Movies Under the Stars Celebrating 6th Season

By Susan Bush
12:00AM / Monday, May 16, 2005

"Movies Under the Stars" founder George Haddad of Adams

Adams – An eight-week outdoor summertime movie festival is set to kick off its' sixth season on July 8 with a Community Appreciation Night preceding a "Movies Under the Stars" debut feature-length film.

Former town Selectman George Haddad launched the family-oriented, free event during his time as an elected official and remains the chairman of the movie committee. There are improvements on tap for this year’s Friday night showings, he said during a May 16 interview.

Bigger Picture, Better Sound

“This year we’re featuring a new, larger screen and a new sound system,” Haddad said.

Movie committee members are expected to select the movie menu later this week, Haddad said. He emphasized that all chosen films will be appropriate family fare.

“And it always will be,” he said.

Casual Seating At Sunset

“Movies Under the Stars” are shown on the Town Hall’s Park Street lawn, and movie-goers are asked to bring blankets, lawn-style chairs, or towels to sit on. The movies are free and begin at dusk; in the event of rain, the movies are shown on Saturday night. The lawn opens for seating at 7:30 and refreshments are sold at the event.

The “at dusk” start time means that the movies begin a few minutes earlier each week. The 2005 festival concludes on Aug. 26.

The event has become popular among townspeople and has generated interest from other areas, Haddad said.

“Every year, when it comes out that we’re starting up, we get calls,” he said. “People want to know how we run it and that sort of thing.”

Community Support

Town residents contribute greatly to the event’s success by cleaning up their seating space at movie’s end, Haddad said.

“That’s a really important thing, that everyone has done a great job of policing themselves and cleaning up before they leave,” he said. “Keep up the good work.”

The Community Appreciation Night is sponsored by the South Adams Savings Bank. The street party is scheduled for a 6 p.m. launch, and free food and activities will take center stage along Park Street before the movie begins.

Sponsors keep the event up and running, Haddad said. The family of Al Coury, the Adams Video Studio, Stanley’s Lumber, the Adams Cooperative Bank, A-1 Septic and Sewer, Adams Specialty and Printing Co., the Greylock Federal Credit Union, Gem Electric Corp., Banknorth, the Berkshire Mill and the Red Carpet restaurant, owned by Haddad, all contribute to the festival.

“This is a good thing for the town and it really does bring people together,” Haddad said. “We are very, very appreciative of all our sponsors.”

Susan Bush may be reached at 802-823-9367 or by e-mail at suebush123@adelphia.net.