(Above Photo ID, L-R) WGNS Sports Director Ray Duffey does play-by-play while Hollis Harris does color)
MURFREESBORO, TN (WGNS) - Movies Under the Stars has been a Murfreesboro summertime staple for almost 80 years, and it’s gearing up for another season of free outdoor films from June 1 through July 25, 2026. Families will once again spread out blankets, unfold lawn chairs, and settle in under the evening sky as giant screens glow across local parks. It’s simple, it’s nostalgic, and it remains one of the most relaxed ways to spend a warm Tennessee night.
What many people don’t realize is just how deep the roots of this tradition run. Movies Under the Stars began in 1947, thanks to Hollis Harris, a former projectionist at the old Princess Theatre. When the city created its brand‑new Parks and Recreation Department, Harris became its very first employee, hired specifically to run this movie program. And he didn’t just bring a projector—he brought the whole show.
In those early years, the setup was wonderfully homespun. Harris traveled the community with a mobile trailer outfitted with a 16mm projector, along with popcorn, candy, and cold drinks. He’d roll into neighborhoods and parks, set up a screen, and create a pop‑up theater wherever people gathered. It was community entertainment in its purest form, long before streaming, smartphones, or even color television.
One of the most charming pieces of the tradition came from Harris himself. Throughout the summer, he filmed candid 16mm “home movies” of local residents going about their daily routines. This was long before VHS tapes or smartphone videos, and people loved seeing themselves and their neighbors on the big screen. Those homemade features became a major draw, adding a personal touch that made the event feel uniquely Murfreesboro.
Today’s Movies Under the Stars still carries that same spirit. The screens are bigger, the sound is clearer, and the crowds are larger, but the heart of the event hasn’t changed. It’s still about families gathering, kids running around before the show starts, and neighbors catching up as dusk settles in. It’s one of those traditions that lasts because it’s built on connection, community, and shared memories.
WGNS, Movies Under the Stars, and the Murfreesboro Parks and Recreation Department share an eight‑decade bond that goes back to the program’s earliest days. Founder Hollis Harris was a frequent guest on the WGNS Action Line well into the 1990s, often joining his boss, Ray Duffey, the city’s first parks director. Duffey himself came to Murfreesboro through WGNS and quickly became a beloved sportscaster. The two even teamed up on Central Tiger broadcasts, with Ray calling the play‑by‑play and Hollis adding the color, weaving together the same sense of community that defined their summer movie tradition.
And it all started with one projectionist, a trailer, and a love of bringing people together through movies.
MOVIES UNDER THE STARS (movies start at dark)
- Mondays
Barfield Crescent Park Pavilion 2
near Blue Cross Blue Shield Playground
697 Veterans Pkwy - Tuesdays
Cannonsburgh Village
312 Front Street - Thursdays
Siegel Soccer Park
515 Cherry Lane - Saturdays
Fountains at Gateway
1500 Medical Center Pkwy
MOVIES
June 1-6, 2026: "How To Train Your Dragon"
June 8-13, 2026 "Brave"
June 15-19, 2026 "Lilo and Stitch"
June 22-27, 2026 "Zootopia 2"
June 29-July 2, 2026 "Goat"
July 6-11, 2026 "Bad Guys 2"
July 13-18, 2026 "Up"
July 20-25, 2026 "Pochahontas"
