One I my greatest pleasures is seating in a dark movie theater with my husband, enjoying a big bag of popcorn and watching a movie. Dan and I go to the movies at least three to four times a month depending on the movies that are out. We have been married 39 years so that adds up to a lot of movies!
Growing up in the 60's our Dad also loved going to the drive in. We had a Falcon station wagon. My sisters and I would wear our PJ's to the drive in because it was usually a double feature and we would all be asleep by the time it was over. Mom would pop a big bag of popcorn and make a jug of koolaid. Back then the drive ins had a playground under the big screen with swings. We would pull in and pay our money per car load and Dad would find us just the right spot to watch the movie. You pulled up to the pole with the speaker and hooked it on your window. I can remember back and hear the squeaky, crackly speaker booming through the car. This is the way we saw most of our movies. There was not a lot of inside, sit down theaters in Irving, Texas. 
Except for the old Irving Theater in downtown. I spent many a Saturday there. They would show a double feature of kid friendly movies every Saturday. Mom would drop me and my sisters and neighborhood friends off. We felt so independent, being on our own. Between the two features there would be games and prizes given away. I remember one Saturday our friend Nancy entered the pickle eating contest and won! What an honor!
The state of the art theater in the 60's was at North Park in Dallas. I went there to see Gone With The Wind with my Mom and my Mimaw. It was a big deal. We dressed up and went out to dinner before the movie. It was the most exciting movie going experience I had had to date in my young life. Fast forward to June 1977. Dan and I had been married a year and had just come home from a camping trip in Arkansas. He wanted to go to the movies and had heard about this movie called Star Wars. He had read the book several years back and said the book was good. The only place it was showing was North Park. We drove to the theater and bought our tickets. I remember sitting outside on a planter waiting for the movie to start. There was not a large crowd that night. We went in and when the first scene with the huge ship came across the screen the whole place was in awe. We had never seen anything like it before. We came home and all we talked about was that movie. We decided to go back the next night to see it again and you could not get near North Park.
Last week we went to the newest theater experience, IPic!! I had won a $50.00 gift card at a builder's open house and we decided to go see what this new movie palace was all about. It was amazing! So chic, elegant and comfortable. We opted for the VIP seating. Large recliners, yes I said RECLINERS, with nice, soft blankets and a waiter that brings you wonderful things. I had a glass of wine. We had street tacos and red velvet bread pudding. The popcorn is complimentary. We sat down and my husband said, "this may be a bad idea putting me in a dark room with a recliner and a blanket". But he stayed awake and the movie was great.
From sitting in the backseat of our Falcon station wagon to the recliners at IPic, I have great memories of going to the movies and I hope it is something I continue to enjoy forever.
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