UPTOWNflavor

Scores of rain soaked fans lined the streets of Harlem just to catch a glimpse of Harrison Ford and his co-stars at the Magic Johnson Theaters on Tuesday night.

Long touted to be the best movie theater in New York and one of Harlem’s best kept secrets, the Magic Johnson has been rolling out the carpet for quite a few A-listers. If you remember back in 2006, an energetic Tom Cruise raced up to Harlem to walk the Red Carpet for his premiere of MI:3.

In true Harlem form, the premier was kicked off with a performance by singer Ashanti, who is promoting her new CD, The Declaration, and simulcast on BET’s popular live video countdown show “106th and Park”.

Anyone who has lived in Harlem for 10 or more years remembers that Magic Johnson was the first big investor in what has come to be known as the new Harlem. When Magic decided to put his money where his mouth was, Harlem opened its first Starbucks and the spacious multiplex theater which anchors the Harlem USA complex. Both businesses offered Harlemites amenities that they had long done without within the confines of their neighborhood.

Harrison was accompanied to the Harlem premier of by a relatively healthy looking Calista Flockhart, and his costars Shia LaBeouf and Karen Allen. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is the latest in the series of Steven Spielberg/George Lucas blockbusters starring Ford as a fedora sporting, globe-trekking hero.

More photos of the premier in Harlem below.  Even more Red Carpet shots over here!

UPDATE: CNN’s Lola Ogunnaike gives an indepth analysis of the marketing strategy used to reach the youth and Black demographic [CNN]

Source: NY Daily News; Photo credit