Wanted: The next Sam the Lion
The only movie theater in Franklin County is for sale. A trip back in time is thrown into the deal at no extra charge.
I wrote a newspaper article about this Louisburg theater a few years ago, when it was for sale previously, and was thoroughly enchanted by the place. To put it in the proper (and appropriate) context, the theater and the fellow who operated it reminded me of some combination of “The Last Picture Show” and “Cinema Paradiso.” As I recall, he was a retired Navy veteran who’d bought the theater almost on a whim, had enjoyed running it but was ready to turn it over to somebody else. The problem was, and surely still is, that the movie business has gone chain and corporate. A small, independent theater doesn’t get, or can’t afford, first-run movies, and has to compete with Netflix and Blockbuster for the second-run movie audience.
The business side of my brain took note of all that as the old gent explained the reality of life as a small-town theater operator. But what truly made an impression on me was when he mentioned offhandedly that he and his wife never asked for ID when teenagers tried to buy a ticket to an R-rated movie. When I asked why that was, he told me it wasn’t necessary — they almost always knew the kids, knew how old they were, and knew whose parents would approve and whose wouldn’t.
He went on to tell me that they didn’t show many R-rated movies, anyway — Louisburg being a town not only thirty miles away from Raleigh but also some decades behind its big-city values. If the operator of the only theater in the huge northeast swath of rural land between Raleigh and the Virginia state line got in the habit of feeding his customers a steady diet of blood and boobs, he could expect to be prayed for on Sunday and shunned — if not picketed — the other days of the week.
It was refreshing to be reminded that at the dawn of the 21st century, there were still pockets of the 1950s alive and thriving. I hope the theater’s next owner can find a way to make a living today by running a movie house from the past.
By the way — the first reader who can identify Sam the Lion wins a Yankee dime.
September 2nd, 2008 at 8:43 am
Sam The Lion - A character from Larry McMurtry’s The Last Picture Show.
September 2nd, 2008 at 8:56 am
Isn’t that the MGM mascot that growled at the beginning of every one of their movies? Named after Samuel Goldwin maybe?
A Yankee Dime. Jeez. Pucker up, Gearino. And no tongues. Cripes. I never win anything worith a damn. This is worse than that case of Rice A Roni I got as a consolation prize on JOKERS WILD. How about we share an email handshake instead?
They say a tie is like kissing your sister. Well, after considering the alternative prize for winning (planting a wet one on you) I’d trade my left coccyx for my sister right about now.
There must be a graceful way outta this. I got it. Disqualify me on a technicality - my answers were in the form of more questions which is wholly unacceptable. It lacks conviction and confidence. Like my mom always said “Sound off like you got a pair!”
Maybe one of your pulchritudinous readers will offer up the correct response in its more suitable, declarative form. That gets both of us off the hook.
And if my answer is wrong, never mind.
September 2nd, 2008 at 9:33 am
http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040704/REVIEWS08/407040301/1023
September 2nd, 2008 at 2:19 pm
Well Dan, since I’m wrong yet again - it seems the MGM lion is named Leo - are you offering a consolation prize?
Shoot, even if the lion was named Sam, that wasn’t the right answer either. Hell. Leo’s such a corny name for a mascot. That’s like calling a dog Spot or a cat Morris.
I could really use consoling right now. How about that Rice A Roni? It’s the San Francisco treat, you know. Of that I’m positive.
September 2nd, 2008 at 5:02 pm
“yankee dime” My father used that term when i was a very small child. Been many years since I’ve heard it.
September 2nd, 2008 at 6:27 pm
Twenty-one points to Georgia Southern. Nice defense!
September 2nd, 2008 at 10:55 pm
I’m beginning to figure out that the term “Yankee Dime”, which I am not familiar with, is something I need to pass on. Though I got the right answer I will pass on my reward. Feel free to give it to Terrell Pryor.
September 3rd, 2008 at 10:20 am
What a dilemma! It seems only we three-leggers participated in G. Dan’s Name That Character for A Kiss Contest.
Fortunately (for me and Mikey and Terrell - who I think was multi-blogging with WAW and www.dawgnation.com - boy I bet they were scratching their heads over his “Last Picture Show” response) only Doug and Uncle Frank got the right answer.
Fortunately for Uncle Frank, Doug was first with the correct answer. Unfortunately for Uncle Frank, Doug’s declined his “prize”, in writing, with a seal of a local notary public and a Larry Craig-esque disclaimer.
Uncle Frank, it just ain’t your lucky day.