If that doesn't describe Reel Theatres: Movies on the Parkway, I’m not sure what can.
My heart is heavy today in learning the news about the demolition of an old theater from my hometown. It always felt like much more than just a movie theater. To several people…
For me, this was a refuge when I was younger and needed to ‘get away’ from it all. This was where I built friendships that have lasted 10 years (and counting). This was where I spent countless hours passing time with said friends in the parking lot. This was a place where I could see Sandra Bullock (though sadly not in person)!
Reel Theaters was, for nearly two decades, the only movie theater in town. Which was a feat given the popularity of the area that drew in millions of tourists each year.
If you were to Google the theater now, and/or read more recent customer reviews, the chances of you finding negativity surrounding the place would probably be a certainty, as it was on the decline for a number of years. But you ask anyone that grew up with this theater, that truly saw it for what it once was, whether living in the area or having worked there, you’ll be hard pressed to find anyone that has a bad thing to say.
When I was young, I remember getting to meet Jonathan Taylor Thomas (seriously you guys - J.T.T. !) at the local premier of his movie ‘Wild America’ and for our town, including myself, that was a pretty big deal. Not to mention the special kids showings throughout each summer. So when school was out, every Wednesday they would show family-friendly films and the admission was only $1. It was so much fun (as a kid, not a blast to work :P) rounding up your friends, cousins, siblings - whoever - and getting up to go watch something for cheap. Plus I was always excited to get my kids combo because it was *just* the right amount. |
I miss the big weekend releases. I of course dreaded them at the time because of how busy we would be . Though in retrospect, it was so much fun and challenging on those nights to try and keep a steady flow and even more to actually get the work done when you were usually working with your friends. And once the Middle School Mafia (I’m sure everyone remembers Patrick) and the rest of the Patrons (Brandon Gideon forever changed that word for any of us involved in that staff meeting!) had cleared out after closing time, groups of us would end up migrating to the closest Denny’s for more restless hours of shenanigans and an order of seasoned fries to share because - we all worked at the theater and were broke.
Projection was always my favorite. Shifts were typically the longest there, and there were days that popcorn was my breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Threading the actual film through the projectors and making sure that the frame was in focus and that the sound quality was decent - was something to take pride in, whether I realized it at the time or not. I learned how to build the movies from the reels. Once I was familiar with the process, it was one of the most enjoyable aspects of my job. Plus, for me it always neat to tell your friends and family who didn’t work there - “I put that together!” |
That is what Reel Theatres: Movies on the Parkway is to me.
-The End-