Curtain falls on Elgin outdoor films

Last summer, Mary Ellen Goodwill had a blast with her family watching and singing along to "The Wizard of Oz" at Elgin's Festival Park.

Families on blankets and lawn chairs gathered in front of the 20-foot by 40-foot screen, using on cue some items provided to each in a goodie bag: a kazoo, bubbles, a magic wand and handful of glitter.

But the monthly summer film series was a victim of the budget ax -- and Festival Park will be dark this year in terms of movies.

Goodwill, a longtime resident, wants city leaders to bring back the movies in the park.

"Elgin is in the nostalgia business. We do it well," she said. "It's free. It's sweet. It's hometown. It's our town."

The city's Cultural Arts Commission showed outdoor movies from 2005 through 2007.

During the first two years, the movie night was held on a lawn near the Hemmens Cultural Center.

Last year, the commission rented an enormous screen for "The Wizard of Oz," the first of three family-friendly classic movies shown.

"We tried to pick out movies that would not offend people and were on the list of classics," said Cultural Arts Commission liaison Sylvia Grady.

The city's parks and recreation department also presented "Happy Feet."

Response to the animated tale about dancing penguins was far greater than people who came out to see "Some Like It Hot" and "Singing in the Rain."

So the department planned to take over the program for this year, and the Cultural Arts Commission shifted its resources to working with city arts groups.

Admission to movie nights last year was free, but it cost the department thousands.

Maria Cumpata, recreation and facilities supervisor, said it costs the department between $3,000 and $5,000 for screen rental and staff time to show one movie.

Cumpata said the department has not received many complaints about the cancellation, in part because the decision was made before summer program brochures were mailed out.

"There's always the possibility we bring it back," she said.