Get ready downtown Lawrence; some real tough characters will be among you this summer.

Hard cases like Humphrey Bogart and Burt Lancaster and molls like Ava Gardner will be setting up shop on the corner of Ninth and New Hampshire streets. And they’ll be doing so at the invitation of Downtown Lawrence Inc. and Lawrence Parks and Recreation.

The two groups are teaming up to host four free summer movies – all 1940s and 1950s crime/detective dramas – that will be shown outdoors in the vacant lot adjacent to the city’s parking garage.

“We’re always trying to think of as many excuses as we can to get local people to come down and enjoy downtown Lawrence,” said Rick Marquez, executive director of Downtown Lawrence Inc. “We think this will be a real fun one.”

The movies, which will be projected on the north wall of the parking garage, will be shown on the first Thursday of each month beginning in June and ending in September. Show times will start about 9 p.m., and free popcorn and door prizes will be offered.

Mick Ranney, an owner of Footprints and member of the Downtown Lawrence Inc. board, said he got the idea after going to Alta Vista, about 90 mile southwest of Lawrence, where members of that small community regularly show a movie on the outside wall of the town’s barber shop.

“I’m sure people could watch these movies with greater clarity in the privacy of their own homes on their HDTV, but there is something about watching a movie outside,” Ranney said. “This will be fun because it will be a community event. You’ll be outdoors with your neighbors.”

Marquez said he’s hoping for about 250 people to show up at each of the shows. He thinks the event will provide a summertime boost to downtown merchants. Downtown Lawrence Inc. picked Thursday nights for the event because most retailers already stay open later on Thursdays.

“We’re hoping people will come down early, do a little shopping and have a bit to eat before the show,” Marquez said.

The movies will take the place of the summer movie program that Parks and Recreation has run in South Park in previous years.

Ranney suggested the old crime thrillers – known as Film Noir – because they had the potential to appeal to a variety of people without presenting gory or objectionable content.

“And, plus, they’re all just great movies to watch,” Ranney said.