Visit Santa and See THE POLAR EXPRESS at Shea's This Weekend

Shea's Performing Arts Center's FREE FAMILY FILM SERIES provides free family-oriented movies to the general public on select Sundays at 2 p.m. The annual FREE FAMILY FILM SERIES continues on Sunday December 4 at 2 p.m. (doors open at 12:30 P.M.) with the holiday movie The Polar Express (Rated G).

Free movie tickets are available at the door and at Shea's Box Office (650 Main Street). Seats are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Doors open at 12:30 P.M. Bring a camera and arrive early to visit with Santa Claus from 12:30 p.m. - 1:45 p.m.. House Organist Bruce Woody will play holiday music on the Mighty Wurlitzer Organ inside the theatre prior to the movie.

The Polar Express is a 2004 American Christmas animated musical fantasy film based on the 1985 children's book of the same name by Chris Van Allsburg, who served as one of the executive producers on the film. Written, produced, and directed by Robert Zemeckis, the film features human characters animated using the live action performance capture technique.

Santa Claus does not exist. Or does he? For one doubting boy, an astonishing event occurs. Late on Christmas Eve night, he lies in bed hoping to hear the sound of reindeer bells from Santa's sleigh. When to his surprise, a steam engine's roar and whistle can be heard outside his window. The conductor invites him on board to take an extraordinary journey to the North Pole with many other pajama-clad children. There, he receives an extraordinary gift only those who still believe in Santa can experience.

Originally built as a movie house when it opened in 1926, Shea's offers the Free Family Film Series "to provide patrons with the opportunity to experience Shea's as it was during the theatre's early days," said Lisa Grisanti, director of marketing and public relations at Shea's. The movie viewing screen is one of the largest in New York State. The theatre seats 3,019.

The remaining schedule of the Shea's Free Family Film Series:

Jan. 15- Annual Silent Film with live accompaniment by Bruce Woody on the Shea's Mighty Wurlitzer Organ.

Feb. 5- Ice Age (Rated PG)

The Free Family Film Series was founded by Goldhaber Research Associates and is sponsored by The Buffalo News, Pepsi and Star 102.5 Radio.

For more information on our film series and a list of scheduled dates/film, visit www.sheas.org. *Films/dates/times subject to change.