Movies at the Larry D. Striplin Performing Arts Centre have taken hold.

First there were Tuesday movies for seniors two years ago. Then came Wednesday movies for children this summer. And now a group of clients from Cahaba Mental Health enjoyed their first movie at the Larry D. Striplin Performing Arts Centre last Tuesday morning.

Donna Britt, who is a teacher at Cahaba Mental Health Center and who accompanied the group, called the event “wonderful” and said that she and her associates plan to bring the clients back again, they hope regularly.

The turnout for the first showing – “Mrs. Doubtfire” starring Robin Williams – was 80, with clients ranging in age from 19 to 76.

“It made us feel so good to be able to make this group of folks so happy. They laughed. They hooted and carried on so. They had such a good time,” Kay Jones, facility/contract manager for the City of Selma with an office in the centre said.

All three movie programs are co-sponsored by the City of Selma and the Downtown Selma Association supported by downtown businesses that provide free cold drinks and popcorn for most events.

The one exception is the Wednesday afternoon movies for children age 4 and up with parental accompaniment.

Their treat will be an early August party

with similar fare, while the movies which begin at 2 p.m. on Wednesdays will continue through August, Jones said.

Tuesday Movies for Seniors are weekly at 2 p.m. with titles publicized in advance. A donation for seniors and children of $1 is requested.

“It’s all a result of Mayor James Perkins Jr.’s desire that the city’s buildings and personnel be used to the maximum,” Jones said. “He started the senior program two years ago on a monthly basis and after we got our new projector that allows us to use videos rather than reel-to-reel films which are very expensive we were able to go weekly.”