I was walking in my neighborhood the other day and
I passed a recently closed movie theater on Broadway between 61st and 62nd
Street. I suddenly had a fantasy of owning a movie theater. I'd have only the
best, freshest popcorn and real melted butter. One large screen, stadium
seating. I would not have a slide show with quizzes about movie stars before the
screening and I'd limit the number of previews to two. Oh, and this was very
important, there would be a flowing, plush curtain in front of the screen and it
would open before the previews began, close after the previews ended, and then
be drawn again before the film started. After this fantasizing ended, I came to
the big question: "What would I show?"
Since my taste is all over the map, everything.
It would be a repertoire and a new film theater, similar to the Walter Reade
Theater or Film Forum. I'd show double features, too, why not a classic film
with a newly released one? And short films before, between and after the
features. And newsreels to put an older film in historical context. I'd invite
the directors to present their work and discuss it with the audience. And maybe
I'd invite local musicians to pay a song or two before hand, why not? Terrific!
I was on a roll, I was figuring it out.
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