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The Long Beach Gazette wrote an article about the annual Movies in the Park summer series and how this year the Shoreline Symphonic Winds are used to enhance the atmosphere. Continuing reading below to learn more about this amazing band and the free community event.
Shoreline Symphonic Winds Entertains Long Beach Movie Goers
Movies in the Park has always been about a lot more than movies.
The annual summer series, organized by the Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine with sponsorship from Signal Hill Petroleum and Partners of Parks, creates a carnival atmosphere during events.
Before the kid-friendly movie begins, families picnic and take advantage of activities like face painting, games and the moon bounce.
And, on some evenings, these activities take place to the sounds of the Shoreline Symphonic Winds (also known as the Long Beach Community Band), a group of about 65 amateur musicians based in Long Beach.
Pat Mullen, a trumpet player who also heads the Long Beach Community Band’s Board of Directors, said the band “gives players a reason to pick up their instruments” after their days of high school or college marching band are over.
“Even though I have a day job, I didn’t want to stop playing,” Mullen, who calls himself a “reformed professional trumpet player,” said.
The band plays throughout the year, both locally and in community band festivals — and in summer, they play at select Movies in the Park events. In keeping with the theme, the band focuses on songs from film soundtracks.
“It’s lots of John Williams,” Mullen said. “While we’re playing, it’s mostly for the adults — the kids are still running around.”
Shoreline Symphonic Winds is a shoestring operation, and the musicians are unpaid, Mullen said. So they have worked out a creative solution: they trade their musical talents for park-supplied rehearsal and storage place.
The band, which will celebrate its 70th anniversary next year, is always looking for new members, Mullen said. All that’s needed is a high-intermediate or better level of musicianship, a willingness to practice, and the desire to perform.
“I think if you’re going to do something, you should try your best,” he said.
Shoreline Symphonic Winds will play at 6:45 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 5, at Wardlow Park (3457 Stanbridge Ave.). The movie that night will be “Inside Out.”
They’ll also perform at 6:45 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 12, at Houghton Park (6301 Myrtle Ave.) before “Zootopia” and at 6:45 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 24, at Pan American Park (5157 Centralia Ave.) before “Pixels.”
For more information about Shoreline Symphonic Winds, visit shorelinewinds.org.
Jennifer Rice Epstein can be reached at jriceepstein@gazettes.com.
Debra Russell, Director of Community Relations for SHP received a proclamation from Long Beach City Council for the Movies in the Park Series donation.
Signal Hill Petroleum presented a $27,500 check to Partners of Parks at the Long Beach City Council meeting Tuesday, June 14th. The donation will be used to finance the Movies in the Park program, which provides a series of free movies at local parks from June through August.
Debra Russell, Director of Community Relations at Signal Hill Petroleum, presented the check on behalf of the company.
“We are proud to sponsor the 11th consecutive year of the Movies in the Park series with Partners of Parks,” Russell said. “At Signal Hill Petroleum we are committed to investing in the communities where our business footprint resides and are proud to partner with local programs like Partners of Parks to give back to the residents of Long Beach and Signal Hill. The time spent together as a family is priceless and we are so honored for this opportunity to bring families together with a fun-filled evening of movies, popcorn and a true sense of community.”
Attracting over 10,000 people annually, Movies in the Park provides free family-friendly entertainment and popcorn for families throughout Long Beach, Signal Hill and the surrounding communities. The $27,500 gift will fund the showing of 29 movies at 27 parks throughout the Long Beach and Signal Hill area.
The 2016 Movies in the Park series began Monday, June 20th with the showing of Star Wars; The Force Awakens at Signal Hill Park. Other features include “The Good Dinosaur”, “Inside Out” and “Zootopia”. For the complete Movies in the
Park schedule visit: http://www.longbeach.gov/park/recreation-programs/programs-and-classes/summer-family-entertainment/movies-in-the-park/
The Long Beach Gazettes newspaper brought awareness to the 11th annual Movies in the Park series. Signal Hill Petroleum has proudly been sponsoring the event since its inception. Continue reading the article below to learn more about this free family event.
Photo provided by the Gazettes – Star Wars: The Force Awakens kicks off Long Beach Parks, Recreation and Marine’s movies in the park series Monday, June 20, at Signal Hill Park.
Long Beach Movies in the Park
Gazettes – By Jennifer Rice Epstein, Editor
May 27, 2016
Family-friendly films are the emphasis for Movies in the Park, organized by the Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine.
The series, sponsored by Signal Hill Petroleum in cooperation with Partners of Parks — now in its 11th year — brings in recent titles. This season’s opener in “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.”
“We just think it’s a great opportunity for something free and fun,” Jane Grobaty, a spokesperson for the parks department, said.
She advises would-be moviegoers to arrive early to get a good spot, enjoy a picnic dinner, and “let the kids have some fun.” There are a number of activities before the movie begins, including games, face painting and a moon bounce. Free popcorn is provided during the movie.
The movies will screen in parks throughout the city — and this year, one film, “Zootopia,” will be screened at the Long Beach Animal Care Services, too.
Ted Stevens, manager of Animal Care Services, said the idea to show an animal-themed movie at the shelter popped into his head one night, not long ago.
“It’s like a light bulb went off,” Stevens said. “I don’t know why I never thought of it before.”
The shelter will stay open late the night of the movie so people can “come through and look at adoptable animals until the movie starts,” he said.
And the showing itself will take place in the agility yard. Otherwise, he said, “it’ll be your typical movie in the park experience.”
Stevens said he hopes to make movie night at the shelter an annual event.
“Anything we can do to get people over here,” he said. “Hopefully, (we will) get a few animals adopted.”
The Long Beach Post, Signal Tribune and Long Beach Report covered SHP’s 9th consecutive year of sponsoring the Movies in the Park series. Furthermore Council-member Patrick O’Donnell tweeted his gratitude, and commented on the amazing turnout for the opening night.
Click on the links below for the full articles.
Councilmember O’Donnell’s Twitter Account
Courtesy of Patrick O’Donnell @ODonnell Update Jun 26 – Record turnout at #MovieinthePark! Thanks @LongBeachParks and #SignalHillPetroleum for sponsoring such a great event! pic.twitter.com/gV0SwKv4lL
Signal Hill Petroleum Inc. awarded a check for $27,500 to Partners of Parks at the Long Beach City Council meeting Tuesday, June 16th. The donation will be used to finance the Movies in the Park program, which provides a series of free movies at local parks from June through August.
From left to right: Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster; George Chapjian, Director of Long Beach Parks, Recreation & Marine; Stefanie Gillett, Signal Hill Petroleum Communications Specialist; Debra Montalvo Russell, Signal Hill Petroleum Director of Community Relations; Trina Schoonmaker, Partner of Parks Board President; Drew Satariano, Partners of Parks Executive Director
“We are thrilled to embark on our 9th consecutive year of sponsoring the Movies in the Park series with Partners of Parks,” Stefanie Gillett, Communications Specialist at Signal Hill Petroleum, said. “At Signal Hill Petroleum we are committed to investing in the communities where our business footprint resides and are proud to partner with local programs like Partners of Parks to give back to the residents of Long Beach and Signal Hill.The time spent together as a family is priceless and we are so honored for this opportunity to bring families together with a fun-filled evening of movies, popcorn and a true sense of community.”
Attracting over 10,000 people annually, Movies in the Park provides free family-friendly entertainment and popcorn for families throughout Long Beach, Signal Hill and the surrounding communities. The $27,500 gift will fund the showing of 31 movies at 28 parks throughout the Long Beach and Signal Hill area.
Signal Hill Petroleum Gifts $27,500 to Fund 9th Annual Movies in the Park
From left to right: Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster; George Chapjian, Director of Long Beach Parks, Recreation & Marine; Stefanie Gillett, Signal Hill Petroleum Communications Specialist; Debra Montalvo Russell, Signal Hill Petroleum Director of Community Relations; Trina Schoonmaker, Partner of Parks Board President; Drew Satariano, Partners of Parks Executive Director
Long Beach, CA – June 19, 2014 – Signal Hill Petroleum Inc. awarded a check for $27,500 to Partners of Parks at the Long Beach City Council meeting Tuesday, June 16th. The donation will be used to finance the Movies in the Park program, which provides a series of free movies at local parks from June through August.
Stefanie Gillett, Communications Specialist at Signal Hill Petroleum, presented the check on behalf of the company.
“We are thrilled to embark on our 9th consecutive year of sponsoring the Movies in the Park series with Partners of Parks,” Gillett said. “At Signal Hill Petroleum we are committed to investing in the communities where our business footprint resides and are proud to partner with local programs like Partners of Parks to give back to the residents of Long Beach and Signal Hill.The time spent together as a family is priceless and we are so honored for this opportunity to bring families together with a fun-filled evening of movies, popcorn and a true sense of community.
Attracting over 10,000 people annually, Movies in the Park provides free family-friendly entertainment and popcorn for families throughout Long Beach, Signal Hill and the surrounding communities. The $27,500 gift will fund the showing of 31 movies at 28 parks throughout the Long Beach and Signal Hill area.
The 2014 Movies in the Park series starts this Friday June 20th with a sing-a-long showing of “Frozen” at Whaley Park. Other features include “The Lego Movie”, “Monsters University” and “Despicable Me 2”. For the complete Movies in the
Park schedule visit: http://www.longbeach.gov/park/movies_in_the_park.asp
About Signal Hill Petroleum
Signal Hill Petroleum is a privately owned California-based energy company that specializes in exploration, development and production of crude oil and natural gas in urban areas. Signal Hill Petroleum is dedicated to its communities, environment, and to providing domestic energy resources for generations to come. With a set of core values rooted in a transparent business philosophy, honest approach and concern for the environment, the company strives to be an excellent neighbor and community partner.