If you go What: 40s on 4th Street block party celebrating the 1940s. When: 3-10 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 1. Where: Fourth Street between Lincoln and Cleveland avenues in downtown Loveland. Cost: Free. Schedule: • 3-7 p.m.: DJ Dave Slutzker playing 1940s music. • 6-7 p.m.: Dance lessons and performances by The Ladies and Gentlemen. • 7 p.m.: “Kelly’s Heroes” film at Rialto Theater. • 7-10 p.m. The Hot Tomatoes Dance Orchestra concert. • 10 p.m. World War II tank parade down Fourth Street. More information: Contact Russ or Callie Morgan at 970-669-9099, 40son4thstreet@gmail.com or go to www.facebook.com/40son4thstreet.

Russ Morgan is combining his love for downtown Loveland with his fascination with World War II history to create a “block party” celebrating the 1940s.

Morgan, who owns several buildings in downtown Loveland, has put together an event Aug. 1 that will fill Fourth Street between Lincoln and Cleveland avenues with military equipment, re-enactors in uniform, a hot dance band playing 1940s tunes and much more.

Everything about the inaugural 40s on 4th Street event is free, including a showing in the Rialto Theater of the 1970 comedy “Kelly’s Heroes” starring the likes of Clint Eastwood, Donald Sutherland and Don Rickles.

Morgan said his original idea was just to put on a free movie for families who never have seen the inside of the Rialto Theater, which he helped restore in the 1990s. He thought he might park a few of his restored military vehicles on Fourth Street to add to the fun.

“I wanted to use my assets to promote downtown Loveland,” he said. But one thing led to another, and “holy cow, it’s taken on a life of its own.”

Americans and Germans on Fourth Street

Fifteen to 20 military vehicles, including Morgan’s operating Stuart and Sherman tanks, will take up positions on the street, he said.

He’s calling on his buddies in several states to bring their vehicles, so visitors can expect to see a German Panzer III tank and a half-track, two Kubelwagens and a German truck in the Axis section at the east end of the block.

Morgan will bring enough of his extensive vehicle collection, including a Weasel, a Duck and a U.S. Army command car, to fill the block. For ham radio fans, he’ll have working military radios.

Anyone who has a pre-war car is invited to contact Morgan or his daughter, Callie Morgan, to find out how to join the display, and visitors are encouraged to dress for the era.

The Saturday event will compete with the Larimer County Fair, Morgan acknowledged, but he hopes people will plan accordingly and take in both the fair and the ’40s.

One of his goals is to get people downtown to see what the city’s historic district offers and to shop with the merchants.

“We need to have reasons for people to come downtown,” he said. “Downtown events are good for the core of Loveland.”

His event won’t have any food booths because he doesn’t want to compete with the restaurants and bars, he said.

Junior high history buff

Morgan traces his interest in World War II history to the eighth grade at Loveland Junior High School.

“I started reading and studying and said someday I’m going to own one of those tanks. And now I do,” he said, admitting that he still has the page he tore out of a school library book with a picture of a Stuart tank.

The event is timed to fall two days after a Foote Lagoon concert with the 101st Army Dixieland Band.

The 40s on 4th Street music will feature the popular Hot Tomatoes Dance Orchestra from Denver, disc jockey Dave Slutzker spinning 1940s tunes and The Ladies and Gentlemen dance group giving free dance lessons — Lindy hop, anyone? — and a performance.

Morgan hopes to use a gutted building on the block as a photo studio where people can don military uniforms and props for portraits.

“It’s a good opportunity for families to bring their kids and discuss and learn about what made America great in the 1940s,” he said.

Late-night tank parade

Anyone who lingers until after the event ends at 10 will get a treat when the tank crews move the iron monsters from Fourth Street to a parking area at Fifth and Railroad.

“A lot of people see tanks in city parks, but the people who stay around to the end get the opportunity to hear them fire up and see them drive down the street,” he said.

Craig Young: 970-635-3634, cyoung@reporter-herald.com, www.twitter.com/CraigYoungRH.