P’ville Masons Offer Free Movie Night Again This Saturday

Plans to begin an outdoor movie night didn’t work out as planned last summer for Pleasantville Masonic Lodge #434.

“Whenever we planned a date in June, it would rain,” said member Tony Burton. “We tried four different weekends and it would rain.”

But this year the club’s two planned Pleasantville Summerscreen Under the Stars events look like they may go off without a hitch. Last Saturday’s screening of the Steven Spielberg blockbuster “E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial” was a success.

Based on the feedback, the organization would like to try it again next summer, and maybe for more than two weeks.

The movies take place at Bedford Road School at 7:30 p.m. and are free. The public can bring chairs, blankets and food or purchase food at a hot dog truck.

“We handed out Italian ices for free because it was hot,” he said. “It was just a great casual night to do something like that.”

This Saturday’s screening of the 1984 hit “The Karate Kid” will go on rain or shine, thanks to new accommodations. In the event of inclement weather, the movie will be shown in the school gymnasium.

The choice of this weekend’s movie is not totally random. Burton is a talent agent for Buchwald and Associates, founded by high-profile talent agent Don Buchwald. Among Burton’s clients is the Karate Kid himself, actor Ralph Macchio.

“Unfortunately I don’t think he’ll be able to come up next Saturday, but he will be signing some pictures that we’ll be giving away,” Burton said.

The Masons, also known by their full name, Freemasons, have always had a bit of mystery surrounding them. Historically, they’ve kept traditions, symbols and activities to themselves.

In recent decades, the centuries-old organization –whose motto is “making good men better” – has become more open. The international organization continues to recruit new members and hopes to replace older one to help keep its traditions alive.

Burton said that while membership peaked after World War II, Pleasantville’s chapter is thriving. The Pleasantville Masonic Lodge on Manville Road was built in 1940 and is still in use. Burton, a village resident for over a decade, said his fellow Masons are men who are active in the community and are looking to do volunteer and philanthropic work. The group is always looking for ways to help the community, he said.

While the Masons have been an organization with a history dating back to the Founding Fathers, Burton said the mission of community service is not much different than groups like Rotary International or the Lions Club.

“We do a lot of private donations when we find people who are going through some kind of financial stress, and we also donate to the Pleasantville Food Pantry,” Burton said. “On Thanksgiving we provide meals to the food pantry. We’ve also done a toy drive for Christmas.”