FILM -
First Wednesdays at the Plaza Theatre
by Felipa Solis
Her name was Holly Go-Lightly. She had an interesting lifestyle to say the least, a cat named "cat," and fell in love with a man she never expected in her life. Henry Mancini's "Moon River," accompanied Holly and Paul's every move. "Breakfast at Tiffany's" was released in 1962, but El Pasoans still waited anxiously on line, eager to live vicariously through the life of the stunning Audrey Hepburn.
El Paso film lovers are allowed to get lost in the classics at the Philanthropy Annex of the Plaza Theater on the first Wednesday of every month. "Classic Movies at the Philanthropy kicked off last November with a well attended crowd to see the 1939 classic,"The Wizard of Oz." This year, the clock was turned back to 1942 and the fears of World War II in "Casablanca," 1962's " Breakfast at Tiffany's, starring Hepburn and George Peppard " and Disney's immortal ahead of its time Oscar winning spectacular, "Fantasia."
The Theaters Administrative Assistant at the Convention Bureau Maria Tavera says the whole concept behind the monthly event is to give people a reason to come to downtown El Paso for a good movie. "It is so important to expose people to great classic films, and what better way to show off the Plaza," Tavera said. "The crowds have been really great and really appreciative so we hope to continue offering the films," Talavera said.
Here is how it works. Patrons gather for a little libation served to order by celebrity bartenders. On this particular night, it was Stephen and Andrea Ingle of Creative Kids. Even their gallery art work graced the Oasis. The evening also includes great appetizers, conversation with friends old and new and some movie trivia. All this kicks off at 5 p.m. at the Oasis Lounge adjacent to the theater. At 6:00 p.m. it is time to go into the theater for the classic presentation. An uninterrupted classic on a big screen. "The whole idea behind the project is to give people the opportunity or better yet the option to get away from their TV sets and watch a film the way it is supposed to be watched," said Ashley Tantimonaco, of the marketing department of the Conventin and Visitors Bureau.
More than 100 people have enjoyed the films at each screening. Young and old, children in strollers and Grandparents remembering wonderful days gone by when movies were the great escape. "Many of these movies were shown initially at the Plaza Theater when they were released, so that makes all of this especially exciting," Tantimonaco said.
The future for films at the Philanthropy is exciting. In April, it is the Steven Spielberg spectacular "ET." Remember, that was Drew Barrymore's first film at the tender age of six. In May, the return of the ultimate dynamic duo, Paul Newman and Robert Redford in the Academy Award winning "The Sting" from 1975. "This is so exciting, since a whole new generation can learn to love these movies," said Creative Kids Director Stephen Ingle. "There are so many kids who haven't seen films like ET on the big screen," Ingle said. "I'm definitely coming back."
The movies will continue to excite borderland audiences. In the works is a film festival for families of all ages during the summer months. The movies both classics and fairly new releases will help to bond many El Paso families. "Nothing brings people together like a good movie," Ashley Tantimonaco said.
The audience was still and all the women in the audience gasped as Audrey Hepburn entered her apartment.Holly Go- Lightly may have been troubled, but it didn't matter. You could have heard a pin drop during the screening of "Breakfast at Tiffany's." Couples young and old snuggling and watching and loving every minute of a visit to the Plaza. 'I wish movies could be this romantic now," whispered a young woman to her date. It is a wish that will certainly now come true the first Wednesday of every month at the Plaza Theater.
