SPOTSWOOD — Drive-in movie theaters may be a thing of the past, but watching movies outdoors isn’t, at least not in Spotswood.
The borough’s Drug and Alcohol Alliance recently sponsored "Movies in the Park," a program that included a giant inflatable movie screen that was placed behind Spotswood High School. An estimated 150 to 200 people enjoyed the July 14 presentation of No Dogs, which the alliance picked because of its family theme. The unique movie screen was 70 feet high and 15 feet wide.
"It’s a blow-up screen and [the operator] had it up within 30 seconds," said Dawn Crandall, president of the substance abuse prevention alliance.
The screen and other equipment needed to show the movie, a sound system and projector, were provided by Tandem Media, a Summit-based company that brings its traveling theater set to communities around the state.
"In the back of his van, he’s got the whole sound system," Crandall added. "So, behind the screen are two huge speakers. The projectors are also in the van."
The all-ages crowd walked away from the cost-free event, which included refreshment sales, entertained.
"We wanted to get the community together," she said. "That’s what it was for. Part of the alliance’s job is community outreach."
The screen was placed at the top of a hill behind the high school, and the crowd sat on the decline so that no one’s vision was obscured, she said. The idea of seeing a move outdoors is not new to the borough.
"When I was younger, they used to have it where they closed off the street and watched a movie," Crandall said. "I can remember that when I was young, but they stopped it years ago."
She said the alliance is hoping to make the outdoor movie showing an annual event.
"People were asking if we could do it every week," she said. "We will be doing it next year because it was a success. People really liked it."
The event was also a way of finding new members for the alliance, and she said she probably found at least two new members through the activity. In addition to helping keep children off drugs, the Drug and Alcohol Alliance helps senior citizens in the community with issues such as understanding how to take medications, and also helps them purchase prescriptions if they cannot afford them. The group also sponsors children’s events.
"It can get very expensive for a family to go to the movies," she said. "Where else can you go for a movie where everything’s 50 cents?"
— Vincent Todaro