Ghostbusters Screening Recap

June 17, 2007 by MrRi¢h.

This past May while checking movie show times for another film franchise, Back To The Future I found out the same theater (Clearview Cinemas 10) would be showing Ghostbusters, not once, not twice, but 4x the weekend of June 14, 2007. When I saw the very familiar Ghostbusters poster and the multiple show times I felt excited. The kind of excitement I really haven’t felt about seeing Ghostbusters since I was 6 years old. Which showing a bit of my age was April 1984 I immediately called my friend Bill (ya know of GBNJ fame).

Prior to this past May, I wanted to have a screening of Ghostbusters around here (Northern NJ/maybe NYC) which I began to circulate with the interest factor first last August. For various reasons including my health of course the idea never moved past stage 1. Call it fate, call it luck, my old company Clearview Cinemas had it already planned to show Ghostbusters 4x over a late spring weekend. Naturally this would be the environment for a franchise/ghosthead gathering. I believe Bill agreed. I promoted it as a GBI/franchise/fan event, spread the word on the usual Ghostbusters forums, and it was a news item at Proton Charging.

I had envisioned more of an all out GB “convention” feeling, more like what I’ve seen in other parts of the US. As the screening was coming up it wasn’t shaping up that way. To the point where I had posted on the forums,

What I didn’t elaborate on, on the other forums is that if their is lack of interest (understandable for sure) about a gathering for a screening for Friday night, maybe the timing is off. If the timing is ever right.

I was feeling discouraged and until the day of the screening I didn’t even know if I was going.

After talking to Joe aka JCool, a “transplant” ghosthead originally from Jersey who was going to be back in The Garden State (the timing for him worked out nicely) I was feeling a little more like something could happen. I was still undecided if I was going to go. I hadn’t talked to Bill in a while and our plans hadn’t been finalized. Plus where the theater is (no surprise to me Crapview built a theater here) located, its too far to see a classic film normally.

Once I talked to Bill around when I thought I’d be leaving originally as we finalized the details, “this was definitely it” I was going to make every effort to go to the screening/event. With only 2 other people confirmed that we knew or would meet, I knew this wasn’t going to be the gathering I originally pictured. I hope it would be fun, first I had to drive there.

It would figure that the screening would be at the farthest location from home. For those who don’t know, I live in a suburb of Newark. The screening was in Succasunna, practically in the middle of nowhere in the mountains of Morris County. I certainly can’t complain about the distance as Bill was driving up from near Trenton. Joe drove up from Raleigh, NC. Bill and I on our separate drives were somewhat familiar with the area. Even after checking the “we’re not responsible if you get lost” MapQuest we still didn’t have the full scope of that area. I most likely drove the long way (although it was the shortest route) hoping to be at Clearviews Cinema 10 at 8:40. (estimated time from Map Suck) I’m driving through various towns on RT 10 W, seeing the town somewhere near (I think) the theater. When I was in Roxbury I also saw the shopping center where Crapview lists the theater near by. They don’t tell you that the theater is on the east side or that you can’t see the theater from the highway. For logical reasons I figured the next town would be Succasunna and I’d be seeing the theater very soon. It didn’t take long for me to realize Succasunna seems to have no entering town sign and that I had passed the theater. To the point where I was coming to a junction for RTS 46 and 80. Fortunately I was able to get over to the right to make a turn to go back onto RT 10 E. As it was probably nearing 9, I didn’t want to take the chance again that I would miss the theater. It had already been a long drive, it was getting dark, and I just wanted to be there already. I pulled off RT 10 E into what looked like the last mall in Northern NJ. I drove around a little to see if the theater was around there, of course it wasn’t. Seeing a Wal*Mart employee, I asked him for directions. Fortunately I was only a block or so away. Back to the highway where I drove to the Roxbury Shopping Plaza/Center. I now know if I had drove a little more, I could have turned into the parking lot right by the theater. At the time for whatever reason I was still relying on Map Suck. I spotted this odd circle/slight jug handle turn I’ve only seen in Central NJ. I took it, it didn’t seem like it would take you to the road that would go to the theater. Maybe it does, not knowing the area I couldn’t tell you. After driving around that twice, I might have made an illegal turn into a parking lot that I thought was for the shopping center, but wasn’t. It was easy to drive into the parking lot from there. What looked like the theater, wasn’t. For whatever reason, some part of the plaza had the top of the building lit up. The kind of lighting a movie theater would probably use. The kind of lighting most establishments don’t need to use. Some will, those white, icicle lights people buy at Christmas and leave up all year long. I knew the theater had to be close, where was it? Malls should have signs up, then again I wasn’t in a mall, if that makes a difference. While looking around for where I should turn, I saw these three women talking in the parking lot. Looking lost, I powered down my window and asked for directions. These people like most civilized people who will help a lost person out will give a person directions. Why do some people give 2 sets of direction out? Would it not be better to give out the best way first to get somewhere from where I am at that very moment? I was practically 2 lefts from the theater, the one woman also told me I could get back on RT 10 E, go one block, then turn. Maybe it was just me, it seemed easier to drive through the lot and make the two lefts. I had already driven from the suburbs of Newark to Roxbury.

Those two turns didn’t quite seem right, I finally saw Crapview’s Cinemas 10. I found a parking lot and once I was situated I called Bill to see if he was close to the theater. While talking to him, Joe spotted me (Ghostbusters shirts, always in style) and came over to me. “Where you from originally?” Joe was from Succasunna and was able to help Bill out a couple of times. While we waited for Bill and his friend Sara, we hung out in front of the theater, talking about Ghostbusters, the fan base, and ourselves.

If you were wondering the level this gathering could have had. I was prepared to wear my costume. I didn’t bring the pack because I knew I wouldn’t be wearing it and no one else would be wearing one either. JCool brought his costume too, based on various factors, wearing GB t-shirts while hanging out was just fine. In hindsight it probably was for the best. If and that’s a big IF there are future screenings, suiting up may be more appropriate. I was thinking long after the fact I should have wore the ecto goggles.

Once Bill and Sara had arrived, we hung outside a little longer, then went inside the theater. We heard some smart ass remarks about what movie we were going to see. This is the kind of thing about why I call these theaters Crapview. Its a little inside, as someone who worked for the theater chain, its also a certain negative attitude, some which reflects on the demographic the theaters are aiming for.

After getting our tickets and a little snack, we headed into theater 3. I think it was theater 3. Either way, is that too much detail? I fully expected Ghostbusters would be shown on a smaller screen. I knew they weren’t using a bigger theater to show a 23 year old movie when Fantastic 4: Rise Of The Silver Surfer just came out. I will give Crapview an additional compliment about there seating. Definitely not stadium seating, they do have the kind of tall movie seats that recline slightly. We’re all sitting, talking as we see more people arriving. The crowd was decent, I don’t think anybody else was there for the gathering. While we continue to talk, a theater employee gave out the standard red raffle tickets. I asked what it was for and were told something about winning a prize. When the screening was about to begin, a theater manager and an employee arrived.

They thanked us for coming to the classic screening of {insert name of movie here} oh right GHØSTBUSTERS. We were told if people continued to support the classic films, they could keep showing them. I’m a little fuzzy on the whole support thing. We’re looking at them and the manger said they were giving away prizes, sponsored by WDHA (NJ’s only ROCK station) with a signal that barely reaches outside of Morris County.

I feel so funky, the theater manager might have told us Ghostbusters trivia first. Oh no, we were just having fun. Joe, Bill, and I looked at each other. If they had let us tell some trivia, well we might still be at the theater. He told us the following: Gallons of shaving cream were used for the marshmallow exploding. Only one? Did we know that there were 3 Stay Puft costumes, all were destroyed during filming. I question that fact slightly. The whole time I had a feeling at about 9:57 someone jumped on IMDB.

Was it time for the movie? Not quite, we, uh the manager was anticipating our excitement about the 3 prizes (gotta love Crapview) they gave away. First up, a promotional hat for Live Free or Die Hard. A raffle number was called (was this fixed?) and a guy won the hat. Next up, a Concession certificate (Clearview cash?) for a small soda. That’s it, a small soda!? I thought this was sponsored.:shock: I was 1 or 2 numbers off from winning that. Wow. Finally, the grand prize. 3 passes for Crapview Cinemas. With no dramatic climax, the raffle number was called. I was 1 or 2 numbers away from winning. Who did win?

If you said someone within the gathering, you guessed right. Bill Malkin, the numero uno winna! Their was definitely applause from us. I think the management thanked the crowd again and told us to enjoy GHØSTBUSTERS.

From the time I found out about the screenings, I had wondered if the theater would show a Ghostbusters DVD (hopefully the ‘99 edition) or have an actual print. As the film was beginning, it was obvious to us it was a print. Might have been a copy from one of the originals, still it was a print. That also made the actual movie experience better. Up to that evening, I hadn’t watch Ghostbusters all the way through and not at all in months. Its coming up on 2 years, I still haven’t watched the gift set version. It was enjoyable watching a movie that has meant so much to me since childhood with friends and presumably other fans. We all seemed to laugh at the right times and most people were good about not quoting the movie out loud. I was one of the fans who did say a line out loud, like under my breath. Nobody was so loud that it was rude or distracting. As can be the case, watching Ghostbusters all the way through is over all too fast.

After the screening, Bill gave me his passes. I don’t think there are any CCs (lucky for them) in his part of Jerz. Joe couldn’t use them living in Raleigh. Not that I’m a fan of CC, I’ll be able to use them. Mostly after that I’m going back to A.M.C, (Awesome Movie Chain) not just Another Movie Chain Crapview. We wrapped up our gathering and headed our separate ways. When I got back to my car, someone wrote a certain 4 letter word + you in the moist rear window. Nice. Here is it about midnight and I’m wiping away the first letter.

The drive home felt very long as I was tired and in pain. It seemed to take much longer then the drive up. I was parking my car a little after 1 AM. I’m satisfied that I and my friends could meet up for the classic screening. Its a long long way to go to see any classic movie. I sorta took it as an experience, maybe a once in a life time thing. The big if that it could happen again. Hopefully at that time a gathering will be more organized, the theater will be closer, and you can see the theater from the highway. I love this movie!

If you’re apart of a franchise or are a fan who was at the Friday night screening, feel free to let us know by either leaving a comment (vulgarity, disrespect, and spam will not be tolerated) here or in this thread at the GBI forums. Registration is required to post, it is free.

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