The Angelika Main sign

The Movie Marquee over ticket booth

New friends Crystal and Blair

Diane at exterior movie poster

Linda at exterior movie poster

Side of theater with poster and theater logo

I have lived in Texas since 1982, so going to Houston was not a particularly new experience for me; though lately it's been drive-bys. We had gone there much more when the kids were at home. We used to always go at least once a year to see our Phillies play the Astros during the baseball season. We did Astroworld/Waterworld a couple of times and went to the Museum of Natural Science once. Lately, Thom and I only go to Galveston; which means we basically take the loop and get off at route 45 that leads to the beach. So, as you may have deduced, I had never been to the Theater District in the city. Not that going to a theater and a movie is anything new or different, but this really was. It was the most fun and most pleasant experience I've ever had seeing any movie, and I've seen plenty. Well, aside from the damn obnoxious preview for the new P&P that was attached to WTTL. But we figured out how long the credits ran and didn't go in to take a seat until they were concluded; as it was the last preview before the actual movie started. We know the theater has no control over what previews are attached to the movie, but we were of the opinion they could have changed or edited it for us, being as we were their star customers. (Just kidding Steve)

Linda had taken the time to scout out the theater ahead of time so we knew exactly where to go. The first showing, all three days, was at 11:55 AM and we were over anxious Friday to get there and not miss anything. I can't recall what time we left the house, but the parking stub clocked us in at 11:20. It was so cool that the garage was underground and when we took the elevator to the street it opened us up on the side of the theater, so all we had to do was turn a corner and purchase. This is when poor Matalina (I am sorry if I spelled your name wrong) got her Firth indoctrination. We walked up to the booth and it went something like this:

Linda: We each want to purchase a ticket to all five showings of Where The Truth Lies."

Matalina: "You're kidding, right?"

Diane: "No."

Matalina: "Why?"

Linda: "Colin Firth."

We talked as she got the tickets ready. Linda mentioned my website, I asked her about getting any spare movie posters, as we both reiterated we would be doing this for three days and didn't that warrant something? She said she thought they had, perhaps, extras of the 11 x 17 promo sizes, she would ask the manager. As we were going dutch treat, I paid for the tickets on Friday and handed her my business credit card. She ran it through and as she was handing it back to me her face lit up. "Oh, I get it - Firth Essence." Once inside we went to the concession stand where we met Sal. He worked Friday and Saturday, but not Sunday. We got into which movie we were seeing and the website came up again. We asked if the manager was there and that's when we met Steve Townley. We talked to him for a few minutes and he said he'd see if they had any. He wasn't sure, sometimes they only send one or two. He went to a closet, but didn't find it so told us he would have to look upstairs, but would get back with us. We didn't see him the rest of the day. Next we met Crystal, she and Sal traded off taking the tickets inside and working concession. They were really fun to be around and caught on quickly. It added to the fun of going in and out of the theater so many times. After the first movie we went outside so I could have a cigarette and I called Cindi,  but she wasn't home so I left a message with the DH that I would call again after the next showing. As we made our way back in Matalina asked if we had spoken with the manager, to which we said yes, but that he hadn't gotten us the poster yet. After avoiding another P&P debacle and the second movie we connected with a gentleman that took my web address, email address and listened to us go on about Colin (he had no clue what else he had ever been in - he does now). This guy, whose name we never got, was one of those that promotes free or sneak previews to upcoming movies. He said if they have one with Colin ever coming up he would contact me so we could go see it ahead...and free.

We didn't have a lot of time in between shows but we ended up calling Cindi (again she wasn't home), DeJean, Lisa, Toria, Jackii - did I leave anyone out? I did finally get Cindi (I know she was busy.) I tried to call my daughter, but that was late and she never answered me, or called me back.  We got back to the house around midnight because we stopped at the grocery store and we just had to watch THE Mr. Darcy after the torment of seeing the other and having to hear parts of it five times as the previews ran (you could hear it through the closed doors even.) It was so nice to see Colin in those tan breeches...well, you know why.

Saturday we left a little later and found the staff getting into our mania as they teased and played along with the madness and tormented us about - "have you seen the preview for that new movie?"  "Oh, did you enjoy your movie? Come back and see us again soon." Things like that.  We didn't see Steve until before the last show Saturday. Actually he saw us and had a poster in hand. Linda lit up. Then I said she could have it, I would try to get one another time. He asked if we wanted another, he had them. Were we going to say no? We went in the theater as the movie was about to start, but he came in a short time later, found us and gave us the second poster. (Which Linda would not put down because she thought someone might steal them from us.) We stayed up way too late Saturday, but after turning the clocks back at just about 2 AM we both went to bed. I woke up way too early Sunday. Anxious and not, as I knew I would have to leave after only 3 times.

Sunday we met Blair, as Sal was off. She took his place and stepped right into the fray of it all. Apparently news about these two crazed women stalking the theater had gotten around to everyone, but it was actually fun. After the last show we wanted to thank Steve for the posters and he ended up giving us five more. What I will eventually do with all of those is still up in the air, but  I'll figure it out.

One thing that came across was that they had never experienced anything like this before. I imagine not. And we did threaten to do it again some time. I do hope they all had as good a time with it as we did. Crystal, Sal, Matalina, Darcy, Blair and all the rest of the crew (yes one of the gals is named Darcy. That's what her name tag said.) Thank You so much for making our long hours at the theater a pleasure. Steve, you have a great staff and are to be complimented. Remember 'Nanny McPhee' comes out the end of January, maybe I'll see you again then. Until that time, see you at the movies..........Diane