The movie was secondary to the real reason I came. I came to be a part of the big city! Even as a kid, I yearned to be a part of everything that I saw as beautiful; the people, the bustle in the streets, the department stores, the bright lights. Something in me at an early age yearned for this excitement! At home, I'd stand at the highest point possible and stare at the big city's lights, and somewhere deep inside a craving to be in the center of it all started eating at me. Now, finally I was here! I was in the city, far away from my parents and the restrictions they set upon me. I was a part of the big city!
I remember the smell of the theater - a combination of popcorn, candy, perfume and cigarette smoke. Back then it was acceptable for people to smoke in the lobby.
At some point we had to check out the restrooms like all kids do. So when one of us had to go to the restroom, we both went. We didn't take our eyes off of each other, but managed to gaze around in wide-eyed wonderment.
The whole theater was carpeted in a beautifully designed thick red carpet. The refreshment counter was perhaps 6 feet long, but had a nice array of candies. The restrooms and balcony were located up a circular staircase that looked to me as though it was straight out of a movie set. It was gorgeous! The banister was shiny, varnished dark wood and very ornate. The light fixtures were Art Nouveau design, along with various other wall hangings and frames of the same genre.
It was all so exciting, although I must say that I worried the whole time about how Daddy would find us, even though he'd given simple, but exact instructions on where to wait for him when the movie was over. Also, I didn't realize it at the time, but Uncle Bill (my paternal Aunt's husband) was running the projector. He knew we were in the theater and where we were seated. If I'd had known that I'd have felt much safer, but at the same time some of the thrill would have been gone.
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