I know, it’s the 4th of July. But instead of a usual 4th of July post, I’m going to tell you something fun that happened last week. Something epic in our life as a couple.
Last week we watched three movies together.
Three movies in a theater.
Three movies in four days!
And while those numbers might not be staggering in your world, they are in mine. It’s the first time in our history as a couple that we’ve done that!
As you can imagine, there is more to the story the simply three movies in four days. We didn’t just run down to our nearest mega-movie complex with its recliner chairs and/or gourmet food. We didn’t add our box office dollars to the most fabulous new release, either, be it blockbuster or artsy film.
Nope.
We watched our three movies from the velvet seats of two different historic theaters. Three classic movies, even if two of them were modern-day classics. And those two modern-day classics? Yep. They were a double feature. You know, the old-fashioned kind where you pay for one movie and get to stay for two!
Our town boasts two historic theaters which sit side-by-side on the main street through downtown. One was built in 1915 as a vaudeville venue that switched to a movie house in the 1930s. The other was built as a movie house in the 1930s. Both have been restored. Both now host a lot of different events, including musical artists, comedians, and private events. But we went for the Summer Film Series. The Summer Classic Film Series.
We’ve wanted to see a classic film in one of these historic theaters since we moved here but never found the right time and the right movie to induce us downtown. Now that we live within walking distance of the theater, we thought it was time to check things out. And when the classic Cary Grant, Katherine Hepburn screwball comedy Bringing Up Baby was showing on the night of our anniversary, it seemed the perfect chance to take the plunge.
I can’t even tell you how much fun it was to see that movie on the big screen. But even more surprising was the joy of watching it with an audience! To laugh along with everyone else. To hear the gasps from those first-time watchers when the plot took yet another crazy turn. To clap and whoop at the end as the credits rolled. We loved every single moment. So much so that we came home and joined the Flim Fan Club so we could get discount tickets, free popcorn, and premium seats! Then we purchased our tickets for the Saturday double feature.
What titles made us willing to sit through two movies in a row? You’ve Got Mail followed by Sleepless in Seattle. Seriously, it was such a fun. And it ended up being a really restful day. We left there feeling—for the first time in a very long while—that we’d had a real weekend.
I’m looking forward to other films as the summer continues, culminating with two great ones—Giant and Gone with the Wind—at the end of August. In the meantime, we’ll experience some new-to-us classics, enjoy some of our long-time favorites, and drink in the history—and the fellow classic film lovers—around us.
What are your favorite classic movies—or ones that are so classic to you that you enjoy over and over again? Have you ever had a chance to see your favorites on the big screen?
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This sounds incredible, Anne! I love old theaters, even if I’m not a huge fan of old movies. 😉 I do like the two “new” classics you mentioned and also While You Were Sleeping with Sandra Bullock and Bill Pullman. All three of them have a classic feel to them. (And what a great way to spend hot summer days!)
Yes, as the man who intro’d the movie explained (and as I’ve always known), Norah Ephron was definitely inspired by the classic films–and especially in those two since You’ve Got Mail was a remake of The Shop Around the Corner and Sleepless in Seattle uses An Affair to Remember as a major part of the plot. And I agree–While You Were Sleeping also has that feel. I watch that one regularly, too! 🙂
Loooove this ❤️
So fun, right?
We took my grandmother to see, “The Bells of St. Mary’s” at a classic theatre in Kansas several years ago before she passed into eternity. She had always wanted to see this movie as she had sung a song from it when in high school chorus…but was forbidden to see the film as her church denomination didn’t allow movie watching. It was a sweet, memorable experience to watch Grandma enjoy this film. She even sang along to the song she had learned in High School. 😊
What a special memory, Jenn! I love that y’all were able to give her that experience–and share it with her!
What fun! I love classic films (TCM is my most watched channel). I saw Gone With the Wind on the big screen when I was young, before there was cable or satellite. It came to a local theater about every other year.
Yes, we love TCM, too! 🙂 That’s really cool that Gone With the Wind had a theater life long after its initial release. I’ve only ever seen in on a small screen.
I like The Thrill of It All with Doris Day and James Garner. My husband and I got to see White Christmas, which we love, this past Christmas when our local theater was showing Christmas classics for two weeks. That was fun!
How very fun! I think our theaters will show Christmas movies, too. At least I think I read that somewhere. And I haven’t seen that Doris Day one! I’ll have to find it! 🙂
I am so jealous!! Bringing Up Baby is my all time favorite movie and I missed a chance this year to see it on the big screen. I’m a big fan of classic films.
It’s such a fun one, isn’t it? Great writing, directing, and acting. One of my favorites, too. And so fun to see it on the big screen. I’m so sad you missed it! 🙁
How fun! The first time I saw Gone With the Wind was at a movie theater in St. Louis. It was a phenomenal introduction to that classic.
You’ve inspired me to look up the Paramount schedule and find a gem or two for my daughter and I to see this summer. 🙂
You absolutely should! Y’all would love it. And if it’s one we happen to get to, that would make it even more fun! 🙂