Park Theatre

The Park Theatre is a historic movie theater located in Estes Park, Colorado, United States. Built in 1913, it is recognized as the oldest operating cinema in the western United States. The building began construction under the ownership of J.L. Jackson and was designed by Joseph R. Anderson; parts of the structure were prefabricated in Longmont and transported to Estes Park for assembly. Ownership changed hands several times during and after construction, passing from Jackson to Cornelius Howard Bond and then to Fred Jackson in 1915. From 1922 until his death in 1963, the theater was owned by Ralph Gwynn, a projectionist from Denver, who added a lobby in 1922, a tower in 1929, and neon lighting on the tower in 1938. Subsequent owners included Vic Walker (from early 1964) and long-time managers Richard and Ola Stanger (from 1980). Under the Stangers, the theater gained a six-speaker surround sound system, a new walkway, a new entranceway, and a concession stand. In 1982, a town building code banned outdoor neon lighting, but residents organized a ballot initiative that resulted in a variance in 1984, allowing the theater's neon lights to remain lit. That same year, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Today, the Park Theatre operates year-round as a movie theater and event venue, with support from Whimsadoodle, a local non-profit organization dedicated to the arts and betterment of Estes Park.

The Park Theatre is a historic movie theater building in Estes Park, Colorado. Built in 1913, the theatre is the oldest operating cinema in the western United States. Construction began in 1913 under the ownership of J.L. Jackson. Designed by Joseph R. Anderson, parts of the building were constructed in Longmont and brought to Estes Park to be assembled. Jackson sold the building to Cornelius Howard Bond during construction who, in turn, sold the building to Fred Jackson in 1915. From 1922 through his death in 1963, the building was owned by Ralph Gwynn, a projectionist from Denver. Gwynn added a lobby in 1922, the building's tower in 1929, and neon lighting on the tower in 1938. Following Gwynn's tenure, the theatre was bought by Vic Walker in early 1964. In 1976, the building's tower suffered damage from high winds in March and a small fire in June. Walker sold the theatre to long-time managers Richard and Ola Stanger in 1980. Under their ownership, building improvements included a six-speaker surround sound system, a new walkway, a new entranceway, and a concession stand. When an updated building code for the town of Estes Park forbade outdoor neon lighting in 1982, residents organized a ballot initiative that resulted in the theatre being granted a variance in 1984, allowing the theatre's neon lights to remain lit. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. The theatre currently operates year-round as a movie theatre and event venue, with support from Whimsadoodle, a local non-profit organization dedicated to the arts and betterment of Estes Park.

• 1984

  A variance allows neon lights to remain; building added to the National Register of Historic Places.

• 1982

  A town building code forbids outdoor neon lighting.

• 1980

  Richard and Ola Stanger purchase the theatre.

• 1976

  The tower suffers damage from high winds in March and a small fire in June.

• 1964

  Vic Walker buys the theatre.

• 1938

  Neon lighting is installed on the tower.

• 1929

  A tower is added to the building.

• 1922

  Ralph Gwynn becomes owner and adds a lobby.

• 1915

  Fred Jackson acquires the building.

• 1913

  Construction begins under J.L. Jackson; designed by Joseph R. Anderson.

Historic, community-oriented cinema and event venue

• Movie screenings

• Event venue

1. 1Historic Park Theatrehistoricparktheatre.com
2. 2Park Theatre (Estes Park, Colorado) - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
3. 3Park Theatre - Wikidatawikidata.org