Last Screening for 2019 Movies in the Park
The 16th year of Movies in the Park will come to a close this Saturday evening at dusk with a free showing of “Black Panther” on the Field of Dreams at the Palisades Recreation Center, 851 Alma Real.
The 2018 superhero film centers around T’Challa, who returns home to the African nation of Wakanda to take his rightful place as king after his father dies. His sovereignty is challenged by an adversary who hopes to start a global revolution.
The film grossed over $1.3 billion worldwide and received seven Academy Award nominations including Best Picture, and wins for Best Costume Design, Best Original Score and Best Production Design. It was also received three nominations for the Golden Globe Awards.
Rotten Tomatoes gave the film a 96 percent approval rating, with New York Times critic Lawrence Ware writing, “‘Black Panther’ lived up to the hype.”
And folks, not only is this movie free, there are free hot dogs, purchased by Mike Skinner, president of the Park Advisory Board, and served up by the park staff.
Rec Center Director Erich Haas said he pays his staff to come and grill them because “It’s our way of giving back to the community for signing up for park programs.”
Please, NO pets, alcohol, smoking or stick-legged chairs.
Movies in the Park is a nonprofit founded in 2004 by Williams and John Wirth and joined by Andy Frew and Brad Lusk.
In an earlier story, Williams was asked the most challenging aspect for continuing this every-Saturday-in-August movie tradition.
“Getting sponsors,” he said, noting the nonprofit is dependent on help in paying for the movies. “Dan Urbach has been a sponsor for 14 of 16 years, Gelson’s had been a sponsor for 12 years – and this year we have a whole group of new sponsors.”
This year’s sponsors are: Thesman Family, the Palisades Woman’s Club, Gelson’s, Kehillat Israel, Marc Michael Eyewear Studio, Palisades Pitstop, Palisades Presbyterian Preschool, Palisades Village Rodeo Realty, David Tishbi, the Optimist Club, Dan Urbach-Realtor (Compass), Pacific Palisades Dentistry, Palisades Funding and the Pacific Palisades Baseball Association.