Ah, yes, the Movie theater.... a fading experience. Many of us grew up pre-VCR, when TV was small and dull, and movies were big, bright, loud adventures with passion and action not found in our everyday life. We went to escape and see new things. The whole family piled in the car, stood in line and sat down, listening to the piped in music [not contsant Ads] and talked for twenty minutes before the Previews began. Often our pop, and hot extra buttered popcorn was gone even before the lights dimmed and the curtain raised or parted, and the projector fired up, showing us battles amongst distant galaxies, or some lone hero fighting some faction for the good of the people.
Then, there were the drive ins. The experience that can still be had today if you're lucky enough to find a decent one nearby. Driving in and waiting in a long line of cars, as the sun sets. You have 2 more buddies stashed in the trunk or hiding under unneeded coats in the back seats... sometimes you would try to sneak in some kissing action with your girlfriend during the quiet scenes after dark. Sometimes, she let you. Running accross that hilly gravel parking lot to get more junk food, dodging the "Speaker polls", past the other cars where people faces reflected the light from the big screen.
Now we mostly pat ourselves on the back for succeeding at recreating the BIG SCREEN expereince in our isolated homes, with large TVs, great stereos, even microwave popcorn.
But have we REALLY recreated the experince? Do you get to hear hundreds of random strangers laughing at the same thing you are laughing at? Or get to look around and find the cute girls when running to the bathroom? How about the smell of consession stand cooking 5 different forms of food - more than just your microwave popcorn? Not to mention the anticipation of getting a good seat, and waiting and talking together before the previews?
I still go to movies. Especially when it is some big EPIC adventure that will never look as good on a 50" screen or 8 foot projector. The theaters are less crowded these days but there are still people going. I hope to hunt down some DRIVE-INs this summer in Newton and Kansas City.
Then, there were the drive ins. The experience that can still be had today if you're lucky enough to find a decent one nearby. Driving in and waiting in a long line of cars, as the sun sets. You have 2 more buddies stashed in the trunk or hiding under unneeded coats in the back seats... sometimes you would try to sneak in some kissing action with your girlfriend during the quiet scenes after dark. Sometimes, she let you. Running accross that hilly gravel parking lot to get more junk food, dodging the "Speaker polls", past the other cars where people faces reflected the light from the big screen.
Now we mostly pat ourselves on the back for succeeding at recreating the BIG SCREEN expereince in our isolated homes, with large TVs, great stereos, even microwave popcorn.
But have we REALLY recreated the experince? Do you get to hear hundreds of random strangers laughing at the same thing you are laughing at? Or get to look around and find the cute girls when running to the bathroom? How about the smell of consession stand cooking 5 different forms of food - more than just your microwave popcorn? Not to mention the anticipation of getting a good seat, and waiting and talking together before the previews?
I still go to movies. Especially when it is some big EPIC adventure that will never look as good on a 50" screen or 8 foot projector. The theaters are less crowded these days but there are still people going. I hope to hunt down some DRIVE-INs this summer in Newton and Kansas City.
