By BILL BRUNS and LAURA WITSENHAUSEN Following 8-3 approval by the Community Council last Thursday evening, Movies Under the Stars is set to debut on Saturday, July 24 at the Palisades Recreation Center, pending receipt of a permit from the L.A. Department of Recreation and Parks. The free program, presented by the Chamber of Commerce and Friends of Film, will continue at dusk on the next three Saturdays (July 31, August 7 and 14). An outdoor projector will be set up on the grass playing fields and a half-dozen or so speakers will be strategically placed around the audience in order to minimize any potential impact on neighbors. The organizers hope to run ‘Grease’ on opening night, projected onto an 18-by-24-foot inflatable screen. Beforehand, the American Legion will sell hot dogs, soda and water, and people can also bring their own picnic baskets. Every effort will be made to have everyone begin leaving the park (quietly!) by 10:30 p.m. ‘We are continuing our efforts to keep everyone happy in this family-oriented screening series,’ said Friends of Film’s Bob Sharka. To that end, the committee will be working with sound engineer Bill Blanke, who has worked for 18 years with the Palisades Fourth of July parade committee. Blanke will check that the decibel sound level of a test movie is within the allowable and desired range before the first event. He will also conduct sound tests the night of the first screening. Security will be provided by Palisades Patrol, and Chrysalis Street Works has been contracted to clean the site afterwards. While the Movies Under the Stars committee may initially rent some of its equipment, it still needs tax-deductible donations to help underwrite various costs. Donations can be sent to Friends of Film, c/o the Palisades Chamber of Commerce, 15330 Antioch St., Pacific Palisades, CA 90272. At last week’s Community Council meeting, Alma Real resident Valerie Clifford and Hampden Place resident Steve Henning said the film series was ‘a great idea’but in the wrong location.’ They argued that it was unfair to have their homes subjected to unwarranted noise and commotion on a Saturday night. But after an hour of discussion, including a spirited defense of the series by committee spokesman John Wirth, the council approved a motion supporting the pilot program with the proviso that the sponsoring organizations ‘make a continuing good faith effort to evaluate and reevaluate the impact of the programs upon the surrounding community and minimize such impacts, including noise, parking, security, clean-up and traffic management.’
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