AT THE MOVIES: DAY THIRTY THREE WHAT IS YOUR PURPOSE?

Once when I was close to five my papa brought home the Stephen King story/film of Cujo into my night. I remember a lot of rented VHS horror movies that lingered up in the mountains of Lake Arrowhead. Cujo scared me so much that I decided to sneak into my papa's bedroom and sleep on the floor at the base of his bed, but he decided to growl like a dog throughout the night to keep the suspense alive and force me sleep scared hot with the covers over more head. During those days to fight the fear of those movies he would tell me it was all "Smoke & Mirrors." That there were numerous men and women behind the camera creating the art of film. Once I realized the beauty of truth behind movie making I was hooked. It was a time where movies were focusing on the dramatic growth of relationships and action adventures. John Hughes was writing away, 1980s comedies were flourishing, and I was in the thick of getting myself to the movies to let go and free my mind of all the distraction that was going on in my life. I eventually struck gold moving to Newport Beach,California and having the wonderful accessibility to the BIG NEWPORTER. It was a theatre run by the EDWARDS family that was a well established huge chain of movies that was all about the experience. When I was first introduced to the BIG NEWPORTER it consisted of two theatres. There was a small one and then there was the mothership of all movie celebrations. A theatre that had long open carpeted rows with red-plush seats, and an open air feeling that on any given day would announce to you that you have ARRIVED. A welcoming accepting presence that filled you with the eager anxious excitement that once the lights went down, you were in for an unforgettable treat. At the time George Lucas had just introduced THX. You know that company that presents itself once the lights go down and really lets you hear what the surround-sound of sounds is truly like. That SSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHRRRRRRR AAAAAWWWWWWWWW  in your face WAAAAKE THE F UP type of sound. The screen was the largest screen west of the Mississippi at the time and I was 7 years old with an imagination and awareness like no other. It was a free space to just be me, RVB,and enjoy films like TOP GUN. AMADEUS, ROCKY IV, GOONIES, STAND BY ME, LAST STARFIGHTER, BACK TO THE FUTURE, and INDIANA JONES & THE TEMPLE OF DOOM (first PG-13 movie since Indy witnesses Mola Ram pull out a guy's heart through his chest) and many more. I loved Temple of Doom and Back of Future saw them both 20+ times, Amadeus 14x (used to stand up and conduct (knew all the motions/Mozart's creations), and Top Gun 10+ (unreal sound and fighterjet scenes). In the very front of the theatre there was a 3 feet high maybe 12 feet wide carpeted stage that was used for presentations I assumed. Since the theatre was so large and long no one ever would sit in the first 20 rows. Except on Friday for opening night of ROCKY IV (intensity & tension USA v. USSR). But when the showing's attendance was down I would creep to the first row, and then crawl out onto the stage, lay down like a snow angel and just open myself up into the screen. Watching Maverick dog fights against Russian MIGs, the Goonies running away from the Fratellis, or Rocky's jab vs. Ivan Drago was a feeling that will never be imitated. You have to try it to feel/understand it. When I first began going to the BIG NEWPORTER my mother would pack me a small lunch that I would sneak in (fruit, cookies, sandwich, drink, candy) under my shirt or in a backpack. When the movie was completed I would sneak behind the classic thick red curtain that protected the infamous screen and wait for the next film to begin before I sneaked back into the seats. I think I got away with that trick once or twice until Marco, the Mexican employee from Santa Ana, caught me and told me that I didn't have to hide from him or anyone. He introduced me to the freedom of facing your passions, no matter how long you want to spend doing it. Marco was the gatekeeper to my film world at the BIG NEWPORTER. At the door though he took a small fee of 1.00 DOLLAR, and my commitment/rent to assist with the clean up between each showings when I was up for it. There was also unlimited amounts of fresh buttered popped in your face popcorn that I would load up in a drink carton box, and delicious cold soothing CocaCola products. I was in heaven, free range of the place, allowing me to be inspired, and giving me the opportunity to understand the love of film creation. Wonderful stories, adventures, history, love, comedy, adventure, drama, all presented to me on a one of a kind screen, in the state-of-the-art theatre where in the back rows the seats would recline (unheard of back then). Most of the time during the day there was barely anyone there. I could stand up, run around, yell, stretch, and completely fall in love with movies. I am going to premiere this movie at the BIG NEWPORTER and come full circle with my admiration of the arts. I even got to see my face at on the screen at the BIG NEWPORTER during the 12 midnight premiere showing of Angels & Demons. I  cried my blue Irish eyes out never thinking I would ever see my own face on that screen. This was a place where I would leave at the door all my fears, all my outside/homelife anger and be free. Thank you Marco for being so loving and understanding of my passion and opening up my world of cinema. Thanks to the Edwards family for creating a space that truly pleased my soul and gave me the gifts of enjoyment. I love that it still exists and I can return to it like I just walked through the doors. Now, all the seats recline, but there is still the small carpeted stage, the empty first 20+rows, and the plush red curtain that introduces all eager/desired patrons the wide massive screen that is like no other that I have ever felt and never will. It is going to be an amazing night or day when I stand tall and proud to present WHAT IS YOUR PURPOSE? to all my loved ones and all that arrives into the BIG NEWPORTER to enjoy my Year of the Dragon journey. I can't wait. IT WILL happen. I wonder howmuct it would cost to rent out during the day and watch Mozart conduct Don Giovanni, Tom Cruise, Anthony Edwards, Meg Ryan and Kelly McGinnis sing "Great Balls of Fire" Harrison Ford & Kate Capshaw get drenched with water by an Indian Elephant, or see Michael J. Fox with Christopher Lloyd go back in time with Hewey Lewis & Biff. Being at the movies for me is always a home. A place to release and surrender, a loving space where I can relate, be educated, and celebrate the beauty of living. RVB