The Albany Downtown Association and The Pix Theater are combining forces for this year's Movies by Moonlight series, which starts this Friday at dusk.

This is the fifth year the ADA has shown free movies Friday nights in the parking lot beside Wyatt's Eatery and Brewhouse, just off First Street in downtown Albany.

According to ADA Executive Director Rick Rogers, people attending usually bring lawn chairs or blankets to spread out on the ground to watch the movies. He likened it to going to an old-fashioned drive-in theater without having to be in a car.

The series will open with Cecil B. Demille's all-star Technicolor circus classic "The Greatest Show On Earth." The movie stars Charlton Heston, James Stewart, Betty Hutton, Cornel Wilde, Dorothy Lamour, Gloria Graham and other 1950s movie icons. It was filmed using the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus and features the famous clown Emmett Kelly. The film won the "Best Picture" Oscar in 1952 and is suitable for the entire family.

Other films in this year's series include:

• July 13: "Murder on the Orient Express"

• July 27: "This Island Earth"

• Aug. 10: "The Inspector General"

• Aug. 17: "The Big Trees"

• Aug. 31: "Nanny McPhee"

Pix Theatre gourmet popcorn, sodas and raffle tickets for a Movies by Moonlight grand prize drawing will be sold during the showings.

For more information, contact the ADA at 928-2469.

Democrat-Herald