I Remember Movies, and I Kinda Remember Me
Everyone has a first trip to the movies. I must have too, but I couldn’t remember much.
I wanted to tell the story of going to the movies for the first time. Everyone has to go for the first time. I must have too, but I couldn’t remember much. After Googling random thoughts and pouring over old pictures, I discovered an abundance of hazy memories from a land before time, when dinosaurs roamed the earth. I wrote down what I kinda remember.
I remember sunshine.
We were standing outside the Regal Cinema in the blazing sun.
By we, I mean my sister, my cousins, and our moms.
It was May of 2000, and I was shy of four years old.
It was a hot day, but standing next to my cousins so our moms could take photos of us made the heat unbearable.
My right hand was incredibly sweaty because it had been covered with a McDonald's plastic dinosaur hand puppet for the better part of the day.
You read that right.
I remember McDonald’s toys.
At the time, McDonald’s Happy Meals contained small dinosaur figures and, if lucky, one of four plastic dinosaur hand puppets.
These hand puppets were made of a rubbery plastic that formed the heads of different dinosaurs from the 39th Disney animated feature film, Dinosaur.
My sister, cousins, and I had all four plastic dinosaur hand puppets between us, and we each brought our favorite to the cinema that day.
As a Midwestern rug rat, nothing was more exciting than seeing Dinosaur.
I remember laughing.
I was excited because we moved inside the cinema and out of the sweltering heat.
The air conditioning was a relief, but my hand burned hot from the dead-eyed plastic dinosaur head it carried.
I didn’t mind.
What kid wouldn’t want to bring a dinosaur to watch a movie about dinosaurs?
While we got our tickets, I noticed the ceiling and walls were covered by tube lights that glowed purple, pink, red, and blue.
The air was filled with the heavenly aroma of popcorn and butter. Paula Deen may as well have been cooking in the kitchen behind the concession stands.
After acquiring refreshments and snacks, we entered the theater to watch Dinosaur.
I remember purple?
The theater walls were covered in purple carpet and fabric resembling corduroy.
Why was there so much purple?
My shoes stuck to the floor as we wriggled to our seats.
The Midwest brought the La Brea Tar Pits to me!
When we sat down, I looked around.
The purple was the least of our worries.
On each wall opposite the projection screen, enormous, gaudy pieces of geometric abstract art hung.
They displayed various scenes: a car parked in a driveway, a sunset, a palm tree, or something of that ilk.
On many returns to the Regal Cinema in the years that followed, I looked at those awful, blocky scenes until they faded from view as the lights of the theater went down.
I’ve been to many movie theaters, but there will always be something special about the Regal Cinema from my childhood.
I remember darkness.
The lights went down and out.
The movie was starting.
Like most kids, I was well acquainted with the frightening, black abyss that haunted my room each night.
I was uneasy but glad to have my sister and cousins with me.
I remember whispers.
Friends and families shared hushed comments among themselves, but the theater had grown quiet.
We likely watched movie previews and trailers, but I don't remember them.
I was too busy processing the otherworldly sound that followed those previews and trailers.
I remember THX Logo!
If you were born in the 90s, the THX Logo likely rattled you in the womb a few times before you experienced it in person.
No wonder so many of us aren’t right in the head.
I had never heard anything so loud.
It was the kind of sound you felt.
It was as if millions of cows cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced: mooooooOOOOOWAAAAH!
The sound was incredible.
When my tiny brain and body had recovered, I realized that Dinosaur had started playing.
I remember watching.
I didn’t think about movies as a kid.
Most of us probably don’t at that age.
I watched them, and I enjoyed them.
It was simple and wonderful.
I can’t recall the last time I rewatched Dinosaur, but I’ll never forget the first time I saw it at the movie theater.
I remember dinosaurs.
It is hard to remember things, especially when they happened years ago.
It has been a long time since I recalled my childhood love for dinosaurs.
Have you ever lost memories of things you loved as a kid?
I have.
But, then again, how would I know?
It doesn’t matter anyway.
I regularly forget my birthday!
How am I supposed to retain things I experienced two decades ago?
Maybe it’s good I don't remember everything.
Besides, I am always surprised and glad when I stumble upon a few lost memories now and again.
I discovered that I often find these lost memories when watching movies.
I remember movies.
Movies have helped me to remember.
I was excited to join Cinemantics to discuss and write about film.
It quickly became more personal in a beautiful way.
I discovered something while writing about movies, and it was me.
I remember me.
Or, rather, four-year-old “me.”
I forgot what I was like at that age and what it was like to be that age.
I envy that the greatest concern of a four-year-old is camping with dinosaurs.
I am jealous, but I am also grateful.
It is good to remember.
I remember movies, and I remember me.
Epilogue: I Remember Writing
I wanted to tell the story of going to the movies for the first time.
You remember, right?
Everyone has to go for the first time.
I must have too, but I couldn’t remember much.
After Googling random thoughts and pouring over old pictures, I discovered an abundance of hazy memories.
I wrote down what I kinda remembered.
After I finished writing my memories of seeing Dinosaur in theaters, I also recalled watching a tedious trailer promoting the film as a kid.
My bizarre curiosity got the better of me.
I began researching the marketing and promotion of Dinosaur by Disney.
I was reading the Wikipedia page for the film, and my eyes glanced over these words:
“Similar to the promotional marketing of The Lion King (1994), Disney began the promotional rollout for Dinosaur (2000) by attaching a teaser trailer consisting entirely of the film's opening scene to the theatrical release of Toy Story 2 (1999).”
I remember Toy Story 2… and I remember it in theaters.
That’s when it hit me…
1999 comes before 2000, doesn’t it?
I remember movies, and I kinda remember me.
Reader, what was the first movie you saw in theaters? What was your first memory of film? Do you remember the question you wanted to ask anymore? Me neither!
Comment below with your movie memories.
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What a great piece, buddy! Can't wait to see what the future holds for this little ol' project.
Love this article Caleb!! My first trip to the movies was when I was 4 years old. My oldest sister, Laurel, who was 13 years older than me, took me to see the Aristocats at Chapel Hill Mall in Tallmadge, Ohio. I remember Laurel leaving a note for my parents saying that she was taking me to see it! It was on pink paper. 🙂I kept that note all these years, I guess I need to look for it now! ❤️ anyways, back to the movie… I remember popcorn and having a hard time not being swallowed by the seat cause I was so small 🤣 I need to go watch the Aristocats and be thankful for my first trip to the movies with my big sister ❤️