Mark this made me think of my childhood. growing up in a Catholic parochial school was a unique and enriching experience. The nuns who taught us were a diverse group—each with their own distinct personality. Some were strict and focused on discipline, while others were kind-hearted and nurturing. But no matter their approach, they all shared a deep commitment to our education and moral development. And believe it or not, many of them had a great sense of humor! Their unexpected jokes and light-hearted moments added a special touch to our daily routines, making our school days both educational and memorable. I love the sound of music one of my favorite musical movies.🍿
That's one of my favorites. Never got to see it on a big screen though. Miss the original theater I'm my town. It's a museum now. The theaters were huge. The theater we have now has smaller theaters than the original.
Sound of Music was my mother's go-to soundtrack when she needed to brighten her spirits... The movie was one of the DVDs that she watched over and over again when in extended care during her final descent into the depths of dementia. Her love of music was with her until the end...
On the subject of movie theatres, I remember when a $1.00 got me into the Sunday matinee (Godzilla!!) and purchased a small Mountain Dew and a box of Smarties.
In my old neighborhood, I spent a lot of time at a bowling alley that used to be a theatre. I could tell because of the very prominent Arabian motif chiseled into the stone exterior, and some photos in the lobby that said it used to be part of the Famous Players chain. But the biggest clue was going upstairs to play on the second floor and finding out that they still had the old theatre seats, projection booth and concession counter intact!
Unfortunately, the bowling alley has vacated the spot and it's been turned into condos....
That sounds like a cool bowling alley! I remember going to see a concert at the old Fox Theater in Detroit and it was a dump. Dirty and dingy. But you still could tell it had once been impressive. They eventually restored it to its old grandure. Sadly many of those old theaters didn't survive.
I forgot to mention that a few towns over had a movie theater with a glow-in-the-dark-dragon mural on the walls that appreared when the light went down. That was cool.
It's sad when old movie theatres go under the wrecking ball. We used to have some nice ones in downtown Winnipeg, but they either got torn down or repurposed.
It was a movie theater only. Not as elaborate as the old theaters of the early 20th century, but it was still way more exciting to see a movie there than the modern movie theater complexes with their smaller screens. But there is too much entertainment competition for a large single-screen theater to survive.
Once they started chopping theaters up into multiple screens, it wasn't the same. Although I do like the reclining theater seating they have now.
I saw all the original Star Wars movies in the theater. There was no choice back then. 🤣 Such a great experience seeing those spaceships on the big screen.
Oh, that would've been COOL. I'm wildly envious now.
I admit, I've only seen the Phantom Menace in theatre. *ducks*.
(I only went because it was 3-D and I was led to believe that the whole prequel trilogy would be in 3-D and I was holding out for Revenge of the Sith in 3D. Apparently they canceled that idea or something, as it never happened. Very sad.)
It was an awesome theater. Of course, I didn't realize how great it was at the time as I only went there or to drive-ins. They had buckets of popcorn, but us kids got boxes of popcorn. I think the sour cherry candies I got were called Royal Crown or Regal Crown. I can't remember.
Your three-sentence conversation is just a charmer, Mark, as is the beautifully lit photo of the nuns. When I read your stories I realize how cynical, and sometimes bleak, my stories are lately. It seems the older I get, the more demons want to be released. I don't like it. Thank you for your upbeat and usually playful, spirit. I need to follow your lead!
Thank you, Sharron. I try to have fun with my writing. There are plenty of writers doing "gritty realism." I would rather make people smile or laugh. Or warm their hearts. Or just be silly. I have written bleak stories occasionally, and I think some of them are my best stories, but I don't want it to be my primary thing. I just write what I would want to read and hope others like it also.
CAPT Von Trapp was actually in the Astro-Hungarian Imperial Navy — Austria lost its coast after WWI to the new Yugoslavia (plus some to Italy) and the Allies scrapped the ships during the 1920s naval disarmament talks.
🤣 Yeah. Did the Austrian navy cruise the lakes? Actually, I think in real life he was from Salzburg, Germany and served in the German navy. Then moved to Austria. But you know… Hollywood.
Mark this made me think of my childhood. growing up in a Catholic parochial school was a unique and enriching experience. The nuns who taught us were a diverse group—each with their own distinct personality. Some were strict and focused on discipline, while others were kind-hearted and nurturing. But no matter their approach, they all shared a deep commitment to our education and moral development. And believe it or not, many of them had a great sense of humor! Their unexpected jokes and light-hearted moments added a special touch to our daily routines, making our school days both educational and memorable. I love the sound of music one of my favorite musical movies.🍿
All God’s children are unique. And humor is good for the soul. The Sound of Music is a classic. Thanks, Coleen. 🤓
That's one of my favorites. Never got to see it on a big screen though. Miss the original theater I'm my town. It's a museum now. The theaters were huge. The theater we have now has smaller theaters than the original.
The old movie theater were huge. It is nothing like it was. But we only had five TV channels, so...
Sound of Music was my mother's go-to soundtrack when she needed to brighten her spirits... The movie was one of the DVDs that she watched over and over again when in extended care during her final descent into the depths of dementia. Her love of music was with her until the end...
On the subject of movie theatres, I remember when a $1.00 got me into the Sunday matinee (Godzilla!!) and purchased a small Mountain Dew and a box of Smarties.
It is definitely a "feel good" movie. And the music is great.
Those were the days. Good memories.
In my old neighborhood, I spent a lot of time at a bowling alley that used to be a theatre. I could tell because of the very prominent Arabian motif chiseled into the stone exterior, and some photos in the lobby that said it used to be part of the Famous Players chain. But the biggest clue was going upstairs to play on the second floor and finding out that they still had the old theatre seats, projection booth and concession counter intact!
Unfortunately, the bowling alley has vacated the spot and it's been turned into condos....
That sounds like a cool bowling alley! I remember going to see a concert at the old Fox Theater in Detroit and it was a dump. Dirty and dingy. But you still could tell it had once been impressive. They eventually restored it to its old grandure. Sadly many of those old theaters didn't survive.
I forgot to mention that a few towns over had a movie theater with a glow-in-the-dark-dragon mural on the walls that appreared when the light went down. That was cool.
It's sad when old movie theatres go under the wrecking ball. We used to have some nice ones in downtown Winnipeg, but they either got torn down or repurposed.
It was a movie theater only. Not as elaborate as the old theaters of the early 20th century, but it was still way more exciting to see a movie there than the modern movie theater complexes with their smaller screens. But there is too much entertainment competition for a large single-screen theater to survive.
I think the last movie I saw on the big screen was the first Star Wars film in the new trilogy, The Force Awakens. Good times.
Once they started chopping theaters up into multiple screens, it wasn't the same. Although I do like the reclining theater seating they have now.
I saw all the original Star Wars movies in the theater. There was no choice back then. 🤣 Such a great experience seeing those spaceships on the big screen.
Oh, that would've been COOL. I'm wildly envious now.
I admit, I've only seen the Phantom Menace in theatre. *ducks*.
(I only went because it was 3-D and I was led to believe that the whole prequel trilogy would be in 3-D and I was holding out for Revenge of the Sith in 3D. Apparently they canceled that idea or something, as it never happened. Very sad.)
We all had high hopes for the second trilogy. Sadly, it was humor-free and mostly boring.
What a theater! That sounds epic! My mom took my brother and I to see, 'The Jungle Book'--back in the day. and they have boxes of candy? oh yes!
It was an awesome theater. Of course, I didn't realize how great it was at the time as I only went there or to drive-ins. They had buckets of popcorn, but us kids got boxes of popcorn. I think the sour cherry candies I got were called Royal Crown or Regal Crown. I can't remember.
Your three-sentence conversation is just a charmer, Mark, as is the beautifully lit photo of the nuns. When I read your stories I realize how cynical, and sometimes bleak, my stories are lately. It seems the older I get, the more demons want to be released. I don't like it. Thank you for your upbeat and usually playful, spirit. I need to follow your lead!
Thank you, Sharron. I try to have fun with my writing. There are plenty of writers doing "gritty realism." I would rather make people smile or laugh. Or warm their hearts. Or just be silly. I have written bleak stories occasionally, and I think some of them are my best stories, but I don't want it to be my primary thing. I just write what I would want to read and hope others like it also.
Thanks again, Mark! I miss the movie theaters of my childhood too.
And have you ever wondered how Von Trapp was a Captain in the Austrian navy when Austria is a landlocked country?
CAPT Von Trapp was actually in the Astro-Hungarian Imperial Navy — Austria lost its coast after WWI to the new Yugoslavia (plus some to Italy) and the Allies scrapped the ships during the 1920s naval disarmament talks.
This navy man knows his naval history! Now it makes sense. Thanks, Jack.
🤣 Yeah. Did the Austrian navy cruise the lakes? Actually, I think in real life he was from Salzburg, Germany and served in the German navy. Then moved to Austria. But you know… Hollywood.
I didn’t see SoM until I was in college. A friend and I watched it on VHS with her parents. Ahhhh! Memories!
Thanks Mark!
It is a great musical. Best viewed on a big screen. With popcorn. 🤓
If I get the opportunity, I will seize it!