By Mary O’KEEFE

The Fourth Annual Montrose Film Festival will be on Aug. 23-24. This year will feature two films by Blake Edwards: “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” and “Return of the Pink Panther.”

The annual event takes place at the site of the former Montrose movie house that is now the parking lot of Andersen’s Pet Shop.

The Montrose Theatre stood in the 2200 block of Honolulu Avenue from 1924 to 1987 when it was destroyed in a fire. The theater is gone and the only reminder is a utility pole with singed markings on it from the fire.

The idea to bring back a movie theater to the location came about over a cup of coffee at Black Cow Café between Steve Pierce and Tony Smith.

“It was actually Tony’s [idea],” Pierce said.

The two thought having an outdoor movie event would be a perfect way to pay homage to the old theater and to offer the community a fun family night.

“The films are family friendly,” Pierce said.

The two men went to the Montrose Shopping Park Association board meeting and made the proposal. The board agreed and the film festival began.

Over the past few years, the festival has expanded to a full family evening with classic cars cruising along Honolulu Avenue and free popcorn. Patrons to the temporary movie theater can order dinner from local restaurants. Members of Crescenta Valley High School’s Prom Plus Club, dressed in the era of the movies being shown, will act as carhops, taking orders and delivering food to viewers. This year moviegoers can be waited on by Holly Golightly (Audrey Hepburn) and Inspector Clouseau (Peter Sellers) look-a-likes.

“And it is free [admission],” Peirce added.

Before the screening, the 1960s rock band The Maestros will play. An added bonus is this year after the scheduled movie a viewing of the winning films of this Friday’s Best Student Film Festival Ever will be shown. A scholarship will be presented to the winners, too.

The movies are shown Aug. 23-24 at 6:30 p.m. at Andersen’s Pet Shop parking lot, 2218 Honolulu Ave. in Montrose.

  Mary Okeefe