Golden Resource for 
Education, Arts, and Theater

 

History of GREAT

 

The Golden Resource for Education, Arts, and Theater, Inc. (GREAT) originally formed in 2001 with the intention of restoring the Golden Gem Theater building into a downtown independent movie theater.  The building is located at the southeast corner of 13th Avenue and Washington Street in Golden and was constructed in 1911, making it  the oldest structure built as a movie house in Colorado.  As part of that effort, the group brought a variety of film projects to Golden.

GREAT’s mission:  To enhance, promote, and enrich the Golden community’s cultural diversity in relation to the cinematic and performing arts.  Since GREAT's incorporation the film and performing arts climate has blossomed with the Colorado Environmental Film Festival, DocuWest, Miners Alley Playhouse, Movies & Music in the Park, Colorado School of Mines student film classes, a digital video class at Golden High School, movie nights at various locations throughout Golden, and a renewed interest in establishing a Golden Gem Cinema at the American Mountaineering Center. 

During its ten years, GREAT sponsored and planned the following events:
Hollywood in Golden flyer
Hollywood & Golden

An evening of short, silent, and historic film clips created in Colorado and Golden in the early 1900s, complete with commentary of the history of filmmaking and behind-the-scenes production facts, stories, and tragedies.   Hosted by David Emrich, producer and historian.
Venue:  American Mountaineering Center.

Film Festivals

 Golden Film Festival
and
2nd Annual Golden Film Festival

A weekend of Oscar-nominated feature and short documentaries, short live action films, and animated shorts. A selection of short films produced by Colorado filmmakers also screened.
Venue: Colorado School of Mines.

Colorado Mountain Club
2004 Mountain Festival
Two evenings of mountaineering films.
Venue: American Mountaineering Center.

3rd Annual Golden Film Festival

A weekend of independent and international entries with a more traditional film festival format.
Venues:  Colorado School of Mines and American Mountaineering Center.

 Golden Film Festival
   

Fall Film Series Flyer
Fall Film Series

Four evenings of classic black and white film presented in conjunction with Bob Jennings, Golden High School graduate, retired Jefferson County teacher, and avid film buff with a personal collection of over 300 classic films. Venue: City Council Chambers.
Movies & Music in the Park

 Family-friendly films under the stars. 
Venues:  Lions Park and Parfet Park

Movies & Music in the Park
co-sponsored by the City of Golden

2011 - How to Train Your Dragon, Back to the Future, and Chronicles of Narnia:  Voyage of the Dawn Treader

2010 - The Princess Bride, Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, Night at the Museum II:  Battle for the Smithsonian, and The Blind Side

2009 - Horton Hears a Who, City Slickers, Kung Fu Panda, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

2008 - Over the Hedge, American Graffiti, Karate Kid, Secondhand Lions

2007 - School of Rock, The Goonies, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Nanny McPhee, and Happy Feet

2006 - Shrek 2 and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (the remainder of the season was rained out)

2005 - Napoleon Dynamite, Galaxy Quest, and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

 

 

Movies in the Park
(Golden Outdoor Cinema)

2004 - The Sound of Music, Seabiscuit, The Princess Bride, and Spiderman

2003 - Toy Story, Back to the Future, Monsters Inc., Grease, and Ice Age

2002 - Shrek and To Kill a Mockingbird

        




Concert with Screen

Movie on screen at dusk

 

 
Founding Board Members: John Spear, Dale Wheatley, Sharon Wheatley, Judy Bolis, Don Parker, Mary Parker, Susan Riebe, Geoffrey Wodell, Diane Tiberi, Scott Helker, and Elizabeth Reppond

Past Presidents:  John Spear, Tracy Evanko, Don Parker, Sabrina D'Agosta
 
Many people and organizations were involved with GREAT over the years. From its launch to its maintenance and through its transition, the commitment, dedication and passion of many key individuals produced and inspired fun, interesting, and enriching events for Golden and made it possible for the opportunity to continue to support those efforts in a meaningful way by merging with the Colorado Environmental Film Festival. It was exciting and satisfying to have been a part of it. Many thanks to everyone who brought their enthusiasm and energy to the group.
 
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