The last time I was part of an audience which burst into spontaneous applause was a few weeks ago when I screened Tammy and the Bachelor at my public library. After the 30 or so moviegoers (librarygoers?) quieted down, I asked, "So you didn't think that was just a bit ridiculous?" They all shouted in unison, "No! We loved it!"
And our audience laughed out loud and applauded when we showed Modern Times at Dubuque's Grand Opera House a few years ago. Even with a large audience in a historic theater, the context of the anticipation of hearing Chaplin speak for the first time was missing, so I'm guessing people didn't notice the brilliance of the Little Tramp singing in gibberish as they might have in the late 1930s. But daughter Rebecca, six at the time, couldn't stop laughing. I don't know if she'll remember that moment, but I always will. Mike Michael May Adult Services Librarian Carnegie-Stout Public Library 360 West 11th Street Dubuque, IA 52001-4697, USA Phone: 563-589-4225 ext. 2244 Fax: 563-589-4217 Email: m...@dubuque.lib.ia.us<mailto:m...@dubuque.lib.ia.us> From: videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu [mailto:videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu] On Behalf Of Susan Albrecht Sent: Monday, April 11, 2011 9:20 AM To: videolib@lists.berkeley.edu Subject: Re: [Videolib] NY Times article on movies as a shared experience Susan adds: Makes me think about my January visit to Keystone Art Cinema in Indy, to see The King's Speech with my daughter. I cannot tell you the last time I was part of an audience which burst into spontaneous applause at the end of a film. Not that TKS wouldn't have still been wonderful, viewed alone, but there was definitely something magical and, like you said, Jessica, electric, in watching it with others. ...
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