By
Phil Leckman
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Cinema La Placita brightens up Thursday nights with free
As Tucson's summer heat lingers into fall, nighttime remains the one time of day when doing something outdoors actually sounds like fun.
Cinema La Placita, screening every Thursday night at downtown's La Placita Village shopping center, offers such desired entertainment. The film series began this summer and will continue to screen classic movies each week until the weather becomes too cold.
Erika O'Dowd, program director for the film series and marketing director for La Placita Village, said Cinema La Placita was conceived as a way for Tusconans to cool off after yet another hot day.
"I've lived in cities with outdoor movies, and they're a lot of fun," she said. "One of the best ways to enjoy Tucson in summertime is at night."
In addition to offering free entertainment, O'Dowd said, Cinema La Placita also helps out a good cause. All donations benefit the ongoing restoration of downtown's Fox Theatre. The Fox, a classic movie palace built in 1929, was once renowned for its beautiful, ornate art-deco interior.
"It's just amazing," O'Dowd said. "The feeling inside is incredible."
The restoration project is recreating the theater's original ambiance and preparing it to once again host movies and cultural events. So far, Cinema La Placita has raised more than $2000 towards the Fox's restoration, to be completed two years after funding is secured.
Representing a partnership between La Placita Village, the Downtown Arts District, Tucson Parks and Recreation, the Screening Room and several other groups, the film series is funded by the city of Tucson's Downtown Project Grant program- part of an ongoing effort to revitalize downtown Tucson through innovative activities.
Cinema La Placita has shown a wide variety of films so far, and has a full plate of movies slated for the weeks to come. Each month's movies follow a theme, such as September as sports month.
As of yet, "The Natural" and "Raging Bull" has been exhibited in the venue. Sports movies continue this week with "Knute Rockne: All-American," the classic biography of the great Notre Dame football coach featuring Ronald Reagan and his catchphrase "win one for the Gipper." "Hoosiers," the Oscar-nominated tale of Indiana basketball underdogs starring Gene Hackman and Dennis Hopper, will be screened next week.
In honor of Halloween, October will highlight classic horror films. Spine-tinglers like Roman Polanski's "Rosemary's Baby," Stephen King's prom-night chiller "Carrie" and Alfred Hitchcock's "Psycho" are among the planned offerings.
No night at the movies is complete without refreshments, and Cinema La Placita offers bags of popcorn in exchange for a $3 suggested donation. The many restaurants and cafes at La Placita Village also stay open late for the event, providing movie-goers with soft drinks and additional snacks.
La Placita Village is located in downtown Tucson at the corner of Broadway Boulevard and Church Avenue. Movies currently begin at 7:30 p.m., but will start at 7 p.m. beginning in October.
O'Dowd said volunteers are also needed to help man the projector and run the popcorn booth. Anyone interested should call 490-0369.
For film schedules, running times, or other information, call 623-2748.
