Friends of the Atlas
Help us restore this fantastic building!
Are you interested in learning more? Check out the Atlas Theatre Tours page for info on upcoming tours!
History of the Atlas
The Atlas was built in 1887 originally as an office and retail building. Its construction coincided with other now historic Cheyenne landmarks such as the Wyoming State Capitol, the Union Pacific Depot and St Mark’s Episcopal Church. From 1887 to 1908, the upper floors of the 1887 structure were used for office space by professional men while the bottom floor was a tea and confectionary shop.
The 1908 addition included the conversion of the first-floor spaces into a penny arcade, a soda parlor and confectionary shop. The original Atlas Theatre operated from 1908 to 1929. It reopened as the Strand, also a theatre, but the upper floor offices in the 1887 structure were modified into sleeping rooms for the Strand Hotel. Later years saw various uses for the building until becoming mostly vacant in 1963.
In the 1970’s the Cheyenne Little Theatre Players used the Atlas for their Old-Fashioned Melodrama. They purchased the building in 1971 with two objectives: provide performances in the theatre and preserve the historic building. The 2020 production was their 64th year of Melodrama performances.
The Atlas Theatre is a photographer’s feature during important milestones in Cheyenne and Wyoming history. This is the Wyoming Statehood parade on July 10, 1890.
Union Pacific photographer, Joseph Stimson captured the Atlas street scene in 1908.
In 1908, an addition to the south, designed by prominent architect William Dubois, added a 550-seat theatre with a performance stage to serve the town with low-cost amusement.
After the Theatre opened in 1908 with a blade sign, Teddy Roosevelt paraded down Lincolnway.
The original 1908 asbestos fire curtain continues to be used. It was professionally restored, sealed, and preserved in 2018.
In the 1970’s the Cheyenne Little Theatre Players used the Atlas for their Old-Fashioned Melodrama.
The Atlas Theater was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.
For many years, the Atlas Theatre looked like this.
After extensive research and community input, the Atlas façade was restored and preserved in 2019 and today looks like this.
Friends of the Atlas
In 2017, an ad-hoc committee, the Friends of the Atlas, reporting to the Cheyenne Little Theatre Board of Directors formed to focus on restoring, preserving and sustaining a state-of-the-art performance venue at the Historic Atlas Theatre in Downtown Cheyenne.
By fundraising, procuring grants, managing contracts and joining the League of Historic American Theatres, significant progress to save the Atlas has been made. FOTA views the tasks to preserve the Atlas as a perpetual production. Like all CLTP productions, FOTA has Acts.
Act 1 Accomplishments:
Air conditioning, new auditorium flooring and safety railings, window restoration, new lobby ticket counter, electrical upgrades, smoke detectors, new interior paint, new alarm system, front doors restored, new interior lighting, new digital theatre organ, roof repair, balcony seat renovation and establishing historic interior tours.
Act 2 Accomplishments:
Added Heroes as new Friends of the Atlas, renovated the 1897 façade, restored the 1908 fire curtain, and established an endowment.
Act 3 – Currently in Progress:
The Goal: Fundraising to expand the Atlas footprint to the west by purchasing the adjacent 215 West Lincolnway.
Expanding to this non-historic space helps us protect the Atlas’ historic character while addressing essential requirements:
ADA-compliant elevator to the balcony
ADA-compliant expanded bathrooms
Code-required staircase and elevator to Atlas upper floors
Atlas structural and architectural integrity
And provides space to consider adding:
Catering kitchen for dinner theatre and events
Expanded Lobby, Box Office, and Bar
Expanded Performer Green Room
Costume and props storage
Rehearsal Rooms
Offices
Loading/unloading access at Atlas rear
