Hello Meadberry,

I am headed to the Pirates-Cubs game tomorrow night. While I root for the Steelers and the Penguins, I am originally a Cubs fan. I will never be anything but a Cubs fan. In fact, I may be the only Cubs fan that hopes they never win the World Series. There is something so wonderful about the struggle. In fact, my perfect Cubs season is when they win the first 3 games of the World Series and then lose 4 in a row. Being a Cubs fan is like being in the Egyptian lair in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.

The Little Projectionist screamed for his Mom last night when I put him to bed. I explained that his mother was not home, but I don’t think he believed me. I told him he could trust me. I then realized it was just a ploy to get one more story. I have to admit, I admired the strategy. He has mastered the art of delaying the inevitable.

Wednesday, we have two HUGE movie openings. Ice Age 3 (or as the Little Projectionist’s sister calls it –“The Fox Looking For a Nut”) opens. We have 3-D in Meadville because most people really seem to dig it. I like seeing it in both 3-D and 2-D. Not one or the other, but both. Also for everyone over the age of 18, we open Public Enemies with Johnny Depp. I will be seeing both by Monday.

Now your moment of zen:

Hello Meadberry,

I hope everyone had a nice Father’s Day. It really is like a second birthday of the year for dads. I can do what I want for the entire day and everyone is nice to me. I even got presents. My girl bought me Stranger Than Fiction on Blu-ray DVD. She even got the previously viewed copy from Blockbuster, so she stayed true to my money saving principals. We watched it last night and I am convinced that Will Ferrell doesn’t need to rely solely on inane humor. He should have been nominated for best actor for his performance. It was simply brilliant.

The Little Projectionist is swimming better and better. Still no breathing yet. Hopefully by July 4th.

The movie theater is packed with good stuff and this week we add Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen and My Sister’s Keeper. If anyone comes and does a double feature of these films you deserve free popcorn. You would have to be a unique individual to watch a robot movie followed by a tear jerking chick flick. Just hold on to your two ticket stubs that show you watched them on the same day and we will buy you popcorn on your next visit.

Now your moment of zen:

Hello Meadberry,

Went to see The Hangover last Saturday night. I laughed so hard that I was tired when I left the building. What a completely inappropriate, raunchy….funny movie! Best movie since Wedding Crashers. If you are not offended by gutter humor, then make sure you get to this movie fast.

The Little Projectionist is learning to swim. He has everything down except the breathing part. Unfortunately, this is probably one of the most important things to learn. The wife does not find it funny when he almost chokes on the water. While I think he is learning, she thinks I am trying to drown him.

On the ice cream front I have been asked to add Casey’s to the list of yummy summer treats. Maybe we should have a contest at the theater. Free tastings, of course!

This week we have two funny movies opening: The Proposal and Year One. Word on the street is that The Proposal is very good. Somewhere I thought I read that Sandra Bullock smells bad. I have not been able to see her movies since. I have heard nothing about Year One except that Harold Ramis directs. Check out Mr. Ramis’ filmography at IMDB.com. Not too shabby. You will also see that he is remaking a summer classic: Meatballs.

Since you will probably not get another newsletter before next Wednesday, the next phase of summer blockbusters begins with Transformers. As far as I am concerned the only star of the movie is Megan Fox. She is pretty in an Angelina Jolie kind of way, without that silly Brad Pitt hanging around.

Now your moment of zen:

“We’re not gonna leave the baby in the room. There’s a friggin’ tiger in the bathroom!”
Ed Helms in The Hangover

Hello Meadberry,

It is going to be hard to top last week’s newsletter. I think this newsletter is getting fun again for me. I go through ups and downs with my responsibility to write it. However, I am proud to say that in over four years, I have never missed a week. Actually, one time I let a girl in film school write it for me. I think her family had a terrible time at the theater in Cranberry last Sunday night. They wrote me an e-mail to tell me about it. I think we could be the best movie theater in the world if I only could talk to every single customer. So, please write to me about your experiences at our theaters, both good and bad. I can’t always promise an in-depth response or free stuff, but I will listen.

That was a long paragraph. I apologize.

My kids are both sick. The Little Projectionist turned into the Exorcist baby and threw up all over me. While the beautiful girl I am married to would have panicked, I thought it was kind of funny. Shame on me.

That same girl and I watched Fools Rush In last night. Selma Hayek is still a babe and Chandler Bing is great as Alex Whitmore. They should do a remake with Megan Fox and, well…..anyone.

This week The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 opens. Travolta is the new Gary Oldman. He is only going to play bad guys. Also starting is Imagine That with Eddie Murphy. It will be the first movie date I have with my daughter that is not a cartoon and doesn’t star furry animals singing. I really just want to go see Up again. Best movie of the year so far.

Now your moment of zen:

“You’re the one. You are everything I never knew that I always wanted”
Matthew Perry in Fools Runs In

Hello Meadberry,

Did you see UP last weekend? I took the Little Projectionist’s sister and we had a great time. It was the second movie she sat through from beginning to end. The third if you include The Incredibles. However, she was 6 weeks old at the time and slept the whole time. Not that I am sure she will remember UP. If you listen to her, the movie was about balloons and a bird that got a boo-boo. It really was a kid’s adventure yarn embedded in a grownup tale about grief and regret, purposes lost and rediscovered. I copied that from the internet, but it was what I was thinking anyway.

I took the Little Projectionist to Conneaut Lake Park last weekend. He really enjoyed the rides. It is great to see the park back in business. Next summer we will add The Chop House to the summer tradition of the area. Did I mention the huge porch? You not only will be able to get the best steak of your life, you will be able to eat it and see the stars.

This week we get two new movies. When I was a kid I used to watch Land of The Lost every week. It was part of the Sid and Marty Krofft line of programming including H.R. Pufnstuf, The Lost Saucer, Donny & Marie, and my personal favorite Dr. Shrinker. Will Farrell stars and, as you know, I like the Will Farrell from Stranger Than Fiction. However, I would take the Will Farrell from Old School if necessary. If it is the Will Farrell from Semi-Pro, then come see The Hangover. From the makers of Old School, I am secretly thinking this may be the funniest movie since Wedding Crashers. That was the most TV and film references I have ever made in one paragraph. I need a cold compress.

Father’s Day is coming very soon. If the men in your life are anything like me, they want a special gift certificate to see three movies. This would normally cost $24. However, we are selling it for $20. I would see Transformers, Public Enemies, and Bruno just in the next month. This is a great gift that can be topped off with an ice cream from Hank’s or Dairy Queen. They both rock.

Now Your Moment of Zen:

“No matter how many times you save the world, it always manages to get back in jeopardy again. Sometimes I just want it to stay saved! You know, for a little bit? I feel like the maid; I just cleaned up this mess! Can we keep it clean for… for ten minutes!”

Mr. Incredible in Pixar’s The Incredibles

Hello Meadberry,

I messed up a few weeks ago and I owe Dairy Queen a big apology. In talking about Hank’s, I decided to make fun of what I thought was the “big bad corporation” in favor of the local “little guy”. What I did not realize is that while Dairy Queen is a national brand, the local store is run by very friendly, charitable local people. I apologize for this oversight and I hope to be forgiven. While I do love Hank’s, I also enjoy my vanilla cone dipped in butterscotch from Dairy Queen. I will now alternate. I may weigh 300 pounds by the end of the summer, but at least I will be supporting the local economy.

The Little Projectionist asked me to sit with him at breakfast this morning. Not at the table, but on the same chair. I think he might like me this week because I took him to both Hank’s and Dairy Queen. Funny thing is that while I’m gaining weight, he keeps getting bigger and thinner. If only we could bottle 3-year-old male metabolism.

I am excited for this week as we get the new Pixar movie UP in 3-D. This is a movie for all ages as the main character is a senior citizen. For you seniors that don’t dig the 3-D, we also have a regular “classic” print. Is it just me or does the sight of a flying house remind anyone of the Wizard of Oz? Also opening is Drag Me To Hell. You may roll your eyes, but we are guaranteed to sell this out opening night. PG-13 rating and an A list director in Sam Raimi of Spiderman fame is a guarantee.

Hope you enjoyed the fireworks last weekend, and remember to eat more ice cream this summer.

Now your moment of zen:

“You, my friend, are a victim of disorganized thinking. You are under the unfortunate impression that just because you run away you have no courage; you’re confusing courage with wisdom.”

The Wizard of Oz

Hello Meadberry,

I want to apologize for the lame newsletters. I have been very busy lately. The summer is upon us and work gets a bit nuts. Lots of big movies means lots of people and popcorn. Do you know that on some Tuesday nights in the summer we give away 2,000 free bags of popcorn? They tell me that it should not be done, but I don’t really care. If I were rich I would give away popcorn every night. However, I have two kids that I would like to send to college. Considering the Dad, I think athletic and spelling scholarships are long shots.

I love my Apple computer. I have been a Mac guy since 2000. I have owned my current Powerbook G4 since 2004. I bought it used and it still works great. I just formatted the hard drive and used Time Machine to have my computer run like new in 30 minutes. I wish I were the “Apple” of the movie theater business. I just need about $100 million. Remember Brewster’s Millions? Richard Pryor had to waste $30 million in 30 days. Gosh, I think I could do it in a week.

This weekend we have two very big movies. Night at the Museum and Terminator. Ten years ago I would have said I was all about John Conner. Now, I think I am more a Ben Stiller guy. I hope that doesn’t make me a bad person. It is the Little Projectionist’s fault.

Did you see that we started building the restaurant? I call the first plate of baby backs.

Now your moment of zen:

“Oh, I know what you’re thinking, you’ll buy yourself a dozen Picassos and use them for firewood, right?”

Hume Cronyn in Brewster’s Millions

Hello Meadberry,

So I was wrong. Hank’s is advertising at the theater this summer. Talk about a foot in my mouth. I went there for my vanilla cone the other day and mentioned it to the owner. He told me that he had just signed up a week ago. Now I feel so guilty about it I go there twice a day for a cone. I only eat one flavor as I was seriously influenced by the Howard Johnnson’s in Blazing Saddles. If you get that reference, you are a movie genius. Please don’t go to Dairy Queen any more, just Hank’s.

The Little Projectionist is talking too much now. I think I told him to “close his yap” the other day. I feel so bad about it I have been taking him to Hank’s for ice cream with me. However, to prove I’m a good parent to my wife, he only gets to come once a day.

Star Trek opens this week. I bragged so much last week about seeing it early, I won’t bore you again about how much I liked it. I may go see it again tonight with some friends. I can’t remember the last movie I saw twice in the theater. You should definitely see it once unless you have no life like me. Then twice is acceptable.

Now your moment of zen:

“Unfortunately there is one thing standing between me and that property: the rightful owners.”
Harvey Korman in Blazing Saddles

Hello Meadberry,

I LOVE movies, but even I would not have been able to motivate to sit inside last weekend. After a long winter, the first warm weather is like ice cream for kids. If Hank’s would advertise with us, I would mention them every week from May 1-September 1. I love the chocolate custard. I will be there Wednesday to get a cone. I can’t make it to the weekend, so Wednesday I bridge the gap.

For all those who wonder why I always mention the Little Projectionist in paragraph #2, it is because this is my journal. One day when he is older, I am going to go back and compile everything I ever said about him. I will have a week-to-week account of his entire life. This week he told me he wants the same clothes as me. He also said that my Steelers T-Shirt is “beautiful”. He is turning out to be a good egg.

This week we are opening X-Men Origins: Wolverine. I can’t wait to see this movie because I already saw Star Trek. There are some fun things that come with this job including my recent discovery…the “sneak preview” studio invite. They literally have guards in the theater to make sure you don’t record the film. Star Trek was amazing. Best version since Wrath of Khan in 1982. My guess is that Wolverine will be just as good. Matthew McConaughey is also opening a romantic comedy called Ghosts of Girlfriends Past. I’ll bet he goes shirtless.

Back to Star Trek. I rarely will try to sell a product, but after I saw the movie this guy told me about a collector’s item. It is a CD-ROM of all the Star Trek movie comics. I was an avid comic book collector as a kid so this was a flashback. It was well worth the $20. Go to http://shop.gitcorp.com/product.asp?specific=jmoscnroi if you are a geek like me.

Now Your moment of zen:

Hello Meadberry,

So a friend of mine completed the Boston Marathon yesterday. I was there in spirit as I ate a pizza and drank a beer. I was thinking about running 26.2 miles, but decided I would wait until someone was chasing me. Maybe I will just drop everything one day and just run around the country like Forrest Gump. My friend said that one guy was running while pulling a cart with oxygen. I think if you need oxygen from a source other than the air, you should not be running in marathons.

The Little Projectionist had a “Nursemaid’s Elbow” this week. This is when the elbow pops out of the socket and causes pain. It is the first of what I believe will be many injuries over the course of the young man’s life. For now, we are going to learn how to pop the elbow back in ourselves so we don’t have to be at the hospital every time it happens. The only good thing is that when it happens he is immobilized. If he weren’t crying like crazy it would actually be kind of nice. You know I don’t really mean that, right?

This week we get three new movies. Fighting, The Soloist, and Obsessed try to give you one more distraction before Wolverine kicks off the summer movies next week. I really don’t have much to say about these films. I would promote The Soloist but Jamie Foxx said mean things about Miley Cyrus. Obsessed looks like the 2009 version of Fatal Attraction and Fighting looks like…fighting.

Now Your moment of zen:

“That day, for no particular reason, I decided to go for a little run. So I ran to the end of the road. And when I got there, I thought maybe I’d run to the end of town. And when I got there, I thought maybe I’d just run across Greenbow County. And I figured, since I run this far, maybe I’d just run across the great state of Alabama. And that’s what I did. I ran clear across Alabama. For no particular reason I just kept on going.”
-Tom Hanks in Forrest Gump