Remember Cooper Cinerama? Denver’s iconic curved theater

Cooper Cinerama, July 1961Photo byDenver Public Library Special Collections

* Author used AI in the creation of this article

The Cooper Cinerama was an iconic addition to the city of Denver. Opening in 1961, it was one of the few cinerama theaters around the United States. Requiring three projectors, these specialized movies played on the circular screen. Many theaters adapted their existing screens to showcase these movies, but a non-profit, the Cooper Foundation, built three circular theaters around the country designed for Cinerama films, designed by architect Richard L. Crowther.

Photo byHistoric Modern Denver

People were amazed at the large, curved screen, this allowed movies to be experienced in a new and immersive way. There were over 800 seats in the theater, and they drew big crowds. But after time, the excitement had died down and it eventally closed its doors and was demolished in 1994.

The curved screen as seen upon enteringPhoto byDenver Public Library

It was located at 960 S. Colorado Boulevard, in the Glendale area. And if you drive by today, you'll see a Barnes & Nobel in its place. Cineramas paved the way for the IMAX experience of today, and theaters have continued to advance, with Dolby Atmos adding immersive sound experiences for everyone to enjoy. So although this iconic theater is no more, we can appreciate what it brought to Denverites in the time it stood tall.

Do you remember the Cooper Cinerama? Would love to hear in the comments!