Bluebird Theater

The Bluebird Theater was built in 1913 and originally named after the prominent Denver grocer and druggist, John Thompson. The theater was renamed in 1922 and became an important part of the community.

During the Fox Intermountain Theaters era, the Bluebird was managed by Harvey Gollogher, who participated alongside Helen Spiller of the nearby Esquire Theatre in a corporate safety incentive program with the Gates Rubber Company that pooled ticket books from nine Denver Fox theaters for Gates' 4,500 employees.^[4] In 1949, the Bluebird and the Esquire held a joint holiday toy matinee, partnering with the Denver Santa Claus Shop, the Lions Club, and the American Legion, with films donated by Warner Bros. and Columbia Pictures.^[5] Denver historian Phil Goodstein wrote that the Hiawatha Theatre (later the Esquire) was built in 1927 "at the behest of John Thompson of the Bluebird," though contemporary sources identify Gordon B. Ashworth as the builder.^[6]

The theater was also initially a movie house and went through various phases over the years. In 1994, Chris Swank and Evan Dechtman invested in the Bluebird and it re-opened as a live music venue, as it remains today. The theater is laid out in tiers with a balcony overlooking the entire space. In 2006, AEG Live took over the Bluebird Theater and made significant upgrades.