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By Kyriaki Rossi Gazette Entertainment Writer

Gazettes.com – Gazette Newspapers Long Beach California

 Outdoor Movies Delight Thousands in SoCal

The idea for an outdoor film program in Long Beach came from the city’s former Community Services Bureau Manager Chrissy Marshall, who passed away in 2009. Long Beach Recreation Supervisor Michelle Gingras said Marshall had a vision to provide outdoor movies for families.

That vision has not only been realized, but has become extremely popular in the last seven years. According to Gingras, about 10,000 people visit Long Beach parks each summer for the Movies in the Park program. That’s nearly 500 attendees per film.
“It offers free family entertainment. You don’t have to leave Long Beach,” Gingras said. In fact, most who attend the outdoor films don’t leave Long Beach. Gingras says 80% of all attendees are Long Beach residents. Her favorite part of the program, she says, is “just giving the families and the residents an opportunity to get together, regardless of economics.”
The program does more than offer entertainment, it also raises awareness among residents about city resources. Every park in the city has the opportunity to shine, as the program moves from park to park showing films. “People will go to parks they didn’t know of, just to follow our program,” Gringas said. Thanks to an ongoing sponsorship from Signal Hill Petroleum, the city is able to offer 30 outdoor films each summer.
Long Beach’s Movies in the Park ends on Aug. 28. (See a full schedule here: http://www.longbeach.gov/park/movies_in_the_park.asp.) Cross the park and head to the beach and you’ll find another outdoor film festival within city limits.
Every summer for the past nine years, Fred Khammar has been picking films, organizing details and setting up Moonlight Movies on the Beach for the Long Beach community. As many as 100,000 people will flock to the sand for the event. This popularity is due, at least in part, to Alfredo’s Beach Club’s commitment to continually increasing the quality of technology used. “We use state-of-the-art equipment right now, but technology is changing so fast, we want to stay in tune with that,” Khammar said, adding that he has brought bigger screens to the event over the years and better equipment. Soon, he says, new technology will allow families to interact with the films on their mobile device. Alfredo’s is able to keep the event free and accessible through concession sales.
For those who like to explore, there are plenty of other outdoor film programs around Southern California.
Moonlight Movies on the Beach runs until Aug. 31. (See a full schedule here: http://www.alfredosbeachclub.com/seafest-movie.html.)
Street Food Cinema in Los Angeles combines films with live music and the delicious creations of various food trucks. The event, which has been in existence for two years, draws nearly 2,000 people to each of its films.
Event Producer Heather Hope-Allison said Street Food Cinema helps bring people with common interests together. One of her favorite parts of the event is watching everyone’s combined excitement.
“There are some scenes in movies we’ve shown that get the crowd really excited,” she said. “For example, when we played ‘Jaws,’ the crowd all cheered when Brody said, ‘We’re going to need a bigger boat.’ It was very cool.”
She added that Street Food Cinema “captures the essence of Los Angeles — celebrating films both old and new while introducing emerging music artists and diverse food selections.” Street Food Cinema has films scheduled until Aug. 31, with more dates being added until its close on September 21. (See a full schedule here: http://streetfoodcinema.com/home.html.)
Movies on the Green in Woodland Hills has been going strong for eight years. Attendance at each film has more than doubled since the start. Now, nearly 15,000 people attend the event overall.
The Valley Cultural Center chooses to show only family friendly films. VCC Executive Director Nora Ross said, “All films must take into account that an entire family can see it. That being said, our films are rated PG.” The movies on the Green Committee selects the films by taking into account how recently the film was released and if there is an event corresponding to the film. For instance, this year VCC has decided to show the film “Annie,” as a sing-along to celebrate its 30th anniversary. Ross said her favorite part of the event is “the fact that families get to be together.” Movies on the Green runs until Aug. 24. (See a full schedule here: http://valleycultural.org/concerts-movies/movie-schedule/.)
The Old Pasadena Film Festival has taken its place as an expanded festival for the last six years, showing films in parks around the community. Before that, there were limited film showings in just one park location. About 10,000 viewers attend films in all of the various venues. This year the festival has a horror/noir theme, however organizers always try to mix in a variety of genres. Steve Mulheim, who heads the event through the Old Pasadena’s Business Improvement District, calls the lineup eclectic.
“We show a number of classics, a number of things maybe from the 80’s and 90’s and then something that is maybe a little bit more recent,” he said. “We try to encompass a lot of different genres, great old comedies, a little bit of everything.” Old Pasadena organizers choose their films by looking at looking at Oscar Winners from the 1930’s on and through the American Film Institute’s Top 100 lists, then narrow the choices by taking out films that are not family friendly. Mulheim says the annual event brings with it a variety of community benefits.
“It helps to activate parks in a very positive way,” he said. “It is something that our growing resident population downtown has been very appreciate of and also can be a mechanism for bringing people into Old Pasadena that might not otherwise come.” Old Pasadena Film Festival ends on July 27. (See a full schedule here: http://www.oldpasadena.org/filmfestival/.)

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EXT CAP Movies

The “Movies in the Park” program began its eighth year on June 24 with a screening of the movie Madagascar 3 at Signal Hill Park in recognition of the support of Signal Hill Petroleum (SHP), which donates funds each year to provide free movies in local parks from June through August. Signal Hill Petroleum donated $27,500 to the Partners of Parks (POP) organization for the summer program during the June 18 Long Beach City Council meeting. Pictured are, from left: Lillian Parker, Partners of Parks Board secretary; Trina Schoonmaker, Partners of Parks Board president; Drew Satariano, Partners of Parks executive director; Long Beach Vice Mayor Robert Garcia; Taylor Colacion, Signal Hill Petroleum public relations; Michelle Gingras, recreation superintendent for Long Beach Parks, Recreation & Marine; and George Chapjian, director of Long Beach Parks, Recreation & Marine at last week’s Long Beach City Council meeting. In presenting SHP with a mayoral proclamation for the program, Mayor Bob Foster thanked the company for providing “joy and entertainment for the community.”

More Information longbeach.gov/park/movies_in_the_park.asp or partnersofpark.org

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Everything Long Beach

Long Beach Parks, Recreation And Marine Offers Plenty Of Fun Summer Activities

2013-06-18 · By Editor

Long Beach Municipal Band
This summer there are hundreds of free or low cost activities offered by Long Beach Parks, Recreation and Maine, the Long Beach Convention and Visitor’s Bureau and local museums and businesses, that are captured on www.100daysofsummer.org. The site details summer activities happening every day from Memorial Day to Labor Day in Long Beach.
Get together with your family and friends and enjoy one of these great upcoming events:
Free Concerts
The Long Beach Municipal Band is back for it’s 104th season beginning July 2 at Whaley Park. This week’s theme is Star Spangled Spectacular and features a salute to American patriotic music with the ever popular, Tony Galla. The band will also perform this week on July 3 at Los Cerritos Park, July 4 at Marine Stadium and July 5 at El Dorado Park West. All shows are free and begin at 6:30 p.m. The band will play exciting, adventurous music from the movies on July 9 at Bixby Park, July 10 at Los Cerritos Park, July 10 at Marine Stadium and July 11 at El Dorado Park West. Vocal artist Barbara Morrison will perform.
Several neighborhood associations are hosting free live music at El Dorado Park West this summer. Hear Blue Steel (dance music) on June 21 and The Emperors (classic rock) on June 28. Free. Concerts start at 6:30 p.m.
Enjoy a picnic by the lake at El Dorado Nature Center’s summer concert series. Gates open at 6:30 p.m.; concerts held from 7-8 p.m. $3 per person; under age 12 free. Mark your calendars for the bluegrass sounds of Salty Suites on July 11.
The Rancho Los Cerritos historic site will host Scarlett & Dr. Bob Finney (jazz) on June 23, Gates open at 4:30 p.m. for picnicking. Concerts held from 5:30 – 7 p.m. Adobe home tours will be held throughout the evening.
Two special concerts are planned, the Independence Day Concert on July 4 at 7 p.m. at Willow Springs Park, 2745 Orange Avenue and the Second Annual Latin Jazz and Blues Fest at Houghton Park on July 27 from 2-8 p.m.
Free Movies in the Park
“Movies in the Park” sponsored by Signal Hill Petroleum in cooperation with Partners of Parks is back for eleven weeks of free outdoor family friendly films. Staff provides the movie, popcorn and pre-show games and fun, and you bring a lawn chair, blanket, picnic dinner, and family and friends. Movies are subject to change. Be sure to see “Madagascar 3″ on June 24 at Signal Hill Park, 1780 E. Hill Street; or on June 26 at Admiral Kidd Park, 2125 Santa Fe Avenue or June 28 at Bixby Park , 130 Cherry Avenue. The “Rise of the Guardians” will screen on July 1 at Somerset Park, 1500 E. Carson, July 3 at Recreation Park, 4900 E. 7th and July 5 at Chavez Park, 401 Golden Avenue.
Long Beach Sea Festival
The Long Beach Sea Festival is back with three months of fun in the sun! Movies at Granada Beach: “When Harry Met Sally,” June 22; Goonies,” July 9; “Grease,” July 10. Shows start at dusk. Free.
Pirate Invasion, June 29 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and June 29, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Belmont Veterans Memorial Pier
Pier Daze July 4th Celebration, July 4 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Belmont Veterans Memorial Pier Visit www.lbseafest.com for more information.
For information on other Long Beach Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine programs, call (562) 570-3100 or visit www.LBParks.org, sign up for E-notify and we’ll e-mail you the latest information!

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