Giant Outdoor Movie Screens in Peru, Illinois
It began, as many memorable public events do, with motorists slowing down to stare. On Friday afternoon in Centennial Park, a large, inky sheet of plastic lay innocently on the grass, doing nothing in particular. Twelve minutes later—exactly twelve—it had risen into a full-fledged inflatable movie screen measuring roughly 26 feet high and 40 feet long, tall enough to make nearby trees reconsider their importance.
The Peru Parks and Recreation District had rented the screen for an evening showing of Matilda, and as dusk approached, families arrived bearing lawn chairs, blankets, and the quiet optimism that accompanies a cool summer night. A few couples appeared as well, possibly on dates, possibly just there for the novelty. The screening was run by a local family-owned business, and the atmosphere had the comfortable, slightly nostalgic feel of something rediscovered rather than invented.
“It’s cool. I’ve never seen anything like it,” said Mary Hammerich of Peru, who attended with her 7-year-old daughter, Taylor. “It’s just like years ago at the old drive-in.” That sentiment resonated with Brian and Carrie Brown of LaSalle-Peru, lifelong fans of drive-in movies who grew up when outdoor cinemas were common. The Browns now own Sunset Cinemas Inc., a business devoted to renting and operating inflatable movie screens that bring that familiar drive-in feeling to just about any open space.
The Browns and their three children entered the movie business about a year ago, and it has gone rather well. “We’ve been booked solid,” Carrie Brown said, estimating the company would complete around 60 events by October. The idea itself dates back about ten years, to a moment when Brian—an engineer by training—noticed a group in Washington, D.C., enjoying an outdoor movie. He began studying how such an experience could be made portable. Eventually, the couple found a company in Utah that sold inflatable screens, and at that point, they knew they had found something worth pursuing.
They showed their first movie in April and have been busy ever since. The screen used at the Peru event was their larger model, with a projection area about 40 feet long and roughly 23 feet high—big enough, Carrie Brown said, for around 4,000 people to watch comfortably. Despite its size, the screen can be deflated in seconds, a feature that strongly appealed to the Browns. “They’re very safe,” she said.
Their second screen is more modest—16 feet wide and about 9 feet tall—and is typically used for schools, private events, or indoor functions. Carrie Brown said she searched for similar portable movie screen companies nearby but found only one in southern Illinois and another in the Chicago suburbs. As a result, the family now travels throughout the Midwest, projecting mostly family-friendly films rated G, PG, or PG-13. Movie selection is up to the client, provided the film is properly licensed for public screening.
More information is available by calling (815) 224-2991 or visiting www.moviesatsunset.com. Carrie Brown said the experience is fun for the whole family, a claim that seemed well supported on Friday night. Peru resident Kathy Pyszka attended with her family and had only one complaint. “I’m just sorry they didn’t start this earlier in the summer,” she said.