Built in 1994 as a movie theater, the Majestic first opened its doors to the public on December 19th with Dumb + Dumber, The Jungle Book, & Disclosure. Over the next 26 years, the Majestic was operated as a for-profit first run cinema, operated by 3 different couples.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Majestic Theatre closed temporarily on March 13th, 2020. After 6 months of being unable to operate due to Colorado state law and restrictions, the Majestic was forced to shut its doors for good on September 17th, 2020.

Immediately following the closing staff party, former Majestic manager Carrie Wallace decided she couldn’t stand to lose the only movie theater in the Gunnison valley. Along with other former employees Conrad Kaul and Whitney Favor, Carrie started a nonprofit, Friends of the Majestic, incorporated on October 28, 2020. The next morning, the team created a Facebook page and GoFundMe to launch the project. In a just few days, the GoFundMe had raised over $20,000 – illustrating the strong desire from the community to bring back the Majestic.

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Over the next two years, the team dedicated their free time to establish the nonprofit, and began fundraising through multiple small events. Friends of the Majestic held a virtual silent auction that raised over $12,000 with 100% donated goods from the community. The group partnered with the Center for the Arts to put on a sold-out cult classic movie series. Sweaty Kids Film Festival grew exponentially in those two years, becoming the Majestic’s flagship event and showing the community just how fun the Majestic can be. The team also hosted a movie themed roller derby for the community called Boogie Nights. Finally, in August 2022, the team signed a lease for the Majestic and reopened their doors to the public on September 23, 2022. Since then, the Majestic has operated as a nonprofit cinema – bringing a wide variety of affordable entertainment to the Gunnison Valley.

The Majestic Theatre entertains, educates, and inspires the Gunnison Valley through affordable and accessible new movies, local films, community events and collaborations.

We harness the power of movies to provide an escape or a learning experience for all members of the Gunnison Valley. By creating more opportunity for local events, the Majestic operates as an essential community resource.

A 2020 joint study by Vue and University College London used devices similar to an Apple Watch to investigate what happens to our bodies and minds during a 2 hour screening. Beyond finding that our heart rates elevate and reach “healthy heart rates” for an average of 40 minutes per movie, the researches noticed a fascinating trend amongst audiences.

Professor Devlin of UCL states that “despite the fact that these people are all strangers to one another, their hearts begin to beat in synchrony while watching the film together.”

The Majestic works with dozens of different local organizations to host fundraisers, staff parties, free sponsored movies nights, watch parties, and so much more! Providing affordable rentals is just one way that we support our community.

In just 2024, the Majestic hosted 97 free events for over 2,600 attendees. We hosted 47 birthday parties and 74 private events, as well as 60 events created and presented by the Majestic. In the rural snow globe that is Crested Butte, the Majestic provides an affordable and flexible entertainment space.

Movies provide relaxation
Watching a movie allows us to disconnect from our surroundings for a duration of time. Our minds are actively engaged with the story, allowing external thoughts and worries to fade away. “Comfort films”, aka those favorites you can’t stop rewatching, are especially powerful in reducing stress hormones. According to the study by the University of Maryland, comedies and movies that make people laugh, caused people’s blood vessels to dilate by 22%, lowering blood pressure and reducing stress.

Movies develop problem solving skills
Movies have often been used by therapists to help patients change how they think. According to Gary Solomon Ph.D., MPH, MSW, the author of two books on cinematherapy, if you’re facing some difficult life situation, you should choose movies with themes that mirror your current problems or situation.
In other words, films can be “a safe space” where we can find alternative role models to identify with, and observe those characters’ behaviors as they tackle challenges similar to our own.

Movies Provide an Emotional Release
Film watching has a cathartic effect, allowing viewers to experience strong emotions through an activity. This can be very beneficial for those who have trouble expressing emotions, as films may easily prompt them to laugh, cry, or experience an emotion. This applies for sad and scary movies as well! Watching something suspenseful releases cortisol (the stress hormone) in the brain, followed by dopamine, which produces feelings of pleasure.

Executive Director
carrie@cbmajestic.org

Like many others, Carrie moved to the Gunnison Valley to ski, but stayed for the community. Carrie was raised in Manchester, CT and Wellfleet, MA. After graduating from The George Washington University with a degree in Human Services and Social Justice, she completed a Fulbright Scholarship teaching English in rural Thailand. With the intention of ski instructing for just one season, Carrie moved to Crested Butte in 2016. She has served many roles in the community, from server to babysitter to KBUT DJ and Performing Arts Manager at the Center for the Arts. She was hired at the Majestic in 2018 and became manager in 2019.

Assistant Director
conrad@cbmajestic.org

A native Coloradan, Conrad first came to the Gunnison Valley in 2013 to attend Western Colorado University – and of course, to ski. After graduating in 2017 with a degree in Environmental Science and Recreation Management, Conrad worked a variety of seasonal jobs from commercial fishing in Bristol Bay, Alaska to leading youth wilderness trips in California. Like most locals, Conrad has worked a variety of jobs in the valley, from the dish pit at The Last Steep and Ginger Cafe, to coaching Mountain Sports and bartending at Montanya’s and The Club at Crested Butte. Conrad was hired at the Majestic in 2018, where he met his future boss and wife, Carrie. When the Majestic closed in 2020, Conrad joined Carrie in the fight to resurrect the beloved busienss.

Morgan Weinberg, President

Kaitlyn Archambault, Secretary

Trevor Bona

Malcolm Boyce