At The Movies

I remember going to the movies with my dad just a few times. There was a movie theater named Martin Theater located between 100 Oaks Mall and what is now the Hollywood 27 Cineplex . It was initially a single-screen theater, but was upgraded to two screens in 1978. The theater seats were quite comfortable and rocked back and forth on springs. The movies we saw were:

• The Car (1977)
• Smokey and the Bandit (1977)
• The Blues Brothers (1980)

My mom and I saw quite a few movies together. Most were seen at the old Cinema South 4 and Capri Twin (Harding Mall) theaters.

• Giant Spider Invasion (1975) - The lobby at the Capri Twin theater had a large fake spider. It was about five or six feet in diameter and had fake black fur and large red eyes.
• Star Wars (1977) - One day in 1978, my mom and my cousin Berniece returned from a trip to K-Mart. My mom told me that she saw some "dolls from that Star Wars movie". I was so excited when she immediately took me to K-Mart. My first Star Wars action figures were Chewbacca, R2-D2, and a Stormtrooper.
• Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)
• Magic (1978)
• The Amityville Horror (1979) - This movie gave me nightmares for about two weeks after seeing it.
• Wholly Moses (1980)
• American Pop (1981)
• Friday the 13th Part 3 in 3D (1982)
• Visiting Hours (1982)
• Purple Rain (1984)

As a family outing, I remember seeing the following:

• Earthquake (Belle Meade Theater) (1974)
• W. W. & The Dixie Dance Kings (Capri Twin - Harding Mall) (1975)
• The Other Side of Midnight (1977) - I have no idea why my parents took me with them to see this movie. It was as adult-type movie and all I remember is a woman sitting atop an older man. (I think you know what I mean.)

I'm sure these lists will change as more things pop into my head, but they will do for now.

I'll work on a list of some of my favorite movies for later.