posted by Michael Zoldessy on November 29, 2011 at 7:50 am

FREEPORT, IL — Enjoy the 1944 musical favorite, “Meet Me In St. Louis,” starring Judy Garland, on Wednesday, December 7th at 1 and 7 PM, playing at the Lindo Theatre, 115 S. Chicago Ave. Movie admission is $5 and complimentary for those who purchased the series tickets to the recently concluded Classic Screwball Comedy Film Series. This was the third series of classic films shown at the Lindo Theatre in partnership with the Stephenson County Historical Museum and Highland Community College. The next series is scheduled for January and brings classic Hitchcock films to the big screen.

“Meet Me In St. Louis” is one of the “Great American Family sketches,“ as a reviewer for the Los Angeles Times instantly pronounced it upon the film’s release. Set in St. Louis in 1903 during the months leading up to the St. Louis World’s Fair, the film tells the story of the well-off Smith family of four beautiful daughters, including Esther, played by Judy Garland, and little Tootie, played by Margaret O'Brien. 17-year old Esther has fallen in love with John, the boy next door who has just moved in. John however, barely notices Esther at first. The family is shocked when Mr. Smith reveals that he has been transferred to a nice position in New York, which means that the family has to leave St. Louis and the St. Louis World’s Fair. Released in 1944, a year of war and dislocation, the film brought feelings of home and security to the millions of movie-goers during that time.

There will be a brief introduction before the movie and a discussion led by Dr. Ed Finch, the Executive Director for the Freeport Historical Museum, and Alan Wenzel, the Speech and Communications Instructor for Highland Community College, following the movie. Movie-goers are encouraged to stay after the movie to participate in this exchange.

Classic Cinemas, based in Downers Grove, Illinois, is a family-owned company operated by Willis, Shirley and Chris Johnson. Established in 1978, Classic Cinemas operates 13 theatres with 100 screens in the northern Illinois area. For more information on Classic Cinemas, please visit www.classiccinemas.com.

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For further information about Classic Cinemas, please contact Falk Associates at 847.675.2580 or

(Thanks to Norman Plant for providing the photo.)

Theaters in this post

• Lindo Theatre