Documentary Premiere at Avalon Theatre

Date: November 10, 2010

 You’re Invited to a Special Advance Screening of the Film
"The Colorado National Monument:
Celebrating 100 Years of John Otto’s Dream"
At the Avalon Theatre–Thursday, November 18, 7 pm
Free Admission Please join us at the Avalon Theatre on Thursday, November 18 at 7:00 p.m.

Doors will be open to the public at 6:15 p.m. Colorado National Monument in partnership with Rocky Mountain PBS will present a special advance screening of the Rocky Mountain PBS original documentary film celebrating the Monument’s Centennial and the life of its founder, John Otto.

Other sponsors include the Grand Junction Visitor and Convention Bureau, the City of Grand Junction, Colorado National Monument Association, Williams Energy, First National Bank of the Rockies, and Shaw Construction.

The Rocky Mountain PBS original documentary was envisioned, researched, written and filmed by Greg Mikolai of KRJM’s Grand Junction office over the span of 18 months.

Mikolai’s documentary was filmed at some of Colorado National Monument’s most spectacular and historic locales — along the famously breathtaking Rim Rock Drive to atop Independence Monument on July 4th. The film also showcases many of the historic photos and archived films from the Monument’s earliest days. Mikolai documents the presence of indigenous peoples and was allowed the special privilege to film the sacred Bear Dance of the Northern Ute Tribe at Fort Duchesne, Utah.

Much like Ken Burns did in his epic documentary, "The National Parks: America's Best Idea," Mikolai brings to life the early conservationists who passionately worked to protect America’s bounty of superlative landscapes. Mikolai intersperses his film with the many interesting characters who were a part of the Monument for the last 100 years.

During the month of December Colorado National Monument will also host special weekend screenings of the 1-hour documentary on both Saturday and Sunday at 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. at Colorado National Monument’s visitor center. Presentations are free. The visitor center is located four miles into the park from the West Entrance Station.

For more information about Colorado National Monument please call the park at [phone], 360.