It’s been five years since Newtown Cultural Arts Commission launched the classic film series, now known as the Someday Cinema Series, at Edmond Town Hall Theatre. The inaugural season celebrated the 75th anniversary of The Greatest Year in Film: 1939, and on opening day The Wizard of Oz and The Little Princess were shown.

Now celebrating its 80th anniversary, The Wizard of Oz will again be offered on the big screen at 45 Main Street on Sunday, June 23, at 1, 4, and 7 pm.

Tickets are $3, and the 1 pm matinee will be subtitled for the benefit of the hearing impaired and for those who’d like to softly sing along.

Series Coordinator Jen Rogers says the “high definition restoration showcasing this dazzling production is just incredible.

“Audiences gasp in unison when they see details they’ve never been able to see before on the small screen,” she added.

In 1939, there were ten Best Picture nominees, including The Wizard of Oz, which lost to Gone with the Wind. Currently, it sits at number one on Rotten Tomatoes’ list of Top 100 Movies of All Time.

Harold Arlen (music) and E.Y. Harburg (lyrics) won the Oscar for Best Music, Original Song for “Over the Rainbow,” sung beautifully by the young Judy Garland. The song itself endures as a favorite of many generations, and even works as a lullaby with its lilting melody and wistful lyrics.

Bob and Richelle Ward, realtors to The Ward Team, are sponsoring The Wizard of Oz because they have loved watching it since they were children. Bob’s favorite moments have always included the flying monkeys and when the water is thrown on the Wicked Witch, who responds by crying, “I’m melting! I’m melting!”

Richelle was afraid the Wicked Witch when she was a young child. As she got older, she was enthralled when Glenda The Good Witch floated on screen in her bubble. The Wards share their love of The Wizard of Oz with their daughter and grandson.

The Wizard of Oz, says Ms Rogers, is “truly a multigenerational movie about overcoming fears and self-doubt with the help of good friends.”

After a summer hiatus, the Someday Cinema Series will resume in September with True Grit on September 5 and Raiders of the Lost Ark on September 29.

Visit tiny.cc/2019somedaycinema for details, and follow Someday Cinema Series on Facebook for updates.