By Town Crier Staff

After years of waiting, families in the Los Altos area can go to movies in their home town. The Eagle Theater on the Los Altos High School campus will begin showing major films to the public beginning July 12, according to James Gibbs, the new theater director.

“The summer series for families is set to kick off during the Arts & Wine Festival weekend with currently popular films,” added Gibbs, who took over as Eagle Theater director June 15.

Movies by all major film studios will be available to the local theater for fund raisers under a site license owned by the Los Altos Cultural Association, says Mike Abrams, association board member and theater program chairman.

“The good news is that with the site license we can show any film for fund raising without paying the usual royalties to the producers or distributors. The slightly bad news is that we cannot promote the showings by title in newspapers or on the radio, nor can we charge a fixed ticket price,” he added.

However, the license does allow patrons to be admitted by making donations and “we expect a good response from residents since the proceeds from showings go to non-profit organizations,” says Abrams.

Summer 2003 showings will benefit the performing and visual arts programs at Los Altos High School.

The 377-seat theater opened last fall.

Film titles and show times will be listed on the high school marque at 201 Almond Ave.