Bob Marsh and the Great Bend Community Theater invite the public to a celebration of the Crest Theater diamond anniversary on Sunday, Nov. 9. The Crest will present two showings of the 1950 grand opening film, “Two Weeks With Love,” starring Jane Powell and Ricardo Montalban.
The recreation of the Nov. 9, 1950, grand opening will allow attendees to step into the 1950 era of new style, comfort and technology that the Crest brought to Great Bend. Historic automobiles will line the curb, the marquee will light the evening and the ticket booth will grant entrance. The lobby and mezzanine will display history of the theater and the streets of Great Bend. Concessions will be available. Uniformed usherettes will provide a historic program and attend to every need.
Doors open at 1 p.m. with the first of the two screenings beginning at 2 p.m. and the other at 6:30 p.m. Admission is only $1 for all ages, courtesy of celebration sponsor Max Nichols and the Nichols Family Trust. The $1 admission fee accounts for the original 1950s ticket cost of 65 cents along with a 35-cent charge for popcorn.
There is no reserved seating, and all tickets must be purchased at the box office on the day of the event. The theater seats 337, so it is advised to arrive early to ensure a spot.
Attendees are encouraged to have some fun and come dressed in their best 1950 Hollywood Grand Opening attire, Great Bend-style. Each screening will feature a “Best 1950 Dressed Contest.” Participants will have their picture taken with the Crest 75th Anniversary backdrop and receive a digital copy emailed to them. During the opening remarks, six winners will be announced and awarded a prize.
To kick off the 75th anniversary celebration, the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 6 at the Crest Theater. The event will set the stage for a weekend full of festivities, honoring one of the community’s most beloved historical landmarks.
Chamber President and CEO Megan Barfield said, “The Crest has been part of Great Bend’s story for 75 years, welcoming families, friends and visitors through its doors. We’re honored to help celebrate this milestone and to recognize the theater’s lasting place in our community’s history and future.”
The Chamber invites the public to take part in this special occasion and help celebrate the Crest’s milestone anniversary. The ribbon-cutting will be a symbolic opening to the anniversary weekend, offering the community a chance to come together in recognition of the theater’s past, present and bright future. Great Bend Mayor Cody Schmidt will also present a proclamation for the Crest.
Brief History
Prior to its Nov. 9, 1950, grand opening, the corner of Lakin Avenue and Kansas Avenue was occupied by the Kansan Theater. The Kansan was demolished to build the current-day Crest Theater as a more modern building was needed to meet fire standards.
The Crest Theater was considered cutting-edge at the time, with 985 seats between the orchestra and balcony, along with Perlite ceilings, fireproof seats and curtains, a pay phone, miniature water fountain, a cry room and a party room that could be reserved. The eye-catching marquee of 860 flashing bulbs, 20 floodlights and 3,000 feet of neon tubing continues to proudly ignite downtown Great Bend to this day.
Many small-town and city historical theaters closed throughout the 1960s and 1970s as populations depleted. The Great Bend Crest Theater shut down in 1979 before resuming operations in 1992 from the collaboration of the City of Great Bend and the Great Bend Community Theatre organization.
Since then, the Crest has been restored and modified with an extended stage, updated bathrooms, HVAC system, new carpet, curtains, sound system and lights.
Over the last seven decades, Crest Theater has served as a staple of entertainment in central Kansas as a multi-purpose venue. It has hosted various plays, movies, seminars, dances, lectures and concerts throughout its tenure and has retained its historical integrity throughout the last 75 years, being listed on the National Register of Historical Places in February 2005.
The Great Bend Community Theatre hosts three comedies each season and will kick off the 2025-26 term with the performance of “Savannah Sipping Society” from Oct. 23-26. In 2026, “Happy Birthday Dear Grandpa” will take to the stage from Feb. 26 through March 1 before wrapping up the season with the production of “Just Desserts” from April 23-26.
Season tickets are $30 per person and can be purchased at the box office by mailing an order form to PO Box 361 Great Bend, KS, 67530. To receive an order form, email gbct.crest@gmail.com with contact information. For any additional questions, please email or call 620-792-4228.
