Saturday, October 27, 2018
Liberty Valence Was Shot Too Many Times For Me
By Donovan Baldwin
In 1962, age 17, I was a theater usher at the Saenger Theatre , in Pensacola, Florida.
Teenage dream. Free movies!.
Just had to stand there, red blazer or vest, and black bow tie, a few nights a week, holding a flashlight, and help people find their keys, answer questions about the next showing or coming movies, and, eat popcorn.
The first movie I worked was "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence", with John Wayne, Lee Marvin, and Jimmy Stewart, three of the biggest stars of the day.
First night was great... but, by the third showing, I was beginning to get a little tired of Liberty Valence being shot.
By the third NIGHT, I wanted to shoot him myself.
CUT TO THE CHASE, ALREADY!!!
John Wayne did it!!!
Everybody go home!
Of course, for a while, each new movie had an appeal, but, over the next year, even that, and the free tickets to the Saenger, and its sister theater down Palafox Street, the Rex, wore thin.
Since then, movies have never quite had the attraction for me as they once did.
Part of that is simply age, but, part of it was being... well part of it.
Sometimes, if we get too close, or something becomes too common to us, it loses its appeal.
You know what? I think I'd like to see John Wayne gun down Lee Marvin one more time for old time's sake.
In 1962, age 17, I was a theater usher at the Saenger Theatre , in Pensacola, Florida.
Teenage dream. Free movies!.
Just had to stand there, red blazer or vest, and black bow tie, a few nights a week, holding a flashlight, and help people find their keys, answer questions about the next showing or coming movies, and, eat popcorn.
The first movie I worked was "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence", with John Wayne, Lee Marvin, and Jimmy Stewart, three of the biggest stars of the day.
First night was great... but, by the third showing, I was beginning to get a little tired of Liberty Valence being shot.
By the third NIGHT, I wanted to shoot him myself.
CUT TO THE CHASE, ALREADY!!!
John Wayne did it!!!
Everybody go home!
Of course, for a while, each new movie had an appeal, but, over the next year, even that, and the free tickets to the Saenger, and its sister theater down Palafox Street, the Rex, wore thin.
Since then, movies have never quite had the attraction for me as they once did.
Part of that is simply age, but, part of it was being... well part of it.
Sometimes, if we get too close, or something becomes too common to us, it loses its appeal.
You know what? I think I'd like to see John Wayne gun down Lee Marvin one more time for old time's sake.
Labels: donovan baldwin, Florida, Jimmy Stewart, John Wayne, Lee Marvin, Palafox Street, Pensacola, Rex, Saenger Theatre, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence
Tuesday, November 07, 2017
A Redneck Who Likes Greek Art And Mozart?
By: Donovan Baldwin
I've done a lot of stuff in my 72 years upon this sometimes unsteady Earth.
I was raised in the era of John Wayne and imbued with the macho, "real men don't cry", principles of the time. I've spent 21 years of my life in the military and did other rough, not-so-beautiful things such as construction and truck driving.
Somehow, I also managed to develop a love for words, literature, philosophy (some of it), and poetry.
I became enamored of Greek statues, Renaissance art, classical music, boot-stompin' Country-Western, and folk ballads.
It's sometimes difficult to reconcile all these personalities within myself, and, sometimes, people meeting me, seeing just one facet, assume that's who I am. Sometimes, they're surprised to find out that this roughneck, redneck, prefers to listen to Mozart.
I ate C Rations and MRE's in the army. I can eat beans out of a can by a fire with the guys, or I can (usually) select the proper fork at the Governor's dinner (if he or she ever invites me).
Having been around, I don't think this is unique to me.
People are often unbelievably complex.
Assuming that we know and understand the person we've just met, based on a few moments of contact is absurd.
It took years of experience, education, failure, success, pain, and pleasure to make that person in front of you into who they are.
We are not going to "learn" them in minutes.
I was raised in the era of John Wayne and imbued with the macho, "real men don't cry", principles of the time. I've spent 21 years of my life in the military and did other rough, not-so-beautiful things such as construction and truck driving.
Somehow, I also managed to develop a love for words, literature, philosophy (some of it), and poetry.
I became enamored of Greek statues, Renaissance art, classical music, boot-stompin' Country-Western, and folk ballads.
It's sometimes difficult to reconcile all these personalities within myself, and, sometimes, people meeting me, seeing just one facet, assume that's who I am. Sometimes, they're surprised to find out that this roughneck, redneck, prefers to listen to Mozart.
I ate C Rations and MRE's in the army. I can eat beans out of a can by a fire with the guys, or I can (usually) select the proper fork at the Governor's dinner (if he or she ever invites me).
Having been around, I don't think this is unique to me.
People are often unbelievably complex.
Assuming that we know and understand the person we've just met, based on a few moments of contact is absurd.
It took years of experience, education, failure, success, pain, and pleasure to make that person in front of you into who they are.
We are not going to "learn" them in minutes.
Labels: being a man, classical music, country western, donovan baldwin, Greek statues, John Wayne, Renaissance art
