Movies in the Park Celebrates 10 Years

Movies in the Park (MITP), a family friendly event that shows films every Saturday on the Field of Dreams at the Palisades Recreation Center, began its 10th season last Saturday with “Pirates of the Caribbean.”
More than 250 people gathered to picnic, enjoy the free hot dogs supplied by Mike Skinner and the Recreation and Parks staff and chat with neighbors until the movie began.
Troop 223 Eagle Scout candidate Max Delena, a sophomore baseball player at Palisades High, sold soda, candy and water to help pay for his Eagle project. “I plan to redo the youth room at the Presbyterian Church,” Delena said. His eight-year-old sister Danielle was at his table for moral support.
Kettle corn was available to movie-goers, and balloon man Adam Thomason made animal shapes on demand for youngsters. “If this works out I’ll be here every Saturday,” Thomason said. “It’s a chance to mingle and come hang out with friends.”
At her first MITP was Maralee Morrissey, grandmother to Jack 15, and Sam, 11. “I’m from Sarasota, Florida, and the weather is so hot there and here it’s cold.” she said, bundled up in a jacket. Her son Matthew and daughter-in-law Michelle were the first family at the park on Saturday. “We’ve been coming since year one,” Matthew said.
“The first movie I remember is ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark,’” Jack added.
“This hot dog is delicious,” said Ray Klostermann, who was at the park with his seven-year-old daughter Milla. “We saw the [Movies in the Park] sign in town and said ‘Let’s go.’”
“These are the best hot dogs in the town,” said Killian Parent, who was one of four Rec staff grilling. He was joined by eight-year veterans Salomon Perez, Justin Palmer and Nick Shorey. “We’ve shelled out a lot of dogs over the years,” Perez said.
Also reminiscing was one of the co-founders Dave Williams, who was at the movie with his 18-year-old daughter. “She was eight when we screened the first movie. I can’t believe it’s been 10 years.”
Another board member, Brad Lusk, remembers driving a car house to house in the neighborhood as they did a sound check before the first movie.
MITP originally met with stiff opposition from neighbors in the Huntington Palisades and residents on Hampden Place, who expressed concerns about noise, security and the number of weekly screenings.
After winning approval from the Palisades Chamber of Commerce, the Park Advisory Board, the Palisades Community Council and the City’s Department of Recreation and Parks, the first season debuted on July 24, 2004 with “E.T.”
“Do you remember the woman who showed up at the first movie with her kids in pajamas complaining because she said the sound woke them up?” said Andrew Frew another board member.
He recalled, “We were hoping that 50 people would come and then there were 400. Everybody clapped at the end.”
“When we were up for a Sparkplug Award, I knew we were okay,” Williams said.
Co-founder John Wirth was honored with a Community Council Sparkplug in 2005. Wirth, a show runner for “Hell on Wheels,” was filming in Calgary.
Up next week is “Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax” sponsored by Emma Kim, D.M.D.     Admission is free. People are invited to bring picnic baskets and blankets before the movie, which starts at dusk. Pets, stick chairs, alcohol and smoking are not allowed.