatre boxes were always saved for her and her friends. Mulvihill managed the theatre until he passed away in 1930. His son-in-law, Arnold Gurtler, took over.

In 1953, the Elitch Theatre was used to film parts of the movie The Glenn Miller Story.

In 1963, the Elitch Garden Theatre Company became its own business. It rented the theatre from the park. The company stopped being a traditional summer-stock group. Instead, they started bringing in single, famous shows from New York. The company had many successful years. However, as time passed, the theatre building itself started to be neglected.

In 1975, the park's Trocadero Ballroom was torn down. People in the community worried the theatre might be next. To protect it, they helped add the theatre to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.

The Elitch Theatre Company's last season was in 1987. After that, the park brought in other acts, like the "Incredible Acrobats of China." Then, they had one-night musical acts. The theatre officially closed in 1991. The Robber Bridegroom was performed with Patrick Cassidy for the theatre's 100th anniversary. Actor Raymond Burr raised $2 million for an education program at the theatre. This money was later given to a local school, Cole Middle School.

The Elitch Gardens amusement park moved to a new location in 1994. The new park opened in 1995 and was very popular. Two fires happened in 1995 on the old Gardens property near the theatre. This made people demand more security. The original Elitch property was sold in 1996. A special rule was made that the theatre and carousel shell could never be torn down.

In 2011, a friend of Mary Elitch Long, Barbara Medill, gave some of Mary's belongings to the theatre's foundation. This included a special silver table setting. Around the same time, a hand-painted curtain called the "Anne Hathaway" curtain was taken down and stored. It was very old, from the early 1900s. After years of not being cared for and getting wet, the curtain was rolled up and stored backstage.

In April 2012, after a big volunteer cleanup, the inside of the theatre was opened for "Doors Open Denver." Musicians and Shakespearean performers were the first to be on stage in 22 years!

In 2016, a group called Curtains Without Borders visited. They teach people how to properly store old theatre curtains. They gave a talk at the Elitch Theatre. They were asked to look at the "Anne Hathaway" curtain and suggest how to fix it. When the curtain was unrolled, everyone saw it had been stored badly. It was hard to read, and the paint turned to dust. People who loved Colorado history were very sad to see it destroyed.

In 2018, outdoor movies and summer kids' programs at the theatre were canceled. This was because a wind and hail storm caused $800,000 in damages.

Restoring the Elitch Theatre

Interior of the Historic Elitch Gardens Theatre, June 2010

The theatre closed in 1991 and was empty for 11 years. In 2002, a group called the Historic Elitch Gardens Theatre Foundation was created. Their goal was to raise money and restore the theatre and its carousel building.

Phase 1: Exterior Restoration

In 2006, the Foundation received $5 million from different sources. Work began on Phase 1, which was about saving and restoring the outside of the theatre. This included building a new concrete foundation under the walls. The roof, main entrance, and outside walls were replaced and painted. A section of dressing rooms on the west side was removed. The outside restoration of the theatre was finished in 2007.

Phase 2: Safety Upgrades

Phase 2 happened from 2013 to 2014. This included important health and safety upgrades. Electricity and lighting were fixed throughout the building. A fire suppression system was also added. These changes allowed the theatre to get temporary permission to open. This meant tours and limited events could start happening.

Phase 3: Permanent Occupancy

Phase 3 was completed from 2020 to 2021. New restrooms were added, and a new roof was put on. Other upgrades were also made. With these improvements, the theatre could get permanent permission to open.

In summer 2022, the foundation offered free outdoor movie showings. By summer 2023, the inside was good enough for indoor movies and tours. The foundation hopes to offer live shows in summer 2024, even without full lighting and sound. Opening the 400 balcony seats is part of Phase 5 of the restoration.

Fundraising continues for more inside renovations. This includes getting theatre rigging, lighting, and sound systems. The plan is to reopen the theatre as a place for many different arts. It will offer education, movies, live music, and theatre for the community.