Palm Springs, CA (The Hollywood Times) 10/2/26 – Break out the vintage dresses, sharp suits, wild hats and your best early-1960s Hollywood style. The countdown is officially on for the Costume Contest taking place Sunday, November 1, as part of the special Palm Springs presentation of Stanley Kramer’s comedy classic It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World.
Exactly one month from today, the newly restored historic Plaza Theatre in downtown Palm Springs will welcome movie lovers for an afternoon celebrating one of Hollywood’s most beloved comedies, and guests are encouraged to become part of the fun themselves.
The costume contest invites attendees to arrive dressed in their finest early-1960s-inspired attire, with organizers even suggesting characters such as the unforgettable Mrs. Marcus or Lennie Pike as inspiration. Prizes will be awarded; additional contest details and judges will be announced. Kat Kramer is confirmed as one of the judges.
The contest is just one part of a packed afternoon surrounding the return of It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World to Palm Springs. The November 1 event will also include trivia games, an online treasure hunt, a Q&A and a book signing with author James Curtis, whose new book Comedy Is a Grim Business: The Making of It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World explores the history and creation of the landmark film.
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Hosted by Kat Kramer and Karen Sharpe-Kramer, the daughter and widow of legendary filmmaker Stanley Kramer, the celebration brings the film back to a city with deep connections to both Kramer and the production. Much of the movie was filmed in Palm Springs and Palm Desert, and Kramer maintained longstanding ties to the Coachella Valley.
Released in 1963, It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World brought together an extraordinary ensemble cast including Spencer Tracy, Ethel Merman, Sid Caesar, Milton Berle, Jonathan Winters, Mickey Rooney, Buddy Hackett, Phil Silvers and Dick Shawn, along with appearances by comedy legends including Buster Keaton, Jerry Lewis and The Three Stooges. The film received six Academy Award nominations and won the Oscar for Best Sound Effects.
KNK Productions, Inc., the family-owned production company founded by Karen Sharpe-Kramer with daughters Kat and Jennifer Kramer, continues the Stanley Kramer legacy through film, television, live events and socially conscious storytelling.
The special screening begins Sunday, November 1, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. at the Plaza Theatre, 128 S. Palm Canyon Drive in Palm Springs. Tickets start at $25, with a $75 VIP package that includes access to the BIG W afterparty. Proceeds from the event support the Palm Springs Theatre Foundation.
So, Palm Springs: you have one month.
Raid the closet. Visit the vintage shops. Channel your favorite 1960s movie character or create something completely mad of your own.
After all, at an event celebrating It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, showing up looking perfectly sensible might be missing half the fun.
The Hollywood Times is a proud media partners for this special Palm Springs celebration.
