Richard Silverman and Tom Stewart are on a mission — for Manteca.
Decked out as ‘Joliet’ Jake Blues and Elwood — you’ll have to ask them which one — Silverman and Stewart are part of what could be the hottest Manteca orientated gift of the holiday season. It’s the Manteca Senior Center Advisory Committee’s movie calendar.
It features nearly 100 senior center members and community figures replicating 13 famous movie posters from January 2018 to January 2019 as well as a cover photo. The calendar dates list Parks & Recreation events, major community endeavors such as the Christmas parade, council meetings, city hall closure dates and more. It also has the city’s centennial logo and marks the date of Manteca’s 100th year as an incorporated city on May 28, 2018.
“It’s the perfect ‘Manteca’ gift,” noted Recreation Supervisor Brandy Clark who planted the seeds for the calendar.
The advisory committee jumped on board and Recreation Coordinator Tony Hasal did the heavy technical lifting including taking photos of the models in appropriate dress against a green screen so they could be superimposed on movie posters.
Sales of the limited run of 1,000 calendars have been brisk. Pre-orders are being taken for $20 each including taxes. Pre-orders will be distributed at a release party set for Friday, Oct. 20, at 6 p.m. at the Manteca Senior Center, 295 Cherry Lane. The event — with a $10 admission — includes a DJ playing the corresponding music of the 13 movies featured, refreshments, and of course autograph signing. If there are still copies available after the pre-orders, they will go on sale Monday, Oct. 23.
One month is the “Star Wars” movie poster featuring city staff including City Manager Tim Ogden as a Stormtrooper. Some of the other movies are “American Graffiti”, “Grease”, and “The Magnificent Seven”. Clark’s favorite is “Christmas Story” for December.
“We got models that look like the characters would look like grown up,” Clark noted.
The Manteca Senior Center Advisory Committee plans to use proceeds from the calendar sales to help pay for new bingo equipment.
Clark noted that non-profits in Manteca stage a number of fundraisers with often duplicate events such as crab feeds. The advisory committee was looking for something that was different and the move calendar fit the bill.
“If you love Manteca, it’s something you’ll want to have,” Clark said.
Calendars can be ordered at the Manteca Senior Center front desk Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Payment is by cash or check only.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com