“I find it soothing, the thought of a movie theater.”
Today is bright and beautiful. It is also cold, only 34˚. The wind is blowing but only slightly in comparison to the winds of the last few days. The dogs are out and back inside quickly. Their ears are always cold.
My dance card has one item, dinner with friends tonight and maybe a game or two. My chore list has a few more items which I have been ignoring. My laundry is still in the hall. My kitchen floor is filled with paw prints from the door, down the hall to the den. My bed is unmade. I did water my plants yesterday, my biggest achievement of the day. It was exhausting.
My den is cluttered, and that’s being kind. My collections are here: my hats, my snow globes, baskets from Ghana, my vinyl, some wind-up toys, many cookbooks in wooden boxes and some bobble heads. The couch is where the three of us spend our time. I get the middle. Each dog has a side.
When I was a kid, Saturday was sacrosanct. The morning was for eating cereal in front of the TV. The rest of the day depended on the season and the weather. A winter Saturday was often a movie matinee at the theater uptown. I loved that theater. It was special, unique. It was built in 1917 and was called The Stoneham. The ticket window was on the left wall. There was an incline to the rest of the theater. The stairs to the balcony, usually closed off with a red rope unless there were too many kids, were also on the left wall. The concession stand was at the top of the incline in the middle of the wall between the doors to the seats. In the very back seats were always kissing couples. They were the only teenagers at the matinee. The front of the theater had a stage. When my mother was young, there were giveaways like dishes. One Saturday I saw The Wizard of Oz for the first time. I clapped when it turned to color. Al and his wife owned and ran the theater. She was at the concession stand, and he went up and down the aisles shining his flashlight at us and trying to maintain order. He always wore a jacket and a tie.
I still go to that theater, but now it is a live theater where the Greater Boston Stage Company performs six shows a year. My sister and I usually go to the Christmas play every year. The balcony is always open. Nobody throws candy anymore.
Explore posts in the same categories: Musings
February 19, 2022 at 5:30 pm
Hi Kat,
The seasons are confused today again. The sky is absolutely clear blue, a light southerly breeze and a high of 63°. By Wednesday winter will return with freezing rain and sleet. At least you know that it’s still winter in Massachusetts until the grass starts growing again.
We haven’t gone to a movie since Covid started nearly two years ago. I’m not convinced that movie theaters will make a comeback. With all the streaming services you can stay home and watch nearly anything as often as you desire. Big screen TVs, surround sound, and reclining theater seats may make movie theaters obsolete. A bag of microwave popcorn and a can not of soda and you’re all set at home. Modern movie theaters are no longer projecting movies from 35 mm film, but they are projecting the images sent to them over the internet just like to your home and then projected onto the screen.
Most kids of our generation spent Saturday mornings in front of the B&W boob tube. Do you remember having to wait after Turing on the TV set for the vacuum tubes to warm up? Imagine how much sugar we consumed back then and we seemed to have survived. 🙂
February 19, 2022 at 11:01 pm
Hi Bob,
Tonight is downright freezing. It is in the mid-20’s. nada is windy making it worse. I just got home from my friends house, and my heat couldn’t come on fast enough. We are due for a thawing in the next couple of days.
I also haven’t been to the movies since Covid. I have so many channels I can usually find something to watch. Now you can even watch movies being released at the same times in the theaters. Besides, I can wear my cozies and be comfortable, get snacks or a drink and go to the bathroom without losing anything of the movies.
I loved Saturday morning TV. I remember how slowly the TV faded when it was turned off.
February 19, 2022 at 5:41 pm
A quiet sunny day after the big storm last night… All trees survived, we just lost a part of an old sage bush.
Have fun tonight!
February 19, 2022 at 11:04 pm
Birgit,
I had a great evening. Dinner was delicious, and we played the new game I gave my friends for Christmas.
Tonight is downright freezing. The wind is still fierce. I’, home now and in my cozies.
February 20, 2022 at 8:41 am
WE had one storm passing south of us, the one Birgit mentions and today we have a big storm passing north of us. No stronger winds here they say but we’ll get at least 8 inches of snow. It’ll last a day but after that warmer weather returns again, I won’t complain about that 🙂 🙂 🙂
Have a great day!
Christer.
February 20, 2022 at 8:58 am
Christer,
Yikes, that is too much snow!! Your weather is like mine. It was in the 50’s two days ago and last night was freezing with a heavy wind and the temperature in the low 20’s. Warmth will be back ingot too long.
The dogs come back inside quickly. They don’t love all that cold either. I have coats for them but haven’t used them for their backyard jaunts.
Take care!!