How could we have imagine, one year ago, that life would be so changed? The pandemic, the lockdown, the crisis, what have you, has changed our lives in ways we could never have nightmared about. I'm afraid that movies, concerts, public events, will be forever changed.

Movies hurt the most. I always, always, loved going to see movies. Drive-Ins were, of course, my preferred venue, but I've seen hundreds and hundreds of movies at indoor theaters.

Growing up, we had the independent theaters. I loved them all. For years I lived in walking distance of two great little twin screen cinemas. They were more adventurous than the chains. I saw marvels like Evil Dead 2, Friedkin's Rampage, slasher movies, you name it.

A big AMC chain opened up in my area in 1998. 24 screens! The great little moviehouses I loved saw the writing on the wall and closed down before the big AMC megaplex even opened its doors. I was sad to see them go, but that didn't stop me from going to the shiny new theater all the time.

It did hurt though. We mourned the indie houses, but now we may well end up mourning the multiplexes. There is talk of AMC running out of money by the end of the year.

Like many, I have not been to a movie theater in 2020. This is the longest I've ever gone without going out to see a movie. I knew that I would be required to wear a mask the whole time. I'm no anti-masker. I wear one when I am in public. But I loathe it. Aren't we supposed to breath in fresh air and expel the used air?

Last night was a Rifftrax Live theater event. I always tried to see them at the AMC 24, and I thought it would be a perfect time to break my movie theater moratorium.

We went, and it was a creepy as hell experience. The theater was empty. Not the auditorium where our show played. The entire place. There was no one in the lobby. Just a few employees in that huge place, where even the early morning shows are bustling.

I wear a neck gaiter. I've heard they may not be as effective as other types of face covers, but they are the ones that give me the least discomfort. I was asked to remove it and to take a paper mask. Irritated, I suggested that it was no wonder the place was a ghost town. I thought about questioning the idea of putting mask on my face that someone else had been touching. I mean, where do you draw the Covid paranoia line?

I relented and expressed sympathy for the young lady. She was obviously unhappy about the entire situation and terrified for the future of her job.

The Rifftrax live shows are usually shot with the guys in front of a packed crowd. This time of course it was just them in a room. It made me sad. I'm not questioning the wisdom of it. If this disease is as serious as they say it is, we need every and all precautions.

The cheap paper mask didn't hold up. One strap broke off, so I got to wear my gaiter after all.

The Rifftrax guys goofed on a Fred Olen Ray movie from 1995 called Jack-O. It was a good one, and I did have a good time. But I still feel depressed.

The optimists say all this will end and things will go back to normal. Yeah, I remember when we were just going to have a few weeks of social distancing. The pessimists say things will never go back to what they were.

It scares me. I hate sitting at home, every song, movie, book, at our fingertips. No one will ever convince me it has made us a healthier or happier society. I'm afraid we will end up watching movies, seeing music shows, at home from now on. People huddled in their air-conditioned nightmares, taking their antidepressants, everything waiting at the push of a finger.

I have not attended any of the remote conventions. I have not watched any streamed concerts. I understand that they have livings to make too, but it all makes me too sad.

I have a love-hate relationship with the world. People anger and disgust me all too often. But I also like to be out and around them. I like to see people enjoying life. And not through a damned screen.

In the meantime, I always have books.

Written by Mark Sieber

No comments

The author does not allow comments to this entry