I LOVE THE MOVIES
First, there was the theater...and for 25 cents on a Saturday afternoon I could go and watch two full length features, an episode from each of three 'serials' (anybody out there remember Flash Gordon, The Shadow and Superman?), three or four cartoons, and occasionally a live magic act. Candy bars were 5 cents, sodas were 5 cents, and popcorn was 5 cents. Forty cents kept us busy and entertained from 1 in the afternoon until 6 in the evening...
Then the price went to $1, and the full length features were cut to only one. The 'serials' were abandoned, and the cartoons were cut to two. BUT...they added commercials for the candy and popcorn counter. Candy was 10 cents, soda was 10 cents, and popcorn went up to 25 cents...but, for $1.45 we were still entertained from 2 in the afternoon until 5 in the evening...
The next move was to $2.50 for a ticket (unless you had a student pass, then it was only $2). They still showed one feature, the 'serials' never returned, and the cartoons disappeared. And the live music or magic act...never to be seen again. Candy was now 75 cents, sodas were 75 cents, and popcorn hit (what I thought was a record high) $1.50. And we were now entertained, for $5, from 5 in the evening until 7 in the evening...
The last time I went to a theater it cost $7.50 for the ticket, $2.00 for a soda, $2.50 for a candy bar, and $3.50 for popcorn! They showed one movie, no 'serials', no cartoons, and there were over 45 minutes of commercials for the theater, other local business, and coming attractions. Besides this, the guy next to me was drunk, the young girl in front of me couldn't keep her hands off of her boyfriend, and the two women behind me wouldn't shut-up! And it only cost me $15.50 to be 'entertained'(?) from 7 in the evening until 9:15 at night...
I love movies. I love all kinds of movies. I love westerns, love stories, action, adventure, comedy, fantasy, and even 'historical docu-drama'. But not at $15.50 a shot, and all the aggravation.
Today I can sit at home, in my favorite chair, or even reclining on my couch. I can smoke my cigarettes, buy Pepsi for $2.99 a 12-pack, eat all the Hershey chocolate possible for $3 a pound, and cook-up a ton of Jolly-Time for around 35 cents! I can go to the bathroom and not miss anything. If I want to see a certain scene again I can do it with the touch of a button. If I want to see it in reverse (and there are some movies that are more entertaining in reverse) I can do it with the flick of another button.
I can watch my 40-inch TV in wide-screen format and not miss a thing. I can fire-up AC-3 (Dolby Digital) and have two 15-inch sub woofers, which irritate my neighbors three doors down, two rear channel 'surround' speakers, two front channel 'surround' speakers, two front channel 'main' speakers, and two front channel 'center' speakers. Not only do I see the film, but I can hear it and feel it as well.
And the cost today? Well, if I buy enough gasoline at my local Holiday store, the movie is free. If I browse the local rental place, it runs anywhere from $1 to $3 (but unfortunately all they both handle is VHS tapes). And if I decide to purchase a VHS tape, they can be had for as little as $2.99 (plus shipping), and LaserDiscs and DVDs run from $7 to $100 (again, plus shipping). And if all else fails, DTV is now showing movies with digital video and digital audio, for only $3.99 a movie (all day from 6am until 6am the next morning)!
So, what does it cost me to watch two movies, three cartoons, and, yes, even some of the old 'serials'? Figure the movie for free, the soda is two or three cans of Pepsi (at 25 cents a can)...and the popcorn?...well, it has finally taken its rightful place in the hierarchy of things...
And...there is no unknown slime on the floor, or little bumps of 'something' under the seat, and no crying babies, no love-sick teens, no gabby women, and no drunks!
Who are the people that make it all possible? Take a look at a few of my favorites. Mind you, not all of my favorites, but those who are responsible for my continued entertainment. Possibly you'll recognize a couple of them...
For those of you that would like to know more...just click on the carrot eating rodent...or on some of my favorites...
View My Guest-Book
