Let's All Go To the Picture Show

Let’s All Go To The Picture Show For A Trip Down Memory Lane

I remember when individuals said, “Let’s go to the picture show,” or “What is playing at the moving picture show?” Today it is movies or films. I was introduced to the movies at the Ritz Theater in Selmer, Tennessee when I was a young “Whipper Snapper,” as Gabby Hayes would say. My friends and I would walk to the Ritz Theater from our home until Santa Claus brought us bicycles. Riding to the Ritz on our bicycles was great fun. We parked our bicycles outside the theater, and I did not think about someone stealing them. Those days have vanished.
At the theater, I viewed movies with Charles Starett as The Durango Kid, Roy Rogers, Alan Rocky Lane, Gene Autry, Lash LaRue, and other western stars when the Ritz Theater was in full swing. The Saturday’s matinee’s played westerns. Many more actors and actresses could be mentioned, but I think the reader gets the general idea. I could get in the movie, buy popcorn, and a soft drink all for .25 cents – In the words of Bob Dylan The times they are a changing.
I have always loved the cinema for entertainment, escapism, laughter, adventure, romance, and drama. The Saturday matinees had serials before the main movie began. The serials were short clips which contained a hero getting into dangerous situations. Just as he was about to be killed, the clip would end and be continued the next Saturday. This was one way to get the audience back the next week. We had to wait a week to see our hero escape from the situation. The Indian Jones series is a version of the old serials. Of course, with the exception of having to wait a week to see the hero get out of trouble.
When all of us young Whipper Snappers returned to the neighborhood, we would relive the movies we had watched.
Thanks to my parents my big brother and my nephew for their support of work, education, spirituality, entertainment and allowing me to pursue my passions or at least not stopping me.
It was not long the Ritz Theater closed to make way for the Drive-In Theater. A few years later the Drive-In Theater bid its farewell. As the movie world progressed, I became a fan of Steve McQueen, Paul Newman, Clint Eastwood, Robert Mitchum, John Wayne, Gregory Peck, Marilyn Monroe, Maureen O’Hara, Ingrid Bergman, Angelina Jolie, Meryl Streep, and other silver screen heroes.
From “Bullitt,” “Nevada Smith,” “Hombre,” “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,” “The Unforgiven,” “Pink Panther” movies with Peter Sellers to older classics such as “Casablanca,” and “Treasure of Sierra Madre.” A few other movies I watched at the Ritz were “The Creature from the Black Lagoon,” “Tarantula,” “Trapeze” with Burt Lancaster and Gina Lollobrigida. I could name many more movies and stars, but space will not allow it.
Right up to the films of today, I followed the changes and progress from the good, to the bad, and to the ugly.
We all have different views of movies. Some like a certain movie while others hate it. I wrote my first movie review when I was attending Ramer High School. Dr. Martha Glover was my teacher. She assigned the class a paper to write. I wrote about the movie “Dr. No” starring Sean Connery, and Ursula Andress. It was the first serious Bond film which started a trend that is still going strong today. I have been hooked on Ian Fleming’s characters since then. The film industry is in the process of making a movie about Fleming. He lived an interesting life. Some studios did spoofs on Bond, but the first true film about the character James Bond was “Dr. No.”
Dr. Glover read the review to the class. It was a proud moment for me. She gave me encouragement, and I never forgot it. My love for movies and writing has never left me. Thank-You Dr. Glover. Thanks to Dr. Brenda Armstrong for her encouragement and support. Thanks to the newspapers that print the reviews. Thanks to the fans and those who read the reviews and love movies. I appreciate each reader.
I suppose anyone who loves films and writes about them with intensity would have to be a Bohemian, Hippie, and Free Spirit – Not hard to spot. Being the youngest in the family, I pursued work, fun, and enjoying life while looking for answers.
Although, because of the time period, pursuing college, other entertainment areas, water skiing, working, and teaching, I allowed the reviews to be put on hold for a while, but I did not stop viewing movies.. The love for movies never left me. I was captured – hook, line, and sinker.
I wrote Roger Ebert, film critic for the Chicago Sun Times, and asked him about the movie review world. I received a letter from him, but he did not give much advice other than to wish me good luck.
I began writing for the newspapers with the movie “Rain Man.” Here I must thank Mark Boehler for printing my first review.
I love watching great films, and I love writing about them. I always say I do not mind if the reader does not agree with me - just read the review. Different opinions make the world go around.
Here are some movies I plan to see in the next few weeks.
“The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo” – Book by Stieg Larsson – Starring Daniel Craig and Rooney Mara
“A Dangerous Method” Michael Fassbender, Viggo Mortensen, Keria Knightly – A film about Carl Jung and Sigmund Freud.
“Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol” Enough said.
Sherlock Holmes A Game of Shadows – Robert Downey Jr. is back
My Week with Marilyn – Based on a true story about Marilyn Monroe
“Shame” Michael Fassbender and Carey Mulligan A film set in New York City.
“Tinker, Taylor, Soldier, Spy” Based on the book written by John le Carre.
“We Bought a Zoo” Matt Damon and Scarlett Johansson Based on a true story about a family that buys a Zoo.
“War Horse” About a horse sent into battle during World War I.
“The Iron Lady” Meryl Streep plays Margaret Thatcher – May be another Oscar nod.
“Contraband” Mark Wahlberg in a gangster action packed film.
“Haywire” Gina Carano plays a black ops soldier out to find who betrayed her.
“Man on a Ledge” Sam Worthington – A man trying to prove his innocence threatens to jump off a tall building.
Thanks again to everyone – readers, fans, friends, family, and those who do not agree with the reviews. See you at the movies, and “next week with a brand new show.”