By Bob Kaster, Published in the Siskiyou News, Oct 20, 2026.

What were you doing on October 23, 1976? 64 % of you hadn’t even been born yet, so you surely don’t remember. If you had been born and were living in Siskiyou County, you may remember attending the dedication ceremony for the newly completed Yreka Community Theater. That ceremony introduced a week-long series of events including theater tours and nightly performances, all celebrating the culmination of seven years of dedicated efforts beginning in 1969 when 71% of those responding to a community needs survey said creation of a community theater was their highest priority. Here is a quick thumbnail sketch of those efforts, naming some names that some of you old-timers may remember.

The survey result prompted the city to hold public hearings, poll the citizens with a questionnaire, form a Community Center Commission, select a site, and – the real hard part – raise the money! Especially active in accomplishing all that was city councilman Don Carey.

Finally, in 1975, after much effort the city secured a $500,000 grant from the Economic Development Administration. With that amount of money in mind the city developed specifications and went out to bid. But the lowest bid was $33,000 more than the available funding. The city had to come up with the $33,000 difference and only had one week to do it, or the grant would disappear! Maybe that doesn’t seem like a lot of money, but keep in mind that this was 1975. Today that $500,000 would be worth about $3.1 million and that $33,000 worth about $205,000! City councilman Jim Eckman contacted Audrey Tyler and prevailed upon her to chair a committee to raise the $33,000, and to do it within one week! Well, they did it. And who were the people on the committee? Some of you may recognize these names: The committee consisted of Audrey Tyler, chair; Warren Behnke, Ethel Berryhill, Oweta Bray, Mary Ellen Bryan, Barbara Day, Gordon and B’Ann Dunlap, Darrell Foster, Marcia Hutchinson, Vern Mushel, William and Betty Ruddiman, and Ernst Weinberg. (Please forgive me if I’ve misspelled names or left anyone out.)

So, here we are today, fifty years later. Thanks to all those people, and to many others who have contributed over the years, we can celebrate 50 years of the Yreka Community Theater. This Saturday, October 24, at 7:00 PM, Scott Durbin presents SECRET SOCIETY HANDSHAKE, with a 12-piece funk and soul party of local musicians, and guest, Yreka’s favorite, Connie Croad. The doors open at 6:30. Don’t miss it!