Let's all go to the movies!
It is Oscar week and along with collecting stories and memories of the movies, we are bringing you an hour long special from our resident movie buffs, Andrew Dziengel, Heather Johnson and Julie Crabb.
Here's what we heard
"I saw Mean Girls on accident when I was probably nine. My older sister took me and the other three kids, which I was the oldest of," Alex from Fifty Lakes said. "We begged to stay after she realized how big of a mistake she made."
Bonnie from Helga Township near Bemidji described seeing movies at the Lesdan Theater in Fosston in the early '60s.
"The coolest thing was all of the Disney characters from that era were painted on the walls that glowed when the lights went out to start the movie!"
KAXE volunteer Michael Small told us about seeing The Wizard of Oz when he was 5.
"When the witch showed up in the crystal ball, replacing Aunt Em, I think I went under my seat. Very scary moment!"
We heard many tales of being afraid or traumatized by movies like Bambi, Old Yeller and Snow White. Mindy told us about ending up in the wrong theater and seeing The Green Berets at age 6.
"I had nightmares for years of guys getting blown up in the jungle!"
Bruce from Grand Rapids said Pinocchio was his first movie.
"I didn't want to become a donkey!"
Lisa from Balsam Township saw Bonnie and Clyde at the theater in Northhome when she was too young for it.
"They had a pop dispenser like a vending machine," she said. "Mmmm .... the black cherry soda."
A few people told us about working at movie theaters. Pam from Grand Rapids worked at the Rialto, the Rapids and the Pine Tree Drive-in. She also told us what happened to the leftover popcorn each night.
"They bagged it up and used it the next day to mix in with the fresh."
Becky told us about working in a movie theater in St. Cloud while she attended college there.
"I was the ticket girl in the glass booth that was the featured front of the theater. It was very glamorous!" she said. "It had velvet-covered seats and a velvet curtain, which opened signaling the start of the film. It also had a balcony with separate seating areas (called loges) for those who could afford them. ... Going to the movie theater was an experience!"
What are your memories of going to the movies? Let us know!
