Wednesday, July 30, 2003
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Wednesday, July 30, 2003 |
PTC's 'Movie Under the Stars' may return for a fall encoreNearly 3,000 local people got a rst look July 21 at what is hoped will be a repeat performance, watching the digitally mastered movie "E.T., The Extraterrestrial," on a 50-foot tall, inatable screen. The event, dubbed "Movie Under the Stars", a joint venture of the Peachtree City Recreation Department, the McIntosh High School Band Boosters, radio station Star 94, and the Special Events Network, the company that developed the inatable screen. It was held on the soccer elds at the South 74 Baseball and Soccer Complex. "We were very pleased, and a bit surprised, at the turnout," said Carolyn Stanton, manager of recreation programs at the Recreation Department and the primary coordinator of the event for the city. Stanton said logistical challenges nearly canceled the event, but at the last minute things were worked out and the show went on. The Special Events Network has been putting these shows on since April in Atlanta's north suburbs, where the largest crowd they had was 6,000 in Gwinnett. This was the rst one in south Metro. The event also included games, moonwalks and giant slides for the kids, STAR 94 personalities entertaining the crowd, and food from the Varsity and the McIntosh Booster Club. The ination and raising of the enormous screen was an event to watch as well. The movie is projected by means of a digital, rear-screen system that produces amazing results. "I stood back the width of two soccer elds from the screen, and the sound and picture were like sitting in a surround-sound living room with a large screen TV," said Randy Gaddo, director of leisure services. "It is a very impressive system." "We certainly don't intend to let it be the last time we do this," said Gaddo. "It is an excellent use of city recreation facilities. The fact that 3,000 people came to this rst-time event, considering the short notice and minimal advertising, tells us that this is a need to be lled. We intend to pursue future movies." Gaddo said plans include possibly offering a series of movies in the fall. Locations will also change to enable more people to take advantage of the unique experience.
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