Located at 117 South Main Street in Lamar, The Opera House was built in 1889. The building also contained other businesses on the ground floor. Prior to a fire in 1891, the building housed a barbershop which was said to be on record as the oldest in the state. Various programs were held in The Opera House, which later was renamed the Pioneer Theater after significant renovations due to the fire.
On November 15, 1946, the new Lamar Theater opened another block south on Main Street. The Pioneer stayed open for events until it was closed in the mid-to-late 50s. My uncle Kyrle Seals worked at both theaters, and when the Pioneer was closing for good, he was tasked with burning anything paper or fabric…posters, play bills, tickets, etc. He said he tended that fire for nearly a week. He had taken down the rich, blue velvet curtains, which he gave my mother. She made me a beautiful swing coat with the velvet when I was an infant.
For many years, the place where the Pioneer stood was an empty space between Daylight Donuts and Eudora’s Clothing Store. There were open spaces at the back where the screen and two emergency exits would have been. You could also see faint remnants of the elaborate paintings high up on the side walls. It would be wonderful if someone had photos of what the theatre looked like inside.
Another memory of growing up in Lamar, CO…. In the 70’s there was another theatre in town called the Century Theatre. It was located around 206 South 5th Street. The building has since been renovated and is now the home of a mortuary.
I believe the Century opened during a time when the Lamar Theatre was closed down and not in operation. If I recall correctly, the Lamar Theatre reopened in the late 70’s to early 80’s, and for a short time, Lamar enjoyed two theatres as well as a drive-in theatre. I think the Century Theatre and the Lamar Drive-in closed soon into the 80’s.
To my understanding, it was the Pioneer Theatre that was located at approximately 111 South Main Street in Lamar, CO. You can still see ghost images of the old scrolled paintings high on the walls from the old theatre which is now a roofless space used for a small amount of downtown parking. The area where the screen was located is a large square opening, and the old emergency exits are still evident on each side of the old screen (opening).
One of my uncles who worked at that theatre during the time it was being closed and/or demolished, told me he spent many long days tending a fire, burning the old movie posters [gasp]! I guess they didn’t realize then what they’d be worth in the years to come!
The same uncle, along with both of my parents and other family members worked at the then newer Lamar Theatre at 216 South Main Street, as well as the Arrow Drive-In east of Lamar. What great memories I have of that theatre!
Oh, my uncle also told me that the Lamar Theatre had a “sister” theatre in the Denver area. The Lamar’s art deco look was either modeled from that theatre or vice versa. I don’t know where that theatre was, or if it’s still standing.
I believe that the Arrow Drive-In east of Lamar closed in the early 60’s due to the big flood that went through there.
My dad, my mother and her brothers worked at both the Lamar Theatre and the Arrow Drive-in during the mid to late 50’s and 60’s. I still have a couple of the old calendars of upcoming movies for both theaters from around 1958/59.
Located at 117 South Main Street in Lamar, The Opera House was built in 1889. The building also contained other businesses on the ground floor. Prior to a fire in 1891, the building housed a barbershop which was said to be on record as the oldest in the state. Various programs were held in The Opera House, which later was renamed the Pioneer Theater after significant renovations due to the fire.
On November 15, 1946, the new Lamar Theater opened another block south on Main Street. The Pioneer stayed open for events until it was closed in the mid-to-late 50s. My uncle Kyrle Seals worked at both theaters, and when the Pioneer was closing for good, he was tasked with burning anything paper or fabric…posters, play bills, tickets, etc. He said he tended that fire for nearly a week. He had taken down the rich, blue velvet curtains, which he gave my mother. She made me a beautiful swing coat with the velvet when I was an infant.
For many years, the place where the Pioneer stood was an empty space between Daylight Donuts and Eudora’s Clothing Store. There were open spaces at the back where the screen and two emergency exits would have been. You could also see faint remnants of the elaborate paintings high up on the side walls. It would be wonderful if someone had photos of what the theatre looked like inside.
Another memory of growing up in Lamar, CO…. In the 70’s there was another theatre in town called the Century Theatre. It was located around 206 South 5th Street. The building has since been renovated and is now the home of a mortuary.
I believe the Century opened during a time when the Lamar Theatre was closed down and not in operation. If I recall correctly, the Lamar Theatre reopened in the late 70’s to early 80’s, and for a short time, Lamar enjoyed two theatres as well as a drive-in theatre. I think the Century Theatre and the Lamar Drive-in closed soon into the 80’s.
To my understanding, it was the Pioneer Theatre that was located at approximately 111 South Main Street in Lamar, CO. You can still see ghost images of the old scrolled paintings high on the walls from the old theatre which is now a roofless space used for a small amount of downtown parking. The area where the screen was located is a large square opening, and the old emergency exits are still evident on each side of the old screen (opening).
One of my uncles who worked at that theatre during the time it was being closed and/or demolished, told me he spent many long days tending a fire, burning the old movie posters [gasp]! I guess they didn’t realize then what they’d be worth in the years to come!
The same uncle, along with both of my parents and other family members worked at the then newer Lamar Theatre at 216 South Main Street, as well as the Arrow Drive-In east of Lamar. What great memories I have of that theatre!
Oh, my uncle also told me that the Lamar Theatre had a “sister” theatre in the Denver area. The Lamar’s art deco look was either modeled from that theatre or vice versa. I don’t know where that theatre was, or if it’s still standing.
I believe that the Arrow Drive-In east of Lamar closed in the early 60’s due to the big flood that went through there.
My dad, my mother and her brothers worked at both the Lamar Theatre and the Arrow Drive-in during the mid to late 50’s and 60’s. I still have a couple of the old calendars of upcoming movies for both theaters from around 1958/59.