Place DOES matter
I went to the movies on Saturday with a friend of mine. We decided to see No Country for… It was playing close to my house at the Old Town Theater (pic of actual theater). This is an independent “movie house” in the ecclectic/funky/historic section of Old Town Alexandria in VA (DC area). Anyway, this theater is like others in other cities where you can order food and drink and have it delivered to your seat. Ok, so the theater is historic, having been there since like 1910 or somthing. It has 2 screening rooms and no elevator/escalator.
My friend had never been to a movie house or cinema draft house as it is called in other places. The elderly cashier did that job and ran the concession stand at the same time. She was initally taken aback when she found out that once she purchased her popcorn, the cashier gave her the popcorn container. She was like, “ok, what I am supposed to do?”. He pointed her to the popcorn machine and told her to scoop out her own popcorn. You would have thought he asked her cut off a hand or something. She did it with a smile though.
We then proceed to walk into the first room we see. It wasn’t our movie but Atonem.ent. She comes out and says, “how am I suppsed to know where to go, there are no signs?!” The old man laughs and says oh, go on upstairs. We go in and find our seats. Now, the movie was supposed to start at 7:30, it was about 7:40 and the screen was blank. She wondered why there were no ‘coming attractions’ on. I told her sometimes they had them but oftentimes they did not. We just sat and talked and people watched. Around 7:50 the old man comes ambling up the steps. He stops on the middle step and says to the theater goers (in a deep southern accent), “Now y’all box up your trash when y’all done ‘cuz it’s just me and that other fella on tonight and someone just quit on me last night…ya hear?” My friend looks at me and says, “oh hail naw”.
The old man walks back and up to the projection room to start the movie. At first he has it all projected on the wall. During this whole debacle, everyone is kind of smiling and nodding. Now let me say that in this whole screening room, there is only one other black person besides me and my friend. He finally gets it right. However, he forgets to dim the lights and no one has the heart to say anything. So basically we watch the whole movie as if I were sitting in my auntie’s kitchen.
My friend…out of nowhere, just BURST out laughing. I ask her what’s so funny. She says (in earshot of others) , “In Old Town this place has character and charm, try this ish in southeast DC and people been done left, cussed out the old man and labeled this place a hot ghetto mess”.
Can’t argue with her there!
I have seen No Country For Old Men at least 3 times *cough cough* bootleg *cough cough*, and I still don’t understand it.
Nikki, whenever I see movies where I’m left thinking “wha?”, I go to IMDB.com and see how the movie nerds dissect the film. Basically, it’s about fatalism, existentsialism, free will and a whole lot of other cerebral notions
Comment by Nikki — February 4, 2008 @ 4:15p
I haven’t had a chance to see the movie yet, but that movie house is what we backwoods mid-westeners would call “a hoot!” LOL@
“Now y’all box up your trash when y’all done ‘cuz it’s just me and that other fella on tonight and someone just quit on me last night…ya hear?”
I would have had to second your friends emotion just a lil’ stronger, “OH HAIL TO THE NAW”!!!
Great story, thanks for letting us in on this sweet little piece of Americana!
Comment by Sharon — February 4, 2008 @ 5:26p
That was hilarious!!!!
Comment by DJ Diva — February 4, 2008 @ 7:58p
*wave* I came by way of Tasha’s blog. Aww I love those lil country theatres although I must question that dang movie. A friend of mine said she fell asleep on it..twice so I know that’s a no-go for me! LOL@ your friend..hilarious!
Comment by Durty Mo — February 6, 2008 @ 1:10p
I never go over to Alexandria. I will have to check out at the Old Town Theater so i can get the full experience.
Comment by Muslim007 — February 7, 2008 @ 2:23p
*giggle* Totally. I’ve been to Old Town. I love that theatre. My mom and I have seen movies there. It really is one of those places that you have to go to in order to truly believe it.
I lived in SW for years before moving to Brooklyn and would hang out on the waterfront… where I was the only white person for blocks… so I know how you ladies felt.
Ah, the DC metro area… really takes me back.
Comment by Melissa — February 7, 2008 @ 5:07p