“I find it soothing, the thought of a movie theater.”
Yesterday it rained on and off but not heavily. This morning I woke up to the rain hitting the windows, but it is an unsettled rain, heavy at times, other times misty. I went to the dentist. It wasn’t raining there, a couple of towns away. The latest weather report calls for isolated thunderstorms. It will be hot at 78° with all the dreaded humidity the rain brings.
When I was a kid, I hated going to the dentist. Usually it was because I had a toothache, and everything hurt. We never had regular check-ups at either the dentist or the doctor. That was the way it was when both my parents were growing up so that was what they knew. Now, other than my brother, we all have regular appointments. Today was a teeth cleaning.
In the summer, when I was a kid, my mother seldom knew where I was even though I was gone most of the day. If I was walking, I was probably at the park. If I was on my bike, I could be anywhere. She was never afraid for us. We had gotten the don’t talk to strangers conversation, and she figured we had listened. We had. I felt safe. I figured I could go anywhere so I did.
When I was in high school, my friends and I went to Boston to see Cleopatra at the Metropolitan Theater. It was the grandest theater I have ever been in. I remember the high ceiling, the lights, the boxes on the sides of the theater, the wall paper and the red curtain. The ladies’ room even had a plush lounge chair. I sat on it to take in all the beauty of the room, a bathroom.
My town’s movie theater was originally built in 1917. It had a stage at the front where there used to be vaudeville acts and giveaways of glassware. There was a small balcony in front of the projector room. I went to the theater often to see matinees on Saturdays. I didn’t know the theater’s history when I was young. I suspect even if I knew I wouldn’t have been impressed. I would have thought it was just old. The theater closed for almost thirty years before it was sold and restored. It became a live performance theater. I have seen several plays there. Every time I go to a play I look around and remember being a kid and sitting and watching cartoons before the big movie. My theater has changed but it is also still the same.
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August 23, 2022 at 5:13 pm
You like the rainy season in Ghana but it has the dreaded humidity.
August 23, 2022 at 5:30 pm
Bill, I love the intensity of the first rain storms. I remember during my first rainy season when a lightning bolt hit the yard in front of my house. I guess it is because I love how everything is so lush and green. I did like the dry season and no bugs!
August 23, 2022 at 6:40 pm
Hi Kat,
Yesterday we had more rain, over nine inches, in one day in nearly 100 years. Today started out cloudy with some drizzle in the morning and an occasional light shower in the afternoon. The temperature is below seasonal with a low in the mid 70° range and a high of 85°.
Surprisingly, movie theaters have survived the pandemic and home streaming video. Several movie houses have been restored and now put on live shows. The most famous one in Dallas is the Texas Theater in the Oak Cliff section. That’s where Lee Harvey Oswald was captured in November of 1963.
When I was a kid one side of Elm street in downtown Dallas was a row of several movie houses. Unfortunately, all but one are gone. The Majestic Theater was restored to its original grandeur and is now used for live performances and shows. All but one of the many neighborhood theaters from those days are also gone. The Inwood Theater has survived and was also remolded as an artsy movie theater because of alcohol sales at the snack bar. Somehow popcorn and bourbon don’t seem to go together. 🙂
August 23, 2022 at 8:06 pm
Hi Bob,
I got rain during the night into the morning. It was a strange storm hopping and skipping towns. My dentist is two towns over. It wasn’t raining there but on my way home, as soon as I got to Dennis, it was still raining. My friends in Chatham got no rain at all.
I saw all the flooding in Texas on the evening news. The height of the floods was unbelievable especially the highways under water.
I remember that movie theater where Oswald was captured.
My town has a small complex with 5 screens. I really enjoy going there to the movies but haven’t been since Covid. I used to sneak in candy and a can of Coke then buy popcorn at the theater.
Boston used to have some beautiful movie theaters. A few have been turned into live theater like your Majestic.The Metropolitan I mentioned is The Wang now. I have seen plays there, and it is home to to the Boston Ballet. I love the preservation of old buildings!
Stay dry!!
August 23, 2022 at 8:28 pm
Hi Kat,
I haven’t been to a movie theater is a long time, since COVID. As a child,in the summer i liked going to movies, but they had summer stock plays, and I liked that even more. I can only recall going to a drive in twice in my life.
What’s a dentist? Sounds like a torture devise,
Funny you mentioned movies, yesterday, I was trying to think of all the movies I could remember seeing.
Often on my birthday, my parents would take a few of my best friends, and go to NYC to see a new movie.
I need to get back to my sloth ways and take a nap.
It’s been a pleasure.
Purrs,
Lori
August 23, 2022 at 8:47 pm
Hi Lori,
I haven’t been to a movie theater either since Covid. When I was a kid, the matinees were in winter. We went often to the drive-in mostly on Saturday nights. The cape still has one so we’re lucky.
My dentist, the same one since 1971, is wonderful. I make sure to go for cleanings so I haven’t had a cavity in many years,
I love showing movies on my deck. It is fun sitting outside with no one shushing you if you talk. We pause the movie for bathroom breaks.
Glad you dropped by!!