Testy Area 51 (3 Viewers)

[Dennis Nicholls]

I found this BBC story....I guess Steve would feel at home if he visited here.

http://www.bbcamerica.com/anglophenia/2013/12/10-british-things-boise-idaho/

I have a friend who is both in the British Car Club and plays the pipes.

 

[Steve Christou]

Interesting link Dennis, I suppose quite a few American cities have their "British goings-on" and after all most of you have British ancestry, no? Mike, Frezon doesn't sound very British what's up with that? (stares at Mike suspiciously) Nicholls, Grant, Christou (oh wait that's Greek) and I have no idea what Elizabeth's surname is, maybe Hawa-a-a-aian?

Did I mention I played cricket at school? Does anyone care? I had the whole getup, no pictures exist sadly, we weren't much of a picture taking family. Watching cricket can get boring but I enjoyed playing it, sometimes in my back yard which usually resulted in the ball flying into neighbors windows.

 

[Ruz-El]

Add me to the list of peeps considering a Gilmore Girls binge. I never finished the series the first time around.

 

[Dennis Nicholls]

I know my great grandfather Drew was born in Lyme Regis. Other ancestors were Scots and Ulster Scots, along with Choctaw.

 

[Mike Frezon]

Cees has already publicly outed me in these pages as being of Dutch heritage.

There was a Pieter Frezon (who came from Ghent in the Netherlands) and landed here near Ghent, NY (near Albany) to fight in the Revolutionary War (mid-1700s). We figure it was probably one of those things where they couldn't exactly understand him in terms of his last name and tagged him as Peter Frisian--which became Frezon. No other family seems to have that name that didn't originate from him here in Rensselaer County, NY.

I'd love to see a photo of you in your cricket togs, Steve!

I'd watch a cricket match. Actually, I have tried on those rare occasions when we get to see one on American TV (or I stumble on one on the internet). I'd love to have it explained to me. Much like American baseball, I think it's incomprehensible without having someone who can explain the rules/strategy, etc.

 

[Steve Christou]

I recall you mentioning your Dutch heritage Mike. I'd love to see me in my cricket togs too!

Sad news droogs -

Gene Wilder has died, he was 83.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/gene-wilder-dead-willy-wonka-828477

 

[Ruz-El]

Very sad news. So many of his performaces formed a large part of my humour growing up.

 

[Mike Frezon]

 

[Steve Christou]

 

[Walter Kittel]

One of the great comedic talents. I always have mixed feelings about celebrity obituaries. Kind of sucks that they are leaving this realm, but at least so far there really aren't any alternatives to that inevitable fate and it also reminds one of one's own mortality (particularly when those younger than you pass). On the other hand, it does make you recall why they will be missed, which isn't a bad thing.

- Walter.

 

[Tino]

Will be sadly missed![emoji22]

 

[Mike Frezon]

 

[Steve Christou]

I remember seeing Young Frankenstein at the cinema when I was a wee cricket-loving lad and what stuck in my mind, apart from how hilarious the film was, there was an old man a few seats away from me and he couldn't stop laughing and he had an infectious laugh which made me laugh too. Whenever there was a close up of Marty Feldman's face this guy would just burst out laughing.

Funny how these cinema things stick in my mind while everything else I've blissfully forgotten about.

When I saw The Omen for the 2nd or 3rd time at the cinema with some friends who hadn't seen it before there was some guy right at the front all by himself and he was yelling out what was going to happen before it happened, ruined the film for my friends.

I saw It Came From Outer Space in 3D at the Electric Cinema in Portobello Road, not sure if that theater exists anymore, on a double bill with George Pal's War of the Worlds back in the late 70s. The 3D was horrendous, red and blue glasses, had a massive headache and never saw another 3D film again until Avatar in 2009.

When I saw The Exor[ENOUGH CINEMA ANECDOTES STEVE]

 

[Ruz-El]

My cinema memory is of a guy who was always alone, always at action movies and would always hunch up and rock during the action scenes. We'er positive he was jerking off. Good ol' day eh? Years later he came up on a movie night and a new friend was all "You seen that guy too?!?!" He must of been a local legend.

My favourite cinema of all time, the Jasper, got bulldozed this summer after being empty for 20 years. The oldest theater in town was the Gem, it was bulldozed way back in 200?. I never went to that one. It had a name change to The Star and went porno in the late 70's. My memory of it was as a sketchy sandwich shop beside a peep both arcade and I would cross the street so as not to walk in front of it on my way to the conference center to see bands play. :S

 

[Steve Christou]

Hey Russ I remember when one of our local fleapits turned porno and I managed to sneak in at about aged 13 or 14 and saw the most awful soft porn dreck you can imagine, I can't remember the title. I do remember having a boner all the way thru it and walking out with a boner too, probably trying to cover it with my jumper or something. At that age just seeing a picture of a girl in a bikini would get a response from the 'testy area', reflex action.

 

[Mike Frezon]

This is the Uptown. Or, it used to be.

It's a neighborhood theater that hasn't been open since I was a young lad. My dad used to frequent it when he was a kid in the 1940s.

It has no parking yet doesn't get taken down. I attended a few special showings (charity events) many years ago.

My dad called it a "spitbox." Something to do with him and his buddies hanging out int he balcony on a Saturday afternoon!

We've got some beautiful old theaters still going strong in my area. But every time I drive by the ol' Uptown I experience a bit of melancholy.

 

[Mike Frezon]

I remember when one of our local fleapits turned porno and I managed to sneak in at about aged 13 or 14 and saw the most awful soft porn dreck you can imagine, I can't remember the title. I do remember having a boner all the way thru it and walking out with a boner too, probably trying to cover it with my jumper or something.

Obviously, you should have donned your cricket togs and taken a turn at bat for the home team. Might've made history!

 

[Steve Christou]

I seem to remember it was just a few middle aged men at the screening and they were all sitting apart, some of them wearing raincoats, and probably wondering what this kid was doing there and why he couldn't sit still.

Hey the Electric Cinema still exists, check out these seats - like something out of The Shining.

 

[Dennis Nicholls]

It's sad to see old time theaters let go. Here in Boise the Egyptian Theater has been lovingly restored and maintained.

 

[Ruz-El]

The old Garneau theater in town got a face lift and is a proper arthouse theater ran by the Metro society, a non-profit. There's a Poutine shop now where the hair place is now, because Canada.

Princess Theater is now our oldest still in business, but's it's a bullshit arthouse with a crap tiny screen so I don't go to it.

The old Paramount still stands, the last of the movie houses capable of showing 70mm. It's now an inner city church. I saw Empire Stikes back and Aliens there. T2, more than I can count!