Sunday, April 8, 2018

Karl Christian Krumpholz

Karl Christian Krumpholz
The Colfax Museum would like to recognize all of the creative people that have contributed to our cause. It's so true that Colfax Avenue has inspired countless painters, photographers, musicians, poets, writers, artists and creative types of all kinds
 
Today we want to thank the incredible Karl Christian Krumpholz, a brilliant artist and true Colfax devotee, for his contributions to our museum, including this Schuyler Colfax illustration. Vexatious Rickets indeed!

Saturday, April 7, 2018

Aurora PUTT-PUTT Golf Course

 

The PUTT-PUTT mini golf course used to be at East Colfax and Lima Street. They later added bumper cars too!



Friday, April 6, 2018

Bat Masterson

Bartholemew William Barclay "Bat" Masterson was a U.S. Army scout, lawman, professional gambler, and journalist known for his exploits in the 19th and early 20th-century American Old West.

Bat Masterson is a name synonymous with fearlessness, gun fighting, and lawmen. Sports connection? Masterson, notorious for his connection to gambling and prize fights, wrote his first sports columns for George’s Weekly, a Denver based newspaper. Because of his standing in the boxing world, he started a promotion company with the sports editor of the Denver Post, Otto Floto. To say the relationship and partnership ended poorly wouldn’t be giving it justice. In addition to constantly trading barbs via their respective columns, in July 1900, the two openly brawled in the streets, which included Masterson beating Floto senseless with his cane. The Masterson-Floto chapter ended with Floto employing a hired gun to “take care of” Masterson, but nothing ever came of it as Masterson left Denver for New York in May 1902.

He was last sighted in Denver at the Schotz Drug Store at the corner of Colfax Avenue & Broadway.

Thursday, April 5, 2018

Star Bread Sign


 This Star Bread sign used to be visible from the Colfax Avenue Viaduct.


Tuesday, April 3, 2018

Davies' Chuck Wagon Diner

Davies' Chuck Wagon Diner: A West Colfax Institution, shown here with The Colfax Museum curator Jonny Barber in 2018. #westcolfax

Monday, April 2, 2018

Marley Liquor

With all the dispensaries in town, I thought Marley Liquor was a little bit comical, and very Colfax! They even have a boot to boot! (photo by Jonny B.)

Saturday, March 31, 2018

Thursday, March 29, 2018

Hub Cap Annie's

Hubcap Annie's, the World's Largest Hub Cap Store, had multiple locations on Colfax Avenue, this one was at 410 E. Colfax.

Wednesday, March 28, 2018

The Denver Sound

Photo courtesy Bob Ferbrache
Yes, Denver does have a sound, and it was masterminded by producer/engineer/instrumentalist Bob Ferbrache (left), shown here dining at Davies' Chuckwagon Diner on West Colfax with Tom Headbanger (right) and Paul Masterson.


Tuesday, March 27, 2018

J. Solf Building

Photo by Jonny Barber
The J. Solf Building at 2644 W. Colfax Avenue dates from 1896 in the original town of Brooklyn, Colorado (later annexed into Denver).

Sunday, March 25, 2018

Marc K's Pub

From left to right: Nick Cappazola, Marc Kastler, Steve Freeman, Don Blackledge and Norm Kastler.

Tuesday, March 20, 2018

Dutch Bros. Coffee Coming to West Colfax

Dutch Bros. Coffee, a chain from Portland, Oregon, has broken ground on a new store by Casa Bonita!

Monday, March 19, 2018

Chateau Motor Lodge


The old Chateau Motor Lodge sign on Pinterest. Looks like it is resting comfortably in someone’s living room. The former Chateau Motor Lodge at 8300 East Colfax Avenue at Valentia Street in Denver. Now the former Motel is the Orlando’s Apartments. (courtesy East Colfax NBHD)

Sunday, March 18, 2018

The Motel De Ville

Artist's rendering of the Motel De Ville, at West Colfax Avenue and Galapago Street.

Saturday, March 17, 2018

Club Red Beret

Club Red Beret used to be at 724 East Colfax Avenue. Photo courtesy the Evan Eastburn Collection.

Friday, March 16, 2018

Africana Cafe

Photo: Jonny Barber
The Africana Cafe, at 5901 E. Colfax Avenue, is closed and currently for lease.

Wednesday, March 14, 2018

Aurora Bumper Cars

Originally taken for the Aurora Sun newspaper, this photo was shot in 1976 at Aurora Bumper Cars located at East Colfax Avenue and Lima Street in Aurora. (Courtesy the Aurora Museum Collection)

Tuesday, March 13, 2018

1959 KUDY "Cutie" Radio


1959 KUDY "Cutie" Radio promo featuring DJ Joe Flood and stamped by the Nides Record Shop once across the street from the Aladdin Theatre on East Colfax. (courtesy J. Lee collection)

Monday, March 12, 2018

Sunday, March 11, 2018

Tricky Dicky's

Shared with permission by the family of Edward S. Goldman.
Tricky Dicky's, a nod to President Nixon, was a strip club at the corner of Colfax Avenue & Clarkson Street in the 1970's. This is a 1973 realist painting of the club by Edward Goldman. Today it's Sancho's Broken Arrow, a Grateful Dead/Jam Band themed Bar.

Saturday, March 10, 2018

Friday, March 9, 2018

Dr. Seuss' Piano

Saw this in Civic Center Park, and thought the Whos were back from Whoville...

Wednesday, March 7, 2018

Building Civic Center Park

The Greek Theater in Civic Center Park while still under construction. (photo courtesy Denver Public Library Western History Collection)

Monday, March 5, 2018

Friday, March 2, 2018

The Pioneer Monument

Postcard courtesy The Colfax Museum Collection
The Pioneer Monument, at the corner of Colfax Avenue and Broadway in Denver, Colorado.

Wednesday, February 28, 2018

A Cage in Search of a Bird

by Tom Fesing

The CBS television series “Route 66” was filmed in Denver on June 30, 1963. In the episode “A Cage In Search Of A Bird” Tod and Linc are in Denver, Colorado and become involved in the story of a gangster that helped commit the Great Mint Robbery on December 17, 1922. A robbery of $200,000 in five-dollar bills from the Federal Reserve Bank being stored at the Denver Mint. The robber, never caught is now an old man. 
In the episode there are great 1963 shots of Denver, Colfax Avenue, Historic US Route 40, 16th Street, Capitol Hill Neighborhood and the following:
1. El Rancho Restaurant on US 40.
2. The Tepees on US 40.
3. Rooftop view of 17th Ave from the Cosmopolitan Hotel across from the Brown Palace Hotel.
4. Colorado National Bank Interior.
5. Old Denver Bus Station.
6. Pioneer Sculpture on Colfax Avenue.
7. The Denver Mint on Colfax.
8. Gotham Hotel (now apts) at Grant and 12th.
9. Stapleton Airfield terminal and control tower.
10. Downtown strip club.
11. The Gold Nugget Tap Room & Elite Liquors at Larimer and 16th.
12. Paramount Theater at 16th & California.
13. May D&F & Putt-Putt golf on 16th Street.
14. Scotch & Sirloin Restaurant at the Gotham Hotel on Grant and 12th Avenue.
15. Square dancing at City Park pavilion.
16. Rocky Mountain News on Colfax.
17. Tabor Theater.
18. JC Penny’s on 16th.
You can watch the episode here, although mislabeled, it is "A Cage In Search Of A Bird."

Tuesday, February 27, 2018

Wolf's Restaurant & Lounge

Love this shirt from the Aurora History Museum Collection...Wolf's Restaurant & Lounge, at 15691 E. Colfax Avenue. Still there today!

Monday, February 26, 2018

Dale's Blarney Castle

Another coupon I wish I could still use, but expired in the early 1980's...

Sunday, February 25, 2018

Saturday, February 24, 2018

Johnny Cash Birthday Bash at the Owl Saloon

Join us Saturday, February 24, 2018, for a celebration of Johnny Cash's Birthday at The Owl Saloon at 5026 E. Colfax Avenue in Denver. The Man in Blackhawk (Jonny Barber) will re-create the Live at Folsom Prison album in its' entirety, which came out 50 years ago this year! Show starts at 9:00pm.

Friday, February 23, 2018

Thursday, February 22, 2018

Home of Schuyler Colfax

Home of Schuyler Colfax, Vice President of the U.S., under Ulysses Grant, at corner of Market St. (now Colfax Ave.) and Taylor St. in South Bend, Indiana. Demolished.

Wednesday, February 21, 2018

Stanley Aviation

Robert Stanley and his crew at Stanley Aviation, not too far from East Colfax!

Robert Stanley and his team developed an encapsulated seat ejection system suitable for the B-58 Hustler which flew at high speed (Mach 2) and altitude (70,000 ft). An interesting side note is that Stanley borrowed bears from the Denver Zoo for testing the ejection capsules. 

Tuesday, February 20, 2018

West Colfax Farm Dairy

Old bottle from the West Colfax Farm Dairy, once at 5536 West Colfax Avenue in Lakewood, CO.

Monday, February 19, 2018

Hanna's Super Shell

Hanna's Super Shell, 9445 E. Colfax at Clinton St.

Photo by Tom Fesing
 Hanna's Today.