Pat McDonogh

The Courier-Journal

If you want to watch a movie in west Louisville today - other than in your home - you only have one choice.

A vacant lot behind Sweet Peaches, 1800 W. Muhammad Ali Blvd., serves as a makeshift movie theater in an area riddled with crime.

The shop sits on a street named in Muhammad Ali's honor. Ali himself came from humble beginnings in west Louisville and electrified the world with his boxing heroics and his love for mankind.

The movie "Ali," starring Will Smith, premiered at the Broadway Cinemas in 2001. Since then, Ali has passed away and the cinemas have closed its doors.

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Pamela Haines, who owns Sweet Peaches, has been working hard to fill that void. She launched her free Friday Night Movie series just over two years ago and shows a film each Friday night in the summer, beginning when schools let out until the start of the new school year.

Still, she tears up when talking about the violence and trouble facing her community. Haines is determined to make her small corner of the community a more livable and peaceful place.

"I was trying to think of a way to get the kids in the neighborhood involved and give them something to do," she said. "Everybody likes the movies and popcorn. It's summertime, we can grill hot dogs and hamburgers and play music because people like to dance."

Haines isn't afraid to make it a little loud. "I turn it up a little loud and lure them over and they'll just come and stay," she said.

The movies are all kid-friendly and range in topic, from "King Kong" and "The Lion King" to "Akeelah and the Bee" and "The Princess and the Frog."

Haines uses the summer Friday night movies to reach out to the youth of west Louisville.

"Once the kids come, I make it a point of talking to each one of them. I talk to them about school, about church. Did their mom go to work, or if they ate last night. If they didn't eat, then maybe they need food and I can help them. It gives me an insight into what's going on in their lives and in their homes," she said. "It's an opportunity to stretch out my hand and help them."

Charese Mayfield has three daughters who regularly attend the Friday night movies.

"When it first began, I was having a hard time and didn't have a lot of money. I just wanted a place to go for my daughters," Mayfield said. "It offers something to do. You get a free meal, a movie and fellowship in west Louisville. I feel like it's a blessing for anyone involved."

Haines hasn't launched the movie night totally on her own. Fourth Street Live donated everything from the projector, to the pop-up movie screen, to desks, school supplies and laptops for a learning center she has created in the building.

"They have embraced us," Haines said.

Currently, she is in negotiations with Metro Government to gain control of the back lot and hopes to add a gazebo and create the "Lily Pad."

"I want a place where the community can find serenity, where things are easy. They can listen to the birds or sit in a hammock under the trees. I want to teach healthy eating and offer cooking classes. Toward the end of the month when the money runs out, I want to have a community meal at the Lily Pad," Haines said of her vision.

For her, the movie nights and her restaurant are an avenue she can use to help her community.

"People know if you need something to eat and you can't pay, you can come to Sweet Peaches. The guys that are fresh out of jail know they can get their first meal there. They're hungry and they want to get to the next day. Today, I had four people ask for bus fare to do a job search. I'm going to continue to do what I can," she said.

"You just have to have compassion and humility," Haines said. "All I've got is myself and my love and whatever I have to give and I'm going to give it all until I can't give no more."

Friday's cookout begins at 6 p.m. and the movie will start around 9:15 p.m.