That was such a long time ago:eek: I am very old; but I do recall there were many theaters where I grew up. All were downtown. The inside of most was beautiful with balconies, thick carpet and super plushy seats with the seat part flipping up to allow for more room to walk to a seat. (People would stand, flip the seat and then step back to allow people to pass.)
My parents took us frequently, possibly children’s tickets were less expensive than a babysitter. I recall seeing Fräulein with the “bad guy” (Theodore Bikel?) chasing someone over roofs at night.*
My Mom took me to the re-release of “Gone With the Wind” sometime in the 60’s.
I recall one theater was closed for renovation prior to the release of the Godfather. My then boyfriend and I went. It was like a gala. There were even klieg lights! There were ushers to escort us to our seats. Everyone was all dressed up and the theater interior had been restored to it’s full glory.
Of course there was also a number of um “Art” theaters too. Fortunately my boyfriend looked very old and managed to get us in; but I looked about 12 so I do not know WHAT the ticket seller was thinking.
Yep. Also a serial, like Rocketman*, and often a “Beano” game or a dooe prize drawing.
Unless they ran a “Kiddie matinee” on Saturdays. Started at Noon with two B films, usually a Jerry Lewis or something, with more cartoons and no newsreel. I remember being asked to leaveby an usher since we were actually “rolling in the aisles with laughter” and I got out of being kicked out as I pointed out the ad actually said that we’d be doing that. Or maybe the Manager just didnt want the headache.
Smoking was uncommon in the theater due to fire regs. But everyone smoked everywhere else.
I was short, and it seemed like there was always someone tall in front of me. I remember going to see a lot of movies (all Disney) which were always shown as double features. At first I only saw movies at the drive-in. Leaving the house in my pajamas always seemed extremely cool to me.
I remember only seeing three trailers in front of each double feature.
Star Wars was the first movie I saw in a theater that wasn’t Disney. First PG movie I ever saw, too.
In 1961 our neighbor took my brother and me to see “Gorgo” in a theater in Brooklyn. It was a big fancy theater, and there was a hypnotist performing before the show.
We had two theaters in walking distance, one right in the middle of a commercial block, the other in a small shopping area - with a Horn and Hardart’s restaurant (not automat) next door.
Continuous showings went on for quite a while. I saw 2001 3 times in a theater during its first run, and we came in on the very end of “Empire Strikes Back” once. And of course you got show times over the phone if not from the paper.
There were special road show presentations of big movies in cities. I saw 2001 twice at the Capitol Theater in New York, with introductory music and Intermission just like on the DVD and BlueRay versions. I did buy the program.
Theaters were not always scrupulous about start times. We call the Eric theater in Lawrenceville NJ Eric the Early since if you showed up on time the movie had already begun. We came into Raiders of the Lost Ark the first time just when the ball was rolling.
theaters too. Fortunately my boyfriend looked very old and managed to get us in; but I looked about 12 so I do not know WHAT the ticket seller was thinking.
Or maybe the Manager just didnt want the headache.