Education, Arts, and Theater
HISTORY OF G.R.E.A.T.
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 & 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. |
|
|
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.
Movies & Music in the Park 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 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 |
|
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.
return to CEFF home page
- Login to post comments

