My Favorite Summer Movie Experiences
Star Wars 1977- Limerick Drive-in, Royersford PA (now closed). It was a double feature with Jason and the Argonauts. I was 5 years old and my mom came home from J.M. Fields department store in Norristown with an iron on Star Wars T-shirt and made me wear it before going to the drive in theater. I remember playing on the playground that was in front of the screen, wearing that shirt having no idea what it was, waiting for it to get dark. Was feeling a little tired after Argonauts (also cool) but when “a long time ago in a galaxy far far away” hit the screen, I was awake, locked in. Needless to say my life was changed forever. This movie energized me and every kid I knew like no other movie before or since. Lucas was a genius to lock down the marketing and merchandizing rights.
Close Encounters of the Third Kind 1977 (technically the fall, sue me)- General Cinemas 2 at the Plymouth Meeting Mall, Plymouth Meeting PA (now closed). My parents took 5 year old me and again, my mind was opened to a whole new world. This was the gateway to the paranormal for me. This film and that Time-Life Paranormal Book series at the East Norriton Middle School Library were my bible. I absorbed all the content I could get. The “In Search Of” series with Leonard Nimoy, “Chariots of the Gods” Eric Von Daniken novels, “The Bermuda Triangle” by Charles Berlitz and on and on. The film is incredible and still holds up. The impact on that giant screen can’t be understated. Also Google “Project Serpo” and realize that this is depicted here (according to some people). Wild. I imagine Giorgio from Ancient Aliens was in the theater for this one.
Ghostbusters 1984- Plaza Theatre King of Prussia Mall, King of Prussia PA (now closed). This was a classic “hey it’s way too hot out, let’s pile the family into the car and go the movies” (didn’t have central air at home). Saturday Matinee, packed theater, was the perfect funny, entertaining movie for everyone. They don’t really make em like this anymore. It’s funny how I remember my father laughing at specific lines in this movie. “You never studied”, “Dogs and Cats living together, mass hysteria!”, “It’s true sir, this man has no dick”. The Ghostbusters theme song was the song of the summer, it was playing EVERYWHERE lol.
Jurassic Park 1993 - Queen Theater 4, King of Prussia PA (now closed). In DTS digital sound (first time), the moment when I realized that anything was possible in movies now. This was for every kid who was ever obsessed with Dinosaurs. I recently tripped out by hearing from Spielberg himself (on the 4K UHD) that his love for Dinosaurs was born by visiting the Franklin Institute and Natural History museum in Philadelphia as a kid. Wait…what? That was me! Yeah. Small world indeed. People in the theater were gasping during the T-Rex scene, which is still terrifying from a kids and parent perspective. Spielberg was the master of getting away with some gnarly images in technically PG “kid friendly” movies lol. Poltergeist almost made this list.
Predator 1987- Echelon Mall Cinemas 4, Voorhees NJ (now closed). I dragged my Grandpa to the Theater after golfing in the morning at the Kresson in Voorhees. This was another Oprah recommendation, lol. This one just continues to get better with age. The arm scene with Carl Weathers was seared into my brain. Bill Duke becoming unhinged “gonna have me some fun tonight!” So many great moments and lines in this one. When it was over we left via the exit door that puts you directly in the parking lot and the sun was never brighter or hotter. It was stunning. Summer Matinees are the best.
Batman 1989 - AMC 309 Cinema 9, North Wales PA. My best friend Wayne and I went to the premiere night optimistically thinking we would get tickets, we were so naive. Sold out. We were so crestfallen, didn’t even know what to do. We just stood out in front of the theater in silence and disbelief. Then out of nowhere Wayne’s older brother David’s best friend Jim bumps into us and he says that his two friends he bought tickets for aren’t showing up. Boom, we are in! Snatching victory out of the jaws of defeat. The energy in that theater was insane. An event film. So happy that it delivered in every way possible. That Danny Elfman score was epic. Saw it again about a week later. Every kid on the Wildwood NJ boardwalk that summer was rocking a Batman logo T-shirt.
Back to the Future 1985 - General Cinemas 2 Plymouth Meeting Mall, Plymouth Meeting PA. This one hit me in a way that was unexpected. All I could think about was what it would be like to meet my father as a teenager. Pure magic. I was so happy and surprised by how great this was only to be brought back down to earth when I returned home to find my first dog Andre had passed away. He looked like the AT-AT from Empire Strikes Back, fun fact, smh. Power of Love was the song of that summer, it too played everywhere. Despite my Andre passing, 1985 was a great, great year. Great music (Live-Aid Concert!), television (Miami Vice) and movies that summer. Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome almost made this list.
Terminator 2: Judgement Day 1991 - Sneak preview on Thursday night at the United Artists Montgomeryville in Montgomeryville PA. With my boy Wayne again, the place was packed and the crowd was losing their minds (rightfully so) the entire time. This was the rare, rare time when the anticipation was met with complete and total delivery. Cameron really brought it with this one. Instant classic. The buzz afterwards was great after a full standing ovation. I actually went to see Toy Soldiers in the theater just to see the T2 trailer which was rumored to be attached months before. I’m sick. I saw this at least two more times at different theaters.
Aliens 1986 - Gateway Cinema in Wayne PA Gateway Shopping Center (now closed). This was the first R rated movie I ever saw in the theater, we were 14 (Wayne and I) and Wayne’s mom bought our matinee tickets and then went shopping. This was one of those times I never saw a trailer or commercial or any footage, just a short article in Time Magazine with a still or two. All I knew was the guy who made The Terminator was responsible. Holy shit this was great. Again, this fueled an obsession for the Alien films that has never ended, the Dark Horse Comics, unmade movie scripts, the works. When the Director’s Cut Laserdisc Box set came out, I HAD to have it. I bought a Pioneer laserdisc player just for this. So you could say this film also fueled my home theater obsession. So happy to see this on the big screen. It was number one on my list for years. It may still be.
Die Hard 1988 - King Cinema 2 at the Valley Forge Shopping Center in King of Prussia PA (now closed). I was shocked how great this was. I had to see it after Oprah’s glowing review. (can’t make this up). To see Bruce Willis transformation from David Addison on Moonlighting to John McLane and a legit movie star was insane. This NEVER happened back then or even now really. Another big screen experience with big sound that I’m really glad I got to see it with a crowd. Not sold out but decent for a matinee. The power of Oprah influence lol. For those wondering, back then she would take her entire audience to a movie and then have the stars on to talk about it. This came on after General Hospital everyday. IYKYK. I’m sure the Die Hard and the Predator episodes are on YouTube somewhere.
E.T. 1982 - General Cinemas 2 at the Plymouth Meeting Mall (again). Had not seen anything in the way of trailers before I saw this. I was in my front yard on a Saturday when my friend Kenny and his Dad and maybe others, I seem to remember a car full of kids pulled up and opened the window and asked if I wanted to go the movies. I said yes of course. So glad I did and my mom had 5 bucks on her. I knew I was in good hands when I saw the name Steven Spielberg was directing. Just a bunch of kids laughing, cheering and then quietly crying together. I was a BMX kid growing up so this was another cool factor for this film with us. Fast forward to the next year and some teacher at our Paul V. Fly elementary school had a bootleg copy of E.T. on VHS and we got to see some of it before it had to be sent to the next school. Hot potato, lol. I’ll never forget our excitement (more that we were missing actual school work) my buddy Scott said “we’re gonna see some Kuwahara’s fly today boys!” This is another one that gets better with age, it’s Time Machine value for capturing the 80’s “we had that Tiffany lamp in our kitchen!” and all the Star Wars toys we played with. I was always jealous of their cool booth style kitchen table setup. Anyway, I feel very lucky to have seen all these classics in the theater with my people, big sound and a giant screen. Let keep the fire of the cinema alive and support your local theaters!
