Last night, while channel surfing, I came upon Disney's BEDKNOBS AND BROOMSTICKS being shown on TCM. Surprise Number One was that TCM was showing a Disney film, Surprise Number Two was how this particular film jogged my memory of The Manos Theater, for BEDKNOBS AND BROOMSTICKS (1971) was the last of a long line of movies I saw in this now-defunct Tarentum, PA, movie house. In the summer of 1972, I would have been all of sixteen years old. . .but, I had been attending movies at The Manos for over a decade.
My first real memory of a movie there has to be 1964's MY FAIR LADY. I had recieved a very good report card, so my mother took me to see George Cukor's extragavant film there as a reward - on a school night!
The Manos was located on East 5th Avenue, just across the railroad tracks, and barely a block in from the slopey Corbet Street.
After MY FAIR LADY, I spent very nearly every Saturday afternoon at The Manos for the matinees, and often I would be permitted to see shows there in the evenings on weekends, as my father had relatives in close proximity in Brackenridge, PA.
I can say with out a doubt that my first experiences with the following films occured at The Manos:
Every single James Bond movie up to DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER, and not including 1967's CASINO ROYALE, which I saw at the also long-gone Harmer Drive In. I saw the Bond films on their second releases, when they were being shown as double features. Anyone else remember the thrill of a double feature?
HOLD ON! - that Herman's Hermits hit.
THE SINGING NUN - that Debbie Reynolds glamorized musical bio of that 60's one-hit wonder.
NIGHT OF DARK SHADOWS
HOUSE OF DARK SHADOWS
All of the Hammer Horror Frankenstein and Dracula movies.
THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF THE BROTHERS GRIMM (although I doubt that I saw a Cinerama version).
. . .and finally, BEDKNOBS AND BROOMSTICKS.
At the time, I doubt that anyone would think that The Manos would soon be bolting its doors shut forever.
I know that I found out about its demise while I was in college (1974 - 1978) and was a little saddened at that time.
I mourn its loss more now in this era of cineplexes.
