RED BANK — The Count Basie Theatre’s Cinema Society has announced the lineup for its 2015 Free Summer Blockbuster film series.
This year’s slate of free films kicks off at 7 p.m. June 24 with the original summer blockbuster “Jaws.”
On July 14, the theater will present a special seniors matinee, featuring Judy Garland and Margaret O’Brien in “Meet Me in St. Louis” at 1 p.m. and the Bing Crosby, Grace Kelly and Frank Sinatra classic, “High Society,” at 4 p.m.
Also on July 14, the Count Basie will present “To Kill a Mockingbird,” the 1962 film that earned three Academy Awards and is widely regarded as one of the finest films in American history.
The 7 p.m. screening coincides with the release date of author Harper Lee’s first book in 55 years, “Go Set a Watchman.” Copies of the book will be available for sale before the screening, courtesy of River Road Books in Fair Haven.
On July 21, the Cinema Society celebrates filmmaker Quentin Tarantino with a one-two punch of “Reservoir Dogs” at 6:30 p.m. and his Oscar-winning “Pulp Fiction” at 8:30 p.m.
Tickets for all of the films in the Count Basie Theatre Cinema Society’s Free Summer Blockbuster Series are free but must be obtained in advance either through thebasie.org or the box office. Due to anticipated demand, tickets for some screenings may not be available at the door.
The Count Basie Theatre Cinema Society and its summer blockbuster series are just two steps in the historic theater’s renewed focus on film screenings.
Motion pictures have been a part of the Count Basie tradition since its opening in 1926. Over the past two years, the theater has shifted its focus on film screenings to include more “second-run” and art housetype titles, offering movie fans a chance at a big-screen experience before popular films hit the on-demand and DVD markets.
The Cinema Society is a yearlong membership program, in which customers receive two free tickets and a regular-size popcorn to every film screening. Patrons interested in joining the society may do so at www.thebasie.org.
Additional free Summer Blockbuster Series films and $5 second-run features will be added to the calendar in the coming weeks.