Village Cinema

We've gone to a movie the past three weekends. Prior to that, we hadn't gone to a movie in a theater in . . . too many years to count.

But we used to. Back in the late '70's we went nearly every weekend. Because that's what you did.

Movie tickets here are 9 euro (~$12) no matter what time of day you go. About $9 will get you into an evening movie in the States or $6 if you go to the matinee. We noted that movie tickets have always seemed expensive - even back in 1978 when it was less than $3!

I really go to the movie mostly for the popcorn. I love movie popcorn. On our first movie weekend here at the Euroscoop Genk, our first stop after ticket purchase was the concession for popcorn. You can imagine how dismayed I was when it turned out to be sweet. Who eats sweet popcorn at a movie?

On our next movie weekend we tried the Kinepolis Hasselt. Delightedly they had real movie popcorn. The kind with salt and butter. Like it should be. They also offered the sweet stuff for whoever eats sweet popcorn at a movie.

Back in the '70's, Ruston's movie theater was the Village Cinema. Right next to El Pollino's serving up excellent Mexican food. It was located on West California (behind Taco Bell). It's a vacant lot now, but Google Maps still reads "Village Plaza Shopping Center", but all that's pictured is grass and old concrete.

Village Cinema was run by one guy. I believe he sold tickets and ran the projector. He may have even sold popcorn. Real movie popcorn. The kind with salt and butter. Like it should be. Once the movie had run its course, he would take the movie posters down and if you went by and asked him, he'd give them to you. My bedroom was wall to wall movie posters and bulletin boards. Jim had his share of them too.

Together we had original posters like Star Wars, Grease, Saturday Night Fever and the first movie we went on a date to see - Heroes. I should watch that movie again. I don't remember anything about it.

Anyway, those posters stayed in the attic of my parents house for years. Who knows where they are now.

I think this movie (aka popcorn) thing might become a regular event. It has so far.