Casino Star Theatre

The Casino Star Theatre is a historic movie theater and live-performance venue at 78 South Main Street (US-89) in Gunnison, Utah, United States. It opened on January 13, 1913, as the "Casino Theatre," an unfinished but functional amusement hall and movie theatre built by Gunnison entrepreneur Sims M. Duggins. The building is the oldest functioning theater in Utah and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Its ornate Beaux-Arts façade, featuring Ionic columns and statuary, was designed by the Beaux-Arts School of Architectural Design in Paris, fabricated by a Pittsburgh company, and installed in 1915. The theater also featured an underground tunnel used to smuggle alcohol during American Prohibition; the tunnel was sealed during recent renovations for safety reasons. Over its long history the theater changed hands and names several times. Manager C. E. Huish, who ran it from 1936 to 1940, added restrooms and a triangular marquee and renamed it the "Star Theater," a name it carried for seventy-five years. The Cyrill E. Anderson family of Gunnison bought the theater in 1940 and operated it until 1973. Subsequent owners included Max and Beth Curtis, Ernie and Dawn Larson, and Paul and Mike Mower, who upgraded seating, sound, and structural supports. In November 2004 the building was sold to the Casino Star Theatre Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit formed by Lori Nay and Diana Major Spencer to purchase and restore the dilapidated structure. The new name "Casino Star" honors the theater's entire history as an entertainment center for Gunnison Valley. Restoration of the exterior was completed in late July 2013. Today the Casino Star Theatre operates as a community movie house and concert venue. It screens films and hosts live performances, such as a 2020s concert by country singer Lacy J. Dalton. The theater has 260 seats, and tickets are purchased at the door rather than online. Adult tickets are $8, while children, seniors, and veterans pay $6. The foundation also supports public arts projects, including the Sanpitch Dragon Undersea Mural at the Kids' Pool and a Heritage Wall. As a nonprofit, the theater relies on donors and community support to maintain and preserve the historic building.

The Casino Star Theatre opened on January 13, 1913, as the "Casino Theatre," an unfinished but functional "amusement hall" and movie theatre in Gunnison, Utah. It was built by Gunnison entrepreneur Sims M. Duggins, who had the Beaux-Arts School of Architectural Design in Paris design the façade and hired a Pittsburgh company to build it. Within six months Duggins had installed chandeliers inside and terra cotta rosettes on the arched façade, but the Casino reached its full visual glory in July 1915, when its ornate Beaux-Arts façade, featuring Ionic columns and statuary, arrived from Philadelphia and was installed. The performance space was improved with a rear addition in 1918–19, including a partial basement, which provided enhanced stage facilities and dressing rooms for live performances. The theater also featured an underground tunnel used to smuggle alcohol during American Prohibition; the tunnel was sealed during recent renovations due to safety concerns. Duggins died in 1928, and his widow hired C. E. Huish, whose family owned theaters throughout Utah, to manage the theater. In the Gunnison Valley News of July 23, 1936, Huish announced physical changes including the addition of restrooms and a triangular marquee. He also closed in the recessed entry with a wall at the front edge of the arch and gave the theater the name it carried for seventy-five years: the "Star Theater." Except for a short period in the early 1970s, the Star operated continuously as a movie theatre with occasional live performances. In 1940, the Cyrill E. Anderson family of Gunnison bought the theater, and in the 1950s they put up the triangular marquee that remained until the current restoration began. The Andersons continued to operate the Star until 1973, although it became less profitable as it faced competition from television, movies, videos, and DVDs. After Cyrill E. Anderson's death in 1973, the family sold the theater to Max and Beth Curtis of Aurora, who in turn sold it to Ernie and Dawn Larson in 1981. The Larsens installed a new roof and began the nomination process for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. The theater was listed on the National Register in 1989. In the late 1980s, before Larson sold the property, Diana Major Spencer and Lori Nay founded the non-profit organization Save Our Star ("SOS") and tried to purchase and rehabilitate the theater. In 1993, Paul Mower along with his son Mike Mower, owner of the Huish Theater in Payson and a descendant of one-time Star Theater manager C. E. Huish, purchased the Star. It was later incorporated into Hustar-Inc. The Mowers upgraded the seating and sound system, as well as reinforcing the wooden support system under the floor with concrete and steel. When Mower put the theater on the market in 2004, Nay and Spencer formed the 501(c)(3) Casino Star Theatre Foundation to finance the building's purchase and repair. The foundation acquired the building on November 1, 2004. The new name, Casino Star, recognizes the theater's entire history as an entertainment center for Gunnison Valley. Restoration of the exterior portion of the Theatre building was completed in late July 2013. Today the Casino Star Theatre operates as a community movie house and concert venue with 260 seats. It screens films and hosts live performances, such as a concert by country singer Lacy J. Dalton. Tickets are purchased at the door rather than online. The foundation also supports public arts projects, including the Sanpitch Dragon Undersea Mural at the Kids' Pool and a Heritage Wall.

• 2013

  Restoration of the exterior completed in late July.

• 2004

  Casino Star Theatre Foundation acquired the building on November 1.

• 1993

  Paul Mower and his son Mike Mower purchased the Star; later incorporated into Hustar-Inc.

• 1989

  Listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

• 1981

  Ernie and Dawn Larson bought the theater, installed a new roof, and began National Register nomination.

• 1973

  After Cyrill E. Anderson's death, the family sold the theater to Max and Beth Curtis.

• 1950

  Triangular marquee installed by the Anderson family.

• 1940

  Cyrill E. Anderson family of Gunnison bought the theater.

• 1936

  Manager C. E. Huish added restrooms and a triangular marquee and renamed it the "Star Theater."

• 1928

  Founder Sims M. Duggins died; his widow hired C. E. Huish to manage the theater.

• 1918

  Rear addition with partial basement added, improving stage facilities and dressing rooms.

• 1915

  Ornate Beaux-Arts façade with Ionic columns and statuary arrived from Philadelphia and was installed in July.

• 1913

  Opened on January 13 as the "Casino Theatre," an unfinished but functional amusement hall and movie theatre.

• 1912

  Theater built by Sims M. Duggins as a "big box" first step in construction.

Historic community movie theater and live-performance venue operated by a nonprofit foundation.

• Movie screenings

• Live concerts and performances

• Community events

• Public arts projects

1. 1The Casino Star Theatre, a 501(c) (3) organization - Moviescasinostartheatre.com
2. 2History - The Casino Star Theatre, a 501(c) (3) organizationcasinostartheatre.com
3. 3Casino Star Theatre - Wikidatawikidata.org
4. 4Casino Theatre (Gunnison, Utah) - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org