30 Years and Still Going

Yes I remember it like it was yesterday….well it was 30 years ago and I lived in the grand metropolis of Shilo, Manitoba. Where the most exciting thing to happen was watching the wheat grow. Shilo is a military base situated about 30 miles from Brandon otherwise pretty much in the middle of no where.

I was a generally bored 12 year old who found out that our local base theater was going to show the newest most exciting movie ever made (up to that point) Star Wars. We were not near a big city and the closest town, Brandon only had 1 small theater which did not expect to be showing Star Wars until the fall. We would have to wait until late June but I was so excited I could not wait. Strangely enough I did not really not know anything about the movie except I saw something on TV about it and was mesmerized by the lasers and dog fighting star ships.

The next few weeks passed at a snails pace and my friend Robbie and I decided we would go and lineup the night before for tickets. This is of course until our parents found out what we planned and we were quickly ‘convinced’ to wait until the next day and then go lineup. The movie was scheduled to play the Saturday and Sunday, one showing each day then it would be gone. We were worried there would be huge lineups so early on the Saturday morning we went to the Rec Center and discovered there was no one in line yet. Yes! we were first in line so we sat by the box office and waited. After a few hours we were getting hungry so we decided to take turns and go home and eat. Not great planning on our part but then again what do you expect from a pair of 12 year olds. My parents thought I was wasting my time and money going to such a silly movie but I was not swayed. After several trips back and forth Robbie and I were still at the front of the line, a line of two hardy souls. When others started to join the line around 5pm and suddenly it was 6:30 and the line went out the door and around the corner.

At 6:30 the Box Office opened and we excitedly jumped up to buy our tickets only to be told the Movie was rated PG and we did not have a parent so we could not get in. As we stood aside and others in line started to go in we tried to figure a way around the ‘evil ticket seller’ and see the movie. After what seemed like hours a friend in line who was with his Big brother suggested we join them. As we had no other options we figured we would give it a try. Getting the tickets was a snap and we were inside. Our base theater was not overly large but as I remember it was larger than the multiplexes of today. Not a fancy theater by any standards it still brought this world of Dart Vader, Han Solo and the Jedi Knights to life.

I really did not get a full appreciation of the sounds and imagery of Star Wars until I moved to Ottawa and saw Star Wars at the venerable Nelson Theater with its rich sound system and incredible screen. Years later I was privileged to be invited to watch all three of original Star Wars movies at a special showing at the Nelson, what an incredible event.

To this day I still remember sitting in that theater in Shilo and being captivated by sights and sounds of this story. Thanks George you have left quite a legacy and this young fellow still appreciates your vision.