‘Star Wars,’ the 30-year-old classic produced and directed by George Lucas, will open the fourth annual Movies in the Park season on Saturday, August 4, at 8 p.m. Presented by the Pacific Palisades Chamber of Commerce and the nonprofit Movies in the Park committee, this free community event is held on the grass playing fields at the Palisades Recreation Center on Alma Real. Children and adults are invited to dress as their favorite ‘Star Wars’ character Saturday. Honorary Mayor Gavin MacLeod will serve as judge and then award gift certificates donated by Benton’s Sport Shop and Mogan’s Cafe for the best contestants. Arnie Wishnick, the Chamber’s executive director and currently on hiatus as the Palisadian-Post’s movie reviewer, recalls when he saw ‘Star Wars’ for the first time. ‘My wife Cathie and I saw the film on the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend in 1977 at the AVCO Theater in Westwood. I remember that we arrived in the early morning for the first showing of the day. The film had opened the previous Wednesday, but the line for the theater was around the block. As we stood in line, we heard the young people waiting in line reciting dialogue from the film. This meant that these fans had already seen the film one or more times in the past four days and that it was on its way to becoming a cult classic. More proof of this came when the film ended and everyone stayed in their seat just to watch the closing credits and listen to the wonderful John Williams score rather than immediately running out of the auditorium.’ This year’s major sponsor is again Greg Schem & Family, joined by the Galier Family as a generous supporting sponsor. The gold sponsor is Jackie Resnick of Mold USA, and silver sponsors are Erica Simpson (Paliskates), Ramis Sadrieh (Technology For You!), Shela Winston (Affinity Bank-Pacific Palisades), Pam Conway (Spot Runner), the Rotary Club of Pacific Palisades, California National Bank and Body Inspired Fitness. Donations have been received from Palisades Screen & Glass, the Denis and Betty Lee Family, Cheryel Kanan, Lee Calvert and Jenney Miller. At Movies in the Park, families and friends gather to watch films on a huge blown-up screen. Once again, local Boy Scouts will sell candy and soda, and popcorn will be available. Picnic baskets filled with goodies are welcomed, but please, no alcoholic beverages, stick chairs or pets. ‘One way or another we’ll have our traditional free hot dogs,’ said Mike Skinner of the Palisades Community Center Committee, ‘but we need two or three volunteers to work the grill from about 7 to 10 p.m. We can vouch for community service hours, or pay $15 an hour.’ His contact is (310) 478-5041.. Security will be provided by Bel-Air/ADT Patrol and maintenance will be handled by Chrysalis-Street Works. The Chamber has initiated a recycling program this year and requests that audience members use the recycling bins provided.
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