The Casino Star Theatre Is Back!

Press Release
Casino Star Theatre, 16 November 2008
On a table is a cake decorated as stage with the curtains parted to reveal the words, 'The Show Must Go On!'

"The Show Must Go On!" The slogan on the cake expresses the determination of the Casino Star Theatre Foundation directors and board, who successfully re-opened Gunnison's only theatre after nearly a year of improvements to overcome the toxic fumes left by Top Stop's huge gasoline leak.
Photographer: Diana Spencer

Louise Sorenson, Phyllis Greener and Carol Anderson sit in in the lobby of the Casino Star Theatre.

From left, Louise Sorenson, Phyllis Greener and Carol Anderson, early visitors to the Casino Star Theatre open house, share their long-time memories of the historic building. Anderson wistfully described living in the four-room apartment above the lobby, where two of her children were delivered by Dr. Rees, legendary physician of Gunnison Valley.
Photographer: Diana Spencer

On November 14, 2008, Gunnison's Casino Star Theatre opened its doors to movie-goers exactly two days short of a full calendar year after the toxic plume from Top Stop's 23,000-gallon leak forced it to close.

The closer it came, the one-year anniversary became "the date to beat" for Directors Lori Nay and Diana Spencer. And with some extraordinary assistance from Rocky Mountain Power, Questar and Zions Bank, and long hours of dedicated hard work by Paulsen Construction, Peterson Refrigeration and Mechanical, and KGM Electric, the doors opened as scheduled.

Over one hundred visitors attended the afternoon open house, during which they were treated to a tour of the facility, including a look at the massive climate-control system, which was turned on for the first time Wednesday afternoon after Rocky Mountain Power completed the new service entry. Thursday, Sanpete County Building Inspector Tracy Christensen inspected and approved the electrical and mechanical systems—as well as handrails, fire-retardant curtains, and exit routes—and approved the building for occupancy.

Especially important, hydrogeologist Lance Hess of Remedy, Inc., placed a device in the basement Wednesday night that would detect any evidence of toxic fumes. Thursday, he transported it to a chemical laboratory for analysis. The results of the chemical analysis arrived by text message on Friday, during the open house. No traces of toxic fumes were detected with the new system in operation, even though a similar test showed positive only two weeks earlier.

In the meantime, tickets for "Twilight at Midnight," the November 20 midnight showing of the highly anticipated movie Twilight, sold out within two days. Because of the demand, the Casino Star management is selling advance tickets to the Friday showings at 5:00, 7:15 and 9:30 p.m.

Advance tickets only for Friday, November 21 may be purchased at the box office during regular box office hours, 6:30-9:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday. Orders of five or more adult tickets may be purchased with a credit card by telephone at 435-979-2798 or 435-979-9235.

Welcome back to the Casino Star Theatre! We want to be your first choice in movie entertainment.
Associated Theaters
Theater City
Casino Star Theatre Gunnison