The Mountain Blows Its Top
We moved from Renton down to Vancouver, Washington in February of 1980. Just in time to see a mountain go up in smoke. My Mom and Dad were already living…
Me and American Graffiti
The summer of 1973 was coming to a close. I was still at the Renton Cinemas working as an usher and a doorman. Changes lay around the corner though, all…
THE RENTON CINEMAS OPEN
The New Cinema As I stated previously, having my father on site was a real boon for his company, General Cinema Corporation. He kept an eye on things (like wrestling…
Seeing the (Upper) USA in a Chevrolet
PUBLIC RELATIONS – CINEMA STYLE It was early in 1968. We were still running the Sound of Music in Cinema 2 and my father was called to the box office…
You Deserve an Escape from New York
SUMMER JOURNEYS AND BURGERS It’s funny (read strange), the things you remember out of all the things that happened in a certain time. What you are left with is a…
The Blue and the Pink
Drenched in Blue Our uniforms weren’t the only things blue. Part of the General Cinema identity, or “brand” as it’s called nowadays, were the shadow box screens in all their…
Sorry Sir, but you’ll have to leave your bomb outside
Going to Work I was all of fifteen, and could now get a job. All I needed was a work permit which was no problem at all, and a job.…
The Summer of Bond, James Bond
A Big Change for the Family As I related before my father held down two jobs in Salem, one as driver for the Salem Laundry and the other as assistant…