ON THE EDGE OF MY SEAT

There is a specific kind of magic that only happens when the lights go down, the chatter dies out, and the only thing left is the smell of buttered popcorn and the glow of an oversized screen.

“The moment the lights go down is often the best part” — J.J. Abrams

As those lights dim, I am transfixed. Transfixed by a humongous screen and a box of Sno-Caps.

Side-by-side with a tangible hum of anticipation, we all sit. A whole bunch of strangers, collectively weeping over heartbreak, moved by heroic acts, paralyzed with fear, or delighted by waves of contagious laughter.

What an adrenaline rush.

It’s a social bonding experience, even if we never utter a word to the movie-buddy in the next seat. With regard to the aforementioned buddy… I promise not to reach out to hold your hand or dip into your popcorn. Even though I want to.

Incidentally, those classic rows of side-by-side padded seats? Essential to the magic. I know I might be in the minority here, but I admit to holding a certain contempt for those plush lounge chairs that recline with endless bells and whistles. That’s too much like lounging in one’s own home. But we are not in our homes and, for me, that’s the gift.

No dishes linger in the sink call out my name. No notifications demand my attention. No phone begging to be scrolled. Just my full attention on what is materializing in front of me.

By the way, the most “bells and whistle-y” thing I hope for is a cup holder and a clear view. Ixnay on the recliner…

I want to be on the edge of my seat!

Speaking of seats – I am immensely appreciative of the ability to choose ours ahead of time. Or as my Uncle Sid used to say if he caught you scratching your butt… “are going to the movies, because you are picking your seat!”

For a few years, like most of the world, I fell out of the habit. COVID turned heading to the cinema, live and in-person, into a memory. Even after the world reopened, I stayed home. I guess I had forgotten about going to the movies.

Why do I love heading to the cinema so much? It’s the palpable silence rendering movie-goers speechless, the joy and the knowing smiles shared amongst strangers, and the conversations brought about after.

“What did you like about it?”,

“What was your favorite scene?”,

“What did you think of the acting?”,

even… “I did not get it!”.

WHERE IT ALL BEGAN (for me)

Long before those luxury loungers, my obsession began at the Hamilton and Jeffery Theaters on East 71st Street, Chicago’s Southside. Oh, what cherished memories.

West Side Story (early 60’s) blew my mind. The finger-snapping high tension of “Cool”, the face-off during “The Dance at the Gym”, and the deep yearning of “Tony, Tony, Tony”. You best believe I danced the entire way home, consequently managing to perform all the roles in the safety of my bedroom.*

And Bye Bye Birdie with my cuz. How we swooned over Conrad Birdie… which, let’s be honest, is hilarious if you take a peek at the movie now.

Once the credits rolled we became hell-bent on reconstructing Ann-Margret’s bombshell version of the title song,“Bye, Bye Biiiirdieee”. Albeit minus the bombshell cleavage.

For good measure, I would stage “How Lovely To Be A Woman” in my boudoir. I shrugged on that ginormous sweater and shimmied my clothes off top to bottom like a professional escape artist. A one-woman show demanded for many years. By me.

When A Hard Day’s Night hit East 71st Street (1965), the theater was packed with screaming girls, me included. We were so loud you could not hear a word – but they were bigger than life and right there in front of us.

There was not a seat to be had and I recall plopping down on the steps, in the aisle, thrilled to be screaming at gazing up at the Beatles in action. And, in love with Paul or John depending on the day.

Heading into the Chicago loop for a sophisticated night at the cinema was where I saw Funny Girl. In those days you dressed up to go downtown. It was an event! Looking back, the experience was less like seeing a movie and more like witnessing live theatre.

Glossy souvenir programs were sold in the lobby and there was an Overture, an Intermission, an Entr’acte and, of course, Streisand to behold. My one-woman show was quickly expanded to include “I’m The Greatest Star” and “I’d Rather Be Blue”. No intermission required.

And then there was Zeffirelli’s Romeo and Juliet. Leonard. Whiting. I have three words for that experience:

Oh. My. God.

Movies can also scare the bejesus out of you, like the first scary one I saw on the big screen… The Haunting. I was ten years old, couldn’t sleep for days, and my parents assumed (and hoped) it would be the last time I witnessed one of those sorts of movies.

Being a huge fan of The Twilight Zone, The Outer Limits, and The Alfred Hitchcock Hour – one would think I should have reacted nonchalantly to that movie. Hell no… observing creepy, spine-tingling eyefuls on our 19-inch black and white television set was VERY different.

Although watching those movies all alone is not on my watch list, I do love a good horror flick with my nearest and dearest.

it’s good to be back

I recently saw three in quick succession… it was kind of a revelation after so many years. The standout – Hamnet. The raw power of Jessie Buckley’s performance, in tandem with that big screen, was beautiful.

While giving this story undivided attention, all of us, seated together, bared the grief.

I love how a movie invites us in to feel something. That it can be profoundly healing for some, unbearable or confusing for others, leave us in awe or grappling with uneasy feelings of dread… or perhaps offer a light-hearted release of cathartic laughter.

And being back in an actual theatre sharing that oversized view with a whole bunch of sweet strangers? Fantastic.

The rush of adrenaline now? Same as it was on East 71st Street!

*ADDENDUM

Dearest Cher: it was my idea first! At the very least you could have credited the source. ME. (See West Side Story segment above for official documentation).

Would love to hear from you. What was the first movie that made you appreciate or forget you were sitting in a room full of strangers?

~ featured image: https://www.goodmovies.org/quotes/