Thanks to La Depressionada, who brought to my attention the cinematic saga of young Clarence Ricky Davis, age 3, and his self-actualized bus ride to the movie theater--alone--where he was busted sneaking in to see Robots.
This heartwarming [OK, and a little terrifying] tale of an enterprising, nascent cinemaphage got the cinetrix to thinking* about some of her most memorable childhood trips to the local theater. In suburbia, there are no buses, which meant walking or riding a bike to the movies. I still remember when a gang of us, the faster kids running ahead to get tickets, braved the dangers of crossing Rte. 3 to see Raiders of the Lost Ark. And later, dorkier solo trips on my blue ten-speed to catch Never Cry Wolf or The Sure Thing.
To this day there's a certain illicit, uncompromising thrill to the solo matinee--I left a hated job before 5 more than once to score a cheap seat at the theater down the street--but those heady early ones are still the best.
What's the first movie you went to unchaperoned and under your own steam? Share. Share.
*Forgive the soppiness. I just finished a project many, many years in the making, and I kinda don't know what to do with myself just yet.
