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DEL.ICIO.USCool childhood movie memories
Been to Fabulous Fox summer film festival? What special summer things do you remember doing with family?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
One of my favorite things about growing up in Atlanta was watching movies each summer at the glamorous Fox Theatre with my family.
We started attending the Fox’s Summer Film Festival in 1979 when I was 7-years-old, just one year after it launched. While some of the years have blended together, my memories of the theater and that special time with my family are still pretty vivid.
Screening a movie at the Fox was an event. My mother dressed us in our Sunday best and headed downtown hours before the show was to begin. We didn’t understand why we had to wear fancy slacks and dresses to see a movie, but after we walked in for the first time and saw the theater’s grandeur, we got it.
The line for tickets always wrapped around the building. We stood there melting in the summer heat hoping the movie wouldn’t sell out.
Once our tickets were secured, we were smashed into another waiting area behind the box office. It was covered but not quite inside. There was still no air condition. The movies were general admission so people pressed up against the doors hoping to get a jump on the best seats.
When those doors finally opened, cold air swept over the crowds. (I liked the freezing AC almost as much as the movies.) We always sat in the balcony and would race up several flights of stairs to nab our favorite seats — the front center row.
Since we had to get there early for those seats, there was always plenty of time for me and my big brother to explore the theater. The best comparison I can think of would be the Hogwarts Castle from Harry Potter. There were crazy staircases, tapestries, carvings and nooks to investigate.
I was obsessed with the fancy bathrooms and would fake needing to go over and over again before the show and at intermission. I remember heavy velvety curtains and marble windows cut into Xs that you could peek through. I knew the feeling of the decor was foreign even if I couldn’t place the country. I kept quizzing my non-detail oriented brother to find out if the boys’ bathroom looked the same.
Finally we’d settle back in our seats and I would study the theater itself. I was fascinated by these smaller balconies to the sides of the stage. I never saw anyone sit there and wondered if we just didn’t have anyone important enough to occupy them. I also wondered if they were actually wide enough to hold someone. (Deborah Garner of the Fox has confirmed 30 years later that they are merely facades. I am bummed by this revelation.)
Finally the lights would dim and the Mighty Mo organ would rise up through the stage. Remember I was 7 seeing this — I thought it was magic. We loved the sing-alongs and watching the organist stretch and reach to hit the foot pedals.
And then it was time for the sun to rise and set. I found this very relaxing. We would scoot our bottoms down in the seat and rest our heads of the back of the chairs. We watched as the orange glow passed across the starry ceiling. Sadly, Garner reports the Fox doesn’t do this anymore.
Besides the wonderful family time and exploring the beautiful theater, this was my first exposure to classic films. We didn’t have a VCR then (lots of families didn’t) and the Turner Classic Movie channel didn’t exist. The Fox Theater was my introduction to cinema beyond just “Star Wars” and “Jaws.”
I saw “Gone With the Wind” for the first time on the big screen (as it was meant to be seen), and saw it most years thereafter. We also regularly saw “My Fair Lady,” “The Sound of Music,” “Hello Dolly,” “Oklahoma” and “Moby Dick.” My brother must have been miserable but I loved all the singing, lush sets and costumes.
I do remembering suffering through “Dr. Zhivago” one year. (All I can recall are stampeding horses and lots of snow). One year they showed “Indiana Jones” and “Star Wars,” which made my brother very happy.
I haven’t been to the theater since we started having babies. As part of the Fox’s 30th anniversary of the summer film festival, it is showing “Dr. Suess’ Horton Hears a Who!” this Sunday. Maybe it’s time for my 7-year-old to start exploring the fabulous Fox Theatre.
Coca-Cola Summer Film Festival at the Fox
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Comments
By Ebaby
June 9, 2008 9:26 AM | Link to this
Since I am the youngest of 4, my parents had a difficult time taking us to the movies because of the large age differencies and interests between us. I think I remember every single time we went to the movies as a family because it was such a rare and special ocasion. We never went to the Fox as a family, but any movie was special for me so I dont think you need to go downtown just to have a memorable outing.
I have been to the movies at the Fox and it is quite an experience. Its an inexpensive way to get into the Fox too. I definitely recommend it for all ages.
By A. Nony Mouse.
June 9, 2008 9:27 AM | Link to this
My Mom took me to see “Song of The South” at the fox. I remember it made me laugh and cry.
By Maggie
June 9, 2008 9:44 AM | Link to this
I didn’t grow up in the south, so, I didn’t have the pleasure of going to the Fox. I do remember my first movie at a movie theater though. I was six years old and my Grandmother took my twin sister, me, and two of our friends to “The Sound of Music” at our downtown theater. I sat mesmerized at the grandeur of the movie while my twin sister and our friends ran in and out to the concessions and bathroom. My love of musicals was born.
By First Time Mom
June 9, 2008 10:41 AM | Link to this
Th first time I ever held hands with a boy was watching a summer movie at the Fox while my date’s father sat two rows behind us!
I can’t wait until my kids are old enough to enjoy it and I hope they start the sunrise and set again. It was magical the first time I saw it as a little girl at the Nutcracker…
By FCM
June 9, 2008 10:48 AM | Link to this
Although I did grow up here…and recall going downtown on (first time I rode Marta Buses) to see H & R Puff n’ Stuff on stage…not even sure where. I did not actually go to the Fox until I was mid 20s. I was working for the Disney folks, and I was given tickets (and great seats) to see the Pocahontas movie. There was a stage show prior to the movie. Like Theresa, I was awed the first time I entered. Even at 23-24!
I have since seen Beauty and the Beast Broadway (3x), Grease, and Les Mis down there.
I have saw Jesus Christ Superstar at Cobb Center over by Cumberland. Lion King at Atlanta Civic Center, Seussical at Woodruff, and Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat at Tech….nothing, absolutely nothing, compares to the Fox.
As to the movies, Star Wars was the first I saw multiple times in the theater. My entire family (My Grandparents on down to my kids)are movie fans…we watch them whenever we can.
By Becky
June 9, 2008 10:58 AM | Link to this
Maggie, The Sound of Music at the Fox Theatre is what hooked me on musical’s..Fifth gread & I was in heaven..Since that day (long ago), I have seen just about every musical that has been shown at the Fox..One of my all time favorites though, was when I went to Austria & saw the Sound of Music dinner show..Theresa now is a great time to start your 7 year old. I have twin grandbabies that are 5 & they already love going to The Fox..
By Becky
June 9, 2008 11:43 AM | Link to this
oops, sorry about the spelling..
By A. Nony Mouse.
June 9, 2008 11:54 AM | Link to this
Back in the day there was a drive-in right next to Spaghetti Junction. My Mom took me there to see movies on Saturday nights. I remember the dancing snacks on the screen and the smell of the concession stand. We saw some great movies there too: Yours Mine and Ours, The Love Bug, Cockeyed Cowboys of Calico County and so many others. Even when my Mom and I were at one another’s throats we could still enjoy watching old movies together.
By Kat
June 9, 2008 12:16 PM | Link to this
One summer when I was home from college (early 80s) the Fox did a showing of the original Phantom of the Opera with Lon Cheney. The movie, of course, was silent, but the accompanying organ music was live! At the end, Might Mo rose out of the floor and the organist was wearing a tux…his back was to the audience, and at the crescendo he turned his face to the audience and was wearing a white mask like the phantom’s. Very dramatic!
My favorite childhood movie memories are of the old Parkwood Cinema in Griffin. The AC was such a treat in the summer! My dad took us to see James Bond movies and the movie versions of the Jason and the Argonauts stories. My mom took us to see the animated movies. The Parkwood is now a church, and I drove by it a while back with my kids in the car. I mentioned that it used to be a movie theater, and they said, “It sure is small for a thater.” I said, “Oh, it’s bigger than it looks from the outside. I think it had 2 or 3 screens.” Well, that cause my kids to howl with laughter. I momentarily forgot that they have been raised in the era of the 24-screen megaplex!
By Theresa
June 9, 2008 2:29 PM | Link to this
Hey First Time MOM — for the last two years My husband has taken our oldest daughter, just the two fo them, to see the Nutcracker at Christmastime — they get all dressed up — the photos are so nice of them together - they have the best time — I hate to intrude but I kind of want to go wtih them next year — it is very expensive though for the ballet - wiht parking et all
By Becky
June 9, 2008 2:46 PM | Link to this
Theresa, trust me, that will be money well spent..
By FCM
June 9, 2008 7:38 PM | Link to this
Theresa,
I can understand why you want to see the ballet. Now that I think about it that may be the first time I was at the Fox…but for some reason I keep thinking it was at the Atlanta Civic Center that year.
Anyway, I would encourage you to either go with friends as a girls night or get Michael to take you at a different time. This is a very special thing for Rose and her Daddy that she will remember all her life…eventually it will be Rose, her sister, and Daddy….it’s a special ‘date night’. Trust me I understand. My Dad does date nights with my daughter. On the few occasions that it would leave me home by myself he asks should they take me…she is very quick to say “No, this is my date.” I never take it wrong. I just think of the times my Dad took me to breakfast on Saturday (IHOP) so my Mom could sleep in. Then in college, and again while I was on maternity leave, he would call me and ask me to lunch. Even now while I was laid off he would take to me to lunch. My Mom says every time he has me or the girls he calls and her to do a “Nanny Boo Boo” I saw (whomever). We all grew older but the memories of what it was like when we were little are still with us.
Heck, call me, we can go to the ballet together…nobody in my family wants to go.
By FCm
June 10, 2008 7:17 AM | Link to this
Merchants Walk theater (Marietta) has free kids movies on Tuesdays & Thursdays at 10 AM. The beverage/pop corn is $2. Beat the heat and catch a show…granted they are available on DVD, but the kids get the theater. You get points for a fun activity and creating a memory.