The Cinema

I have a certain fondness for a particular movie star.  A Korean bar girl once told J that he was "velly handsome, look just like Lobert Ledford." What good taste in men she had!
Opportunities for entertainment in X - town are limited, so I willingly accompanied the imposter to watch the Sundance Kid's latest movie which was screening locally at the middle aged friendly (mugger unfriendly) time  of 6.40

Taking sensible precautions (no valuables in sight, park under a street light) we ventured out into the epicenter at night.
The cinema was not a vast, soulless Hoyt's, and bore no resemblance to the splendidly renovated art deco theater that we used to walk to in Melbourne. It was small and unassuming and looked a lot like a bus station.  The foyer was strangely empty - no seats, few posters - just this huge sign on the wall
(above).
We were almost scared away. There was very little food for sale (and certainly no alcohol) - patrons were obviously quite capable of becoming abusive and aggressive without the  aggravating influence of a glass of cheap chardonnay.
Every now and then X-Town throws you a curve ball. When the imposter bought tickets we discovered that the theater not only looked cheap - it was cheap! Tickets were $6.00 each - every session, every day.
We marveled at the modest price and wondered how they made any money - there were very few customers.  A weary looking staff member was growling at kids who were swinging on the barrier ropes outside the closed theater door. They laughed at her.  The poor woman entered the closed theater, and very quickly emerged looking distressed and disgusted.  She rushed away to wash her hands - what had she touched?
Mercifully we never encountered the same offensive substance but there was a very strong, strange smell in the theater. I suggested burned popcorn, the imposter suggested vomit.  I tried hard to ignore it.
No seat numbers or ushers with torches here - first in, best seated. A couple sat strategically far enough in front of us to create no irritation, and then four noisy girls (ignorant of almost empty theater etiquette) sat - right behind us.  Almost immediately a pair of bare plump feet were placed on the back of the seat right beside me.  They stayed there for the entire length of the movie.  Fearful of  abuse and aggression, I tried to ignore them and consoled myself with the thought that the mystery smell was masking any foot odor.
We have been back twice since and on each occasion have encountered neither unpleasant aromas nor aggression.  When the lights went on at the completion of the Star trek premier I was charmed to discover that the vast majority of the patrons were young bespectacled males; X - town has a hidden population of nerds!
On our last visit the movie started at the slightly less middle aged friendly time of 7.40
When it ended we were astonished to find that the foyer was jam packed.  Standing room only; at least three or four hundred young people were waiting to claim the best seats in the next session.  Mystery of financial viability solved.  We had found the right place, at the wrong time.