{"id":1974192,"date":"2025-08-22T10:42:07","date_gmt":"2025-08-22T10:42:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=1974192"},"modified":"2025-08-22T10:42:07","modified_gmt":"2025-08-22T10:42:07","slug":"federal-theatre-showing-signs-of-life-arts-entertainment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/federal-theatre-showing-signs-of-life-arts-entertainment\/","title":{"rendered":"Federal Theatre showing signs of life | Arts & Entertainment"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n
\n

\n
\n <\/span><\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n \n <\/div>\n
\n \"\"\n <\/div><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

The rebirth of the Federal Theatre has begun to take shape with the restoration of the majestic neon marquee outside the theater. That job is being undertaken by Gary Weseloh of a Denver company called Morry\u2019s Neon<\/a>, which restored the sister Oriental Theatre\u2019s historic sign in 2023.<\/p>\n

If you have driven past 3850 Federal Blvd. over the past 10 years, you\u2019ve had little to see on the exterior save for the small, original tiled words \u201cFederal Theatre.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

\n
\n <\/span><\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n \"FEDERAL\n <\/div>\n
\n \"\"\n <\/div><\/div>
\n

<\/p>\n

This photo shows the exterior of the Federal Theatre in the process of being rejuvenated\u00a0, 3850 Federal Boulevard,\u00a0at as it looks on Aug. 15, 2025. Its new tenants hope to have the 102-year-old building reopen as a live music venue in September.<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n


\n JOHN MOORE FEDERAL THEATRE<\/span>
\n <\/span><\/p>\n


\n <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Now, with the job only just getting started, you already can see the word \u2018Federal\u2019 written in two dramatic, cursive red swaths above both sides of the marquee, now separated by a jutting, light-lined yellow accent jutting about 50 feet above the sidewalk.<\/p>\n

Next is for Weseloh to restore the actual horizontal marquee where rotating band names will go. Weseloh said the job will be essentially complete by the end of this week.<\/p>\n

Scott Happel and his partners from the nearby Oriental Theater<\/a> and HQ<\/a> announced in June that they would reopen the Federal Theatre<\/a> as a 650-seat live-music venue this September.<\/p>\n

Happel envisions varied programming of both national touring and local live music, comedy, wrestling, burlesque, podcasts and more \u2014 “just like the Oriental Theater,” said Happel.<\/p>\n

\n

\n
\n <\/span><\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n \"Federal\n <\/div>\n
\n \"\"\n <\/div><\/div>
\n

<\/p>\n

BEFORE: The exterior of the Federal Theatre, 3830 Federal Boulevard, as it looks on June 19. 2025. Its new tenants hope to have the 102-year-old building reopen as a live music venue in September.\u00a0<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n


\n John Moore\/Denver Gazette<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n


\n <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Rockets great Jones dies<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n

\n
\n <\/span><\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n \"Larry\n <\/div>\n
\n \"\"\n <\/div><\/div>
\n

<\/p>\n

Larry Jones was Denver’s first pro basketball star. This photo was taken at what is now called Regis University.\u00a0<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n


\n DENVER NUGGETS<\/span>
\n <\/span><\/p>\n


\n <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Just last month, I told you about coming across an essay written by my father<\/a> recounting highlights from his life in bullet points. One that leapt off the page was this one:<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Larry Jones<\/a> Caper in Pittsburgh, and the process-server who sat on the Rockets\u2019 bench looking for him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ralph Moore was the first daily sports reporter assigned to cover Denver\u2019s professional basketball team, soon to be renamed the Nuggets. He died in 1997, but last month, I came across his essay as we prepared to commemorate his 100th birthday.<\/p>\n

I had to know what really happened in Pittsburgh on Oct. 27, 1967.<\/p>\n

Jones was the first superstar in Denver Rockets history, averaging 25.4 points over three seasons from 1967-70. It turns out, Jones had been playing in an NBA feeder league before jumping to the Rockets of the American Basketball Association. Jones had been released by the parent Philadelphia 76ers, which one would think released him from the minor-league team.<\/p>\n

Jones, assuming he was a free agent, soon had offers from the NBA\u2019s Lakers and the ABA\u2019s Rockets. Jones loved telling the story of how he picked Denver: He packed his things and began driving West before actually deciding where he was going. When he got to St. Louis, he was at a crossroads: I-70 to Denver, or Route 66 to L.A.<\/p>\n

\u201cI decided to go to Denver,\u201d he said. \u201cIt was closer.\u201d<\/p>\n

But the Eastern League didn\u2019t take kindly to losing its star player, so it filed a complaint disputing the legality of his contract with Denver.<\/p>\n

According to my dad\u2019s reporting, the process-server showed up at the court as the players were warming up to play Pittsburgh. He wasn\u2019t able to serve the papers because no one would tell him which one Jones was. In 1967, players\u2019 names were not yet listed on their jerseys, and Jones\u2019 teammates squired him away to the locker room before his pursuer could figure it out.<\/p>\n

Confusing things, though, was a more recently reported account that says Jones had been tipped off about the subpoena, so he never even got off the plane in Pittsburgh and missed the game entirely.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

\n \n \n <\/svg> Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter.<\/h2>\n<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

This had to be resolved. I set out to find Jones, whom I learned was 83 and still doing quite well in Columbus, Ohio. I tracked down a family friend who was working on connecting us for a quick phone call.<\/p>\n

So I was all the more crestfallen when I was just told by my Denver Gazette sports colleague Chris Tomasson that Jones died on Aug. 13. So I\u2019ll likely never know.<\/p>\n

I do know that during his second ABA season with the Rockets, Jones averaged 28.4 points and became the first ABA player to score 2,000 points in a season. He once went 23 straight games scoring at least 30 points.<\/p>\n

Big day for Elitch Theatre<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n

\n
\n <\/span><\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n \"ELITCH\n <\/div>\n
\n \"\"\n <\/div><\/div>
\n

<\/p>\n

Gradually, performances are returning to the interior of the Elitch Theatre. But friends of the theater still need to raise about $3 million.\u00a0<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n


\n HISTORIC ELITCH THEATRE <\/span>
\n <\/span><\/p>\n


\n <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Sunday (Aug. 24) is shaping up to be a big day for those still raising funds for the restoration, preservation and eventual reopening of the historic Elitch Theatre. A swath of local musical theater performers will take to the stage where Grace Kelly once performed for a Broadway-style variety fundraising show titled \u201cLegacy in Bloom.\u201d The hosts are local TV icon Chris Parente-Rios and Denver\u2019s Ms. Senior America, Natalie Oliver-Atherton.<\/p>\n

There will be food, auction, the works. But nonprofit president Greg Rowley calls this party the anti-gala gala.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe decided to do something a little less formal, because we are a scrappy team of volunteers,\u201d said Rowley. \u201cWe wanted to do something that celebrates our connection to the history of Denver, the history of theater in Denver, and the history of THE (Elitch) Theatre. No one can claim the 134 years of history that we have.\u201d<\/p>\n

Among those performing Sunday are Cooper Kaminsky and Patrick Griggs from Miners Alley\u2019s \u201cRing of Fire\u201d; Isabella Duran, Andrew Serecuse and Ellen Shamas-Brandt from Town Hall Arts Center\u2019s \u201cOnce\u201d; and Ella Cho from Town Hall’s upcoming \u201cAnnie.\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s set for 2-5 p.m. (with the main program starting at 3:30 p.m.) Tickets ($75) are available at historicelitchtheatre.org<\/a>.\u00a0But friends of the theater still need to raise about $3 million to make the theater fully operational.\u00a0<\/p>\n

To catch a thief<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n

\n
\n <\/span><\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n \"Anarchy\n <\/div>\n
\n \"\"\n <\/div><\/div>
\n

<\/p>\n

This is a replica of the Anarchy logo twice identified on the clothing of vandals who have recently broken into the Historic Elitch Theatre. Anyone with information is asked to call Denver Police at\u00a0720-913-2000.\u00a0<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n


\n HISTORIC ELITCH THEATRE<\/span>
\n <\/span><\/p>\n


\n <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

And then there is this: Despite now being situated smack dab in the middle of a planned residential community, the Elitch Theatre has long been an easy target for break-ins \u2013\u00a0though it’s presumed these are more young and misguided troublemakers and vandals than hardcore thieves.<\/p>\n

This go-round, Rowley said, \u201chas been a three-month battle with kids breaking in.\u201d The videotape shows them mostly just exploring the interior. With security cameras that now set off a loud alarm, Rowley said, with relief: \u201cNo break-ins for the past four weeks.\u201d<\/p>\n

While he has no interest in seeing these kids sent to jail, Rowley does want them identified \u201cso they can be made to realize that breaking and entering is a crime, and they are causing us thousands of dollars to fix the doors they force open.\u201d<\/p>\n

Videotapes have identified the same logo on a hoodie worn in two separate break-ins.\u00a0Anyone with information is asked to call Denver Police at\u00a0720-913-2000.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Music news<\/strong><\/h3>\n

It didn’t take long for Boulderite Gregory Alan Isakov\u2019s road trip to Radio City Music Hall to perform with the Colorado Symphony to sell out. Jan. 30 is gone, and now Jan. 31 has been added. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday (Aug. 22) at 8 a.m. MDT at 303-623-7876 or coloradosymphony.org<\/a> \u2026<\/p>\n

Grammy nominated pianist and composer Rob Mullins and his Neu Quartet are returning to Colorado for a one-night-only concert at Dazzle Jazz, 7 p.m. Saturday (Aug. 23). Info at dazzledenver.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n

\u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n

\u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source denvergazette.com \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The rebirth of the Federal Theatre has begun to take shape with the restoration of the majestic neon marquee outside the theater. That job is being undertaken by Gary Weseloh of a Denver company called Morry\u2019s Neon, which restored the sister Oriental Theatre\u2019s historic sign in 2023. If you have driven past 3850 Federal Blvd. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1974193,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[25172],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1974192","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-entertainment"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Federal-Theatre-showing-signs-of-life-Arts-Entertainment.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1974192","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1974192"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1974192\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1974193"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1974192"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1974192"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1974192"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}