Denver Theater District on Curtis Street, circa 1927-1930. To the front right is the Nanking Chop Suey Restaurant, which probably did a thriving business.
Firefighters, police and spectators at Quincy Building fireground at 17th and Curtis.
On Feb. 2, 1929, seven Denver firefighters were injured or overcome by chemical fumes in a two-alarm blaze at the Quincy Building at 17th and Curtis streets - in what was then known as the Theater District.
That's where the citizenry thronged to see the movies.
The fire, naturally enough, broke out in or near a stash of films, negatives and chemicals stored in the basement of the Quincy Building by Universal Studio, the Rocky Mountain News reported.
Firefighters advancing hoses into the basement were beaten back and the crew of Truck Company 10 was partially overcome, the News said. They finally cut holes in the floor and flooded the basement.
The fire drew 2,000 or more spectators and "police struggled in vain to beat the crowds back as firemen shouted warnings that an explosion might happen," the News said.
Fire Chief John Healy directed 13 downtown fire companies, assisted by District chiefs William S. Bryan, Clarence A. Hawkins, Raymond Giffords and J. Moses
The first alarm was transmitted at 12:16 p.m, the second alarm as ordered at 12:22 p.m., and the fire was out at 3 p.m., the News said.
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