You want to know the one thing I have really missed during this whole "COVID Pandemic"?
Movie Theaters📽
I love a good movie and have several on DVD and yes they just come out on Amazon and Netflix or Disney+, but it is not the same as watching it for the first time on a big screen surrounded by the noise of the action in a huge dark room jumping at what comes out from behind that door in a scary movie and snacking on delicious movie popcorn slathered in butter mixed with snowcaps and sipping' down an iced coke surrounded by strangers doing the exact thing taking you away from your world a bit and joining in on theirs with each upcoming scene.
It is relaxing and entertaining and just what people need sometimes.
I remember the first movie I ever watched in theaters was "Hollow Man". Without ruining to much of the movie for those who have not seen it, the main actor is Kevin Bacon and he is part of a scientific group in which they learn how to make things, animals, people invisible. It starts off positive with growing knowledge of how to turn you invisible, but does take a toll on one's mind and end in some horrible tragedies and as a younger kid and this being my first movie on a big screen it did make things seem more realistic and scared me but more intriguing then watching on an average tv and due to this first movie screening that could be why now I prefer horror, thriller, scary movies over any others.
As the years went by and theater trips continued, movies just became a part of life. Something to enjoy and look forward to and when I thought we had seen it all something new happened.
Drive ins were a thing of the past. Not sure why, but I guess as the world turned and humans became more innovated people rather be indoors with nicer restrooms and central conditioning in a controlled environment rather then outdoors in possible bad weather ruining fun for the night and other reasons I do not know but because of this drive ins were not a part of my theater watching culture until one weekend my aunt and uncle took me, my cousins, my mom, and my best friend at the time to a rare opportunity outside of their city living life and to the outskirts of a huge open field in the middle of nowhere to where a special event drive in had pop up to show a double feature. It was incredible to me. Yes chilly sitting in the back of a pick up truck wrapped in a blanket on a cool winter night, but you did not have to worry about slouching in your seat to avoid touching arms with a stranger next to you or squeeze by in front of others blocking their views when you needed to get up and get something or do a last minute potty break. It was so neat and I knew one day I wanted to run one and it just seemed so much more relaxing and comfortable how the broadcast came over your own stereo or headphones tuning out the world entirely under the night sky. I mean what more could you ask for? If drive ins were not a thing of the past they definitely would have survived during this pandemic where you could stay separated and the 6 feet apart deal while you sit in your own car watching the movie on a big screen.
So of course after this trip and experience I once again thought that was all when it came to movie theaters, until I got my first job.
The summer after my Junior year I knew it was time to start working especially considering
the college I had plans of attending was pricey and knew I needed to start saving up and so that is when I decided to fill out an application for a job opening at our towns movie theater. Coincidentally the same theater I saw "Hollow Man" in and they even had a framed news clipping of the theater showing this movie hanging on the wall right behind the ticket booth. Now if you are in to signs tell me these were not all signs as to something great happening and just meant to be, I am just saying.
Anyways, what was incredible about our town theater is it is privately owned. A kind that still had a balcony and stage for performances, had not turned digital yet until required to when film was no longer made and used film projectors as long as they could, prices were low, and you knew your customers.
I ended up working there about three years all together, the rest of my high school career and the first part of my college life an experience I will not forget and look back on. I became part of their movie theater family, we made our own uniforms and gave each other coworker nicknames and my love for movies and the theaters that shown them just grew. Especially after I learned the burnt half popped kernels at the bottom were better then actual popcorn and knowing there were other theaters out there like this that I would one day hope to see and enjoy.
Remember my "A Trip to the Zoo" post? Well Zoo's are not the only things me and my husband visit in towns on our trips. Side note: My husband loves movies just as much as me, he had a collection of DVDs that filled shelves around his entire home bedroom walls and at the beginning of us dating we went to the movies every week whether it was matinees or after work last late night showings no one stayed up for. Anyways in a new place with zoos we also visit the near by theaters. Even if they are name brand or small family owned. Again you may think you see one you have seen all but that is not true. The one in Colorado was like a cabin. Completely made of logs and wood and you walk in to small snack counter and just a few small screens. Then one in Florida had a conference ballroom with fancy stairs leading to it above all the screens blocked off for special occasions only. Trying to not spoil the sites for anyone else wanting to visit these theaters I will leave it at that.
I keep a trip journal and binder of collected postcards and tickets and movie stubs, some are so old the ink on the movie tickets has worn completely off leaving slight residue and a few letters and looking through the pages noticing all the tickets are even made differently creating uniqueness.
I think my love of movies is what inspired my creativity to write stories. Again just another way for me to escape to somewhere else and get ideas and things off and out of my mind and clear room for more to fill it.
Now tell me, even if you are not a movie buff, what is your favorite movie?
I will even go first even though I cannot just choose one.
It would be between Pride and Prejudice: Zombies and Mulan the animated version.
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