Saturday, Sept. 10 will give me one more reason to love Selma: the movies.

Beginning at 11 a.m., then 2 p.m. and again at 5 p.m., Wallace Community College-Selma will hold its very first showing of Warner Bros. Green Lantern inside its Earl Goodwin Theater.

I am truly excited.

Saturday’s showing will be a step forward for the city — a chance to have another extracurricular outlet for area youth.

As a youth, I remember going to the movies almost every weekend. Going to the movies was a time for the family and friends to get together and connect.

The movie theatre intrigued me — It was just something about sitting in those cloth seats, chopping on that rich, buttery popcorn and seeing the heart-pounding action across the big screen that grabbed my attention.

No matter the genre — romantic comedy, horror or action, the movies helped me to relax and take my mind off the day’s happenings, at least for an hour or so.

Ever since the beginning of film, with silent cinema, motion pictures were an art form — a way to transport individuals into fantasy worlds only dreamed of.

It’s safe to say movies helped to encourage Americans through such tough economic times as the Great Depression or World War II.

With such past and present talent as Charlie Chaplin, Spencer Tracy, Carole Lombard, Gloria Swanson, Denzel Washington, Rita Moreno, Halle Berry, Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie, going to the theater is often well worth the $7 – $10.

My favorite era in movies was the 1950s and 1960s. Even though I wasn’t even a twinkle in anyone’s eye at that time, watching the movies on American Movie Classics or Turner Classic Movies with my mother made me familiar with the genre.

I don’t know if it was the dress, the makeup or the acting techniques, but I was so mesmerized by the beauty, grace and rawness of such actors as Julie Andrews, Dorothy Dandridge, Lana Turner, Sean Connery and of course, one of my favorites Elizabeth Taylor.

The performances made me want to try my bid at stardom. “Desi Taylor” was on her way to Hollywood!

I believe Saturday’s movie event at Wallace is a great idea for the area.

It’s a great opportunity for residents — young and old, black and white, the have and have not’s, to come out and enjoy a wholesome movie together.

Besides, who doesn’t like superheroes?