John Elway, whose billboard pictures were ubiquitous in Denver, is back in the car-selling business. (Denver Post file )

The legendary John Elway name will once again appear on the side of a metro-area car dealership starting Monday, when the Hall-of-Famer and his business partners take over ownership of Burt Chevrolet, 5200 S. Broadway, Englewood.

The ownership team — Mitch Pierce, Todd Maul and Elway — is expected to close on the sale Monday after submitting a letter of intent in February.

The deal marks the return of the Elway name in the Denver metro auto-sales arena. The team last year opened the John Elway Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram dealership in Greeley.

The ownership change also marks the end of an era with the exit from the market of the Burt Automotive Group dynasty, which at one time included nine stores.

Burt's fall was hastened by various car-manufacturer bankruptcies that forced dealerships to close.

Maul, a former AutoNation executive who will oversee the Chevrolet store's day-to-day operations, emphasizes that his famous partner will concentrate on his primary job as executive vice president of football operations for the Denver Broncos.

"I'm running (the business), but this is an investment for (Elway)," Maul said.

While avoiding specifics, Maul said consumers can expect to see the Elway brand grow.

"We're big believers in the Denver market," Maul said. "We love Denver."

How much?

"We love Denver more than Southwest Airlines."

Life stories.

Denver

Stories, Curious Theatre Company's annual tribute to four Denver city shapers, lampooned the lives of Fruition restaurant co-owner Paul Attardi, LoDo pioneer Dana Crawford, bluesman Otis Taylor and hair stylist to the stars Charlie Price on Wednesday night.

The annual event, a fundraiser for the independent theater company, stages a series of life-story vignettes about the four folks.

Attardi's story, "To Judy, With Love," paid homage to his obsession with Judy Garland, while following his tracks from struggling New York actor to retailer to Denver restaurateur.

Crawford's ditty, "The Pioneer of Skid Row," was written by Denver School of the Arts alum Max Posner who told the story of the "hat-wearing housewife" and urban-renewal zealot who rescued the Oxford Hotel and Larimer Square.

Blues musician Taylor's tale, "Long Slow Moving Train," followed his growth into an award-winning musician from his beginnings with a banjo at the Denver Folklore Center.

Funniest line came from the actress portraying the Manual High School principal who kicked the long-haired, unicycle riding Taylor out of school: "Why can't you be more like Wellington Webb?" she asked. "He was a student here a few years back."

But the show stopper was Diva Television, a chronicle of hair maestro Price, who had to face "reality" following his 15 minutes of fame as a contestant on Bravo TV's "Shear Genius," where he finished as runner-up.

The play staged an intervention for the reality-show-addicted diva, who was portrayed spot-on by actor Steven Burge. The sassy attitude and glassless black frames were pure Price.

The divine diva himself — dressed as a hot mess looking for a makeover — joined the cast for the final dance number.

Gallery gone.

The Camera Obscura Gallery, which resided at 1309 Bannock St. since 1980, closed Saturday.

Owner and fine photographer Hal Gould, in his 90s, opted to close the gallery to work on his memoirs, according to gallery manager and photographer Loretta Young-Gautier.

"The economy has been pretty hard on the arts," Young-Gautier said. "We've had show after show with no sales. The gallery is unsustainable that way."

British invasion.

British rocker Robert Plant engaged in some local retail therapy when he dropped by West Southwest Gallery in Cherry Creek North on Thursday looking for dream catchers and other Indian jewelry.

"When I initially asked him where he was from, he said, 'Texas' in a very proper British accent," gallery owner Dudley Smith said.

Plant ended up buying dream catchers.

EAVESDROPPING

A woman at a royal wedding party in Denver:

"I bet (Kate Middleton) didn't get her tiara at Party City like I did."

Penny Parker's column appears Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday. Listen to her on "Caplis & Silverman" between 4 and 5 p.m. Fridays on KHOW-630 AM. Call her at 303-954-5224 or e-mail pparker@denverpost.com.