From the 1920s through the ‘70s, the Majestic Theatre was the place in Benicia to see first-run movies on the big screen, even when it had competition from the Victory Theatre. Apart from a period in the ‘70s where it was screening classic movies and its annual Benicia Film Festival in September, the Majestic has mostly been a venue to host occasional live events rather than film screenings.

However, through the efforts of a Benicia Arts & Culture Commission (ACC) initiative, the Majestic’s projector will be fired up again to show a cinematic classic.

“Casablanca,” the 1942 romantic drama, has frequently ranked at or near the top of lists of the greatest movies of all time, often sharing space with the likes of “Citizen Kane” and “The Godfather.” The film stars Humphrey Bogart as Rick Blaine, the owner of a nightclub in Casablanca during World War II who runs into an old flame Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman), who is married to a Czech resistance leader who escaped the Nazis, creating a dilemma for Rick. The film merely did decent business at the box office but went on to win three Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and spawn an iconic theme song as well as several quotable lines.

In addition to seeing a legendary movie on the big screen, audiences will also be able to help ACC members with a project they have been working on.

Earlier this year, the commission announced its public art initiative, which involves identifying empty spaces around town to be livened up with artistic designs. These include painting murals on current empty walls and adding colorful styles to trash cans, benches and utility boxes. The goal is to visually reflect Benicia’s status as an artist community.

ACC chair Terry Scott said progress has been moving along nicely. The commission presented to the City Council and Benicia Historic Preservation Review Commission, had a stakeholder meeting on Wednesday, talked to Pacific Gas & Electric and Caltrans about the protocol for putting designs on utility boxes and underpasses and administered a site survey to 159 parks and sites for mural or utility art, including dugouts at Benicia’s numerous baseball fields.

“We’re now at a point where we’ve done an inventory of 159 sites within the context of Benicia because we do not want this to be only a downtown initiative,” Scott said. “This has to be a citywide initiative.”

Scott believes the initiative has gained a lot of momentum.

“In four or five months, we have generated awareness, we have talked to just about every organization into the community to gain their support and financial backing, we are complying with all city ordinances to form an art selection subcommittee to then do an RFP process to start to reach the public and find out what kind of art they want and where the art would be placed,” he said. “It’s an incredible effort in just a few months.”

Now, Scott said, the commission is looking into its first foray into fundraising for the initiative to help raise awareness and provide funds to help move forward with the project. Instead of hosting an auction, reception or picnic, the commission wanted to do something different and set sights on the Majestic, where the empty space above the marquee has been identified as a potential spot for a mural. Scott approached the theater’s owner, Robert Reichert, with the possibility of collaborating with the ACC to host a movie screening.

“We thought this was an opportunity to relight the Majestic and bring people in and see what is going on there because Robert has made some significant improvements,” he said.

The commission chose “Casablanca” because of its status as a universally beloved movie that could draw in a large audience in Benicia, Scott said.

The commission is talking about hosting a reception in front of the Capitol prior to the screening and will serve water and popcorn at a nominal cost to go toward the fundraising efforts. The funds will help pay for materials to create the art and provide compensation for the time and energy that artists will put in.

“All the money that will be raised will be put back into covering the cost of the actual artwork,” Scott said.

The commission hopes to have some kind of public art ready before the Peddler’s Fair in August, Scott said. The commission is also looking for volunteers to help with canvassing neighborhoods and even providing ideas for art.

“This needs to represent the culture, history and people of Benicia and what is on the top of their minds,” Scott said. “We would love to hear from them. Just the mere fact that they would like to communicate with us and give us ideas would be very helpful in helping us focus where we put our efforts, particularly in the beginning.”

Scott is excited for the screening and believes it will be a great showcase for the Majestic.

“A lot of people are buzzing about it,” he said. “We’re hoping the site will be as much a star as the movie will be.”

The screening will begin at 8 p.m., Friday, July 7 at the Majestic, located at 710 first St. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased online at benicialibrary.org/events/casablanca or at the Library, located at 150 East L St. For more information, call library Secretary Helaine Bowles at (707) 746-4358.