FERRIDAY — It may not have been a premiere at Mann’s Chinese Theater in Hollywood, but you wouldn’t have known that from the way eight-year-old Wesley Barber’s eyes widened when the lights dimmed at the Arcade Theater Tuesday.

What it was, though, was the official movie premiere in the newly rebuilt Arcade.

“It’s a lot of fun to go to the movies,” Wesley said, his eyes on the screen.

The movie, “The Legend of Black Thunder Mountain,” was part treasure hunt, part Grizzly Adams and part kindly animal epic, and was open with free admission to children who just finished first through third grades as part of the summer day camps the local churches in Ferriday put on every summer.

The movies will be available every Tuesday starting at 1:30 for students who have completed first through third grades, and every Friday, starting this week, for students who have completed fourth through sixth grades.

For Conner Branton, an eight year old from Ferriday who just finished the second grade at Cathedral School, having the chance to go see a movie in Ferriday suited him just fine.

“It’s cool,” he said, looking around the theater.

The children were very excited to be going to see the movie, Wesley’s mother Lisa Barber said.

“They love to go see a movie,” she said.

During each program, the group organizing it hosts a brief session during the intermission to expose the children to things they might not normally see.

Tuesday’s program was intermission.

Volunteer Betty Paul said she became involved with the movie program after her church, Sevier Memorial United Methodist Church, asked congregants to pitch in.

“I’m a teacher anyway, so I figured I could help with this,” Paul said.

At the weekly showings, popcorn and drinks will be provided for each student, and the movies chosen will be age appropriate.

An adult should accompany students to the movies.