Elitch Theatre
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Elitch Theatre
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| Location | W. 38th Ave. and Tennyson St., Denver, Colorado |
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| Coordinates | 39°46′6″N 105°2′46″W / 39.76833°N 105.04611°WCoordinates: 39°46′6″N 105°2′46″W / 39.76833°N 105.04611°W |
| Area | Highlands |
| Built | 1890 |
| Architect | Lee & Liden |
| Architectural style | Stick/Eastlake, Shingle Style |
| NRHP Reference # | 78000844 |
| CSRHP # | 5DV.143 |
| Added to NRHP | March 21, 1978 |
The Historic Elitch Theatre is located at the original Elitch Gardens site in northwest Denver, Colorado. Opened in 1890, it was centerpiece of the park that was the first zoo west of Chicago. The theatre was Denver's first professional theatre, serving as home to America's first and oldest summer-stock theatre company from 1893 until the 1960s. The first films in the western US were shown there in 1896. Cecil B. DeMille sent yearly telegrams wishing the theatre another successful season, calling it "one of the cradles of American drama."
The theatre closed in 1991 and exterior restoration on the historic auditorium was completed in 2007. Fundraising continues for interior renovations before opening to the public. The vision is to reopen as a year-round multimedia performing arts complex for the community offering education, film, live music, and theatre.
John Elitch and Mary Elitch Long first opened Elitch Gardens on May 1, 1890, with animals, bands, flowers and an open-air theatre where Mayor Londoner of Denver spoke. Inspired by Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, the first shows were vaudeville acts by accomplished local and national performers. In 1891 the theatre was enclosed and rebuilt for $100,000. The Boston Opera Company performed musicals, and light opera starting with The Pirates of Penzance. In 1893 the first company, the Norcross Company, was organized in the East and brought to the gardens. Vaudeville shows continued until 1900.
In 1896, Edison's Vitascope was exhibited at the theatre showing the first films in Colorado.
The Elitch Gardens Stock Theatre Company began performing in 1897 under the management of Mary Elitch Long. Its first season in 1897 opened with leading man James O'Neill, who had promised John that he would act in the new theatre when it was ready. The first show performed there was Helene. The company became known for putting on ten plays in a ten-week summer season and attracting internationally known stars of the theatre and screen.
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