What did we do on Saturday nights in August before Movies in the Park? It’s hard to imagine how we passed the hours on those boring summer evenings as the sun went down. Now, we have somewhere to go and movies to see…with the entire community. Moves in the Park will begin its third season this Saturday, August 5, with a screening of the animated cartoon adventure ‘Madagascar,’ directed by Eric Darnell and Tom McGrath for Dreamworks SKG. The Pacific Palisades Chamber of Commerce and Friends of Film will again present this community event on four consecutive Saturday nights this month on the Field of Dreams at the Palisades Recreation Center. The movies will start at 8 p.m. and admission is free. Highlands resident Greg Schem, landlord of the 881 Alma Real Building and owner of Palisades Highlands Plaza, will be the major sponsor for the second year in a row. Local Boy Scouts will sell candy and soda while park director David Gadelha serves up free barbecued hot dogs. Moviegoers can bring picnic dinners and blankets (plus warm clothing to ward off the typical evening chill). No alcoholic beverages, stick chairs or animals are allowed. This Saturday, from 7 to 8 p.m. before the show, moviegoers are invited to enjoy an ice cream social at 801 Toyopa, near the park entrance. Local resident Robert Newmark is hosting the party with free ice cream for 100 people, and it won’t cost him a dime. It turns out he entered an essay contest for Dreyer’s Slow-Churned ice cream on ‘why my neighborhood deserves to host an ice cream social/block party,’ and he was one of 1,500 winners across the country. ‘I put on a big Fourth of July party, so here it is again a month later,’ said Newmark, who thought of coordinating his event with Movies in the Park. ‘Bring kids and family. It’s a chance to meet neighbors.’ Dreyer’s has already sent him the cups and spoons for the celebration, which will feature 15 different flavors. Newmark’s personal favorite is Old Fashioned Butter Pecan. For more information on Movies in the Park, visit www.palisadeschamber.com or www.friendsoffilm.com. ‘The Goonies,’ ‘Back to the Future,’ and ‘Freaky Friday’ will follow on successive Saturdays. In addition to Schem, who donated $5,000 to underwrite the series for the second year in a row, contributing sponsors include the Palisades Junior Women’s Club, Elyse Walker Retail, the Wirthwhile Fund, Palisades Skate Shop/Paliskate, Technology For You, Johnson Tree Co., and residents. Donations pay for the screen and projection, plus fees for using the park, renting the films, hiring security patrol and clean-up (by Chrysalis), and purchasing equipment, including a new speaker and an extra bulb. The organizing committee includes co-chairs David Williams (owner of Mogan’s Cafe in the Highlands) and Bob Sharka (founder, Friends of Film), Andy Frew (Theatre Palisades), Brad Lusk (Chamber president-elect), and John Wirth (recipient of a Golden Sparkplug Award for his work to launch Movies in the Park). ‘This is a dedicated committee that wants Movies in the Park to go forever, just like the parade,’ said Arnie Wishnick, the Chamber’s executive director. ‘They just need to get funding every year.’ Wishnick, the Palisadian-Post’s movie reviewer who is currently on hiatus, describes ‘Madagascar’ (2005) as ‘a terrific kid-oriented animated comedy that stays adult-friendly every step of the way.’ The stars include Ben Stiller as The Lion, Chris Rock as The Zebra, David Schwimmer as The Giraffe, Jada Pinkett Smith as The Hippo and Sacha Cohen as The Ocelot.
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