A Long time ago in a cinema not so far away...

The Star Wars hype hadn’t quite built up just yet around our area, we were always the last to find out about the latest blockbusters. (The ABC in Romford was hardly in the same realm as the Empire Leicester Square). I really had no idea about what was about unfold in front of very eyes.

I was a scared young lad (I was only 6!) and when the lights went out, I cried my eyes out. My father didn't take well to this, and whacked me and then dragged me into the toilets. Presumably, I felt, to give me a good ticking down. However, he just just whacked me, and my ice lolly felt into the urinal as I cried even more.

Eventually, we made our way back to our seats. When the curtain opened and the 20^th Century Fox Fanfare blasted into play, I knew I was in for something special. The Star Wars theme burst into my ears for the very first time. There was an amazing tingling feeling in my arms and I shuddered with excitement. The “Sense-Surround” sound had magnified the volume somewhat, and I very nearly jumped out of my seat – both scared and excited about what was to happen next. Some people had taken the trouble to actually leave the theatre, as they couldn’t stand the volume. I remember reading some years later that people actually had physical damage done to their ears as a result of this new technological wonder of sound. “Sense-Surround” didn’t hang around in that cinema for very long, but it was great while it lasted!

Once the film was over, I cried again. I wanted to see it again, I just had to take it all in once more. In those days, you used to be able to hang around after a film and see the next showing for free. For some reason or another, the ushers never seemed to be in such a rush to clean up the floors as they are nowadays. My dad wasn’t prepared to hang around though, and he dragged me back outside and walloped me as I cried louder.

That was my very first trip to the pictures with my dad.

Many years later, in my thirties when the Special Editions were released in the cinema, I went to see Star Wars again with my wife. Once the lights went down, and the fanfare started, I found myself back in the Romford ABC, 1977. I had to get out. I managed to last about 10 minutes before I felt almost claustrophobic. The dark was overwhelming and closing in on me. It was a very strange feeling and I couldn’t handle it.

In writing this, it’s immediately apparent that it is difficult to understand what someone can learn from all of this. It was my first furore into the cinema, and to this day I still get a kick out of seeing a film on the big screen. These days though, it’s usually me taking my kids to see the latest animated 3D film. We always stock up on Maltesers, Minstrels and a drink before we see the film.

I never buy them ice lollies though….