On Friday night, Feb. 29, my 5-year old grandson, Alex, and I attended the so-called soft opening of the new Braden Theater. I don’t doubt that the term ‘soft opening’ has been around for a long time, but I have just recently encountered that term. Understand now that any new business has its ‘bugs’ and those bugs will eventually show their ugly pusses as the business rolls along.
The new-old theater, if you will, originally built in 1950, has been under reconstruction since early last summer. I have followed that reconstruction by visiting the site every several days, taking successive photos.
The long and expensive venture came to a head Feb. 29 when the new owners opened the newly-reconstructed movie hall with that soft opening I mentioned about 40 words ago. Here’s my street impression of that term: It would be rather embarrassing for the new owners to fill the theater with full-fare paying viewers and have something go awry with the new equipment (bugs). Now, since these movie projectors are fairly complicated devices, one would like to see these devices run through at least once to see if they’re working properly. This is the function of a soft opening . . . invite a few relatives, neighbors and friends and have a test run on them. If something goes awry during the show, no one gets bent out of shape because he or she or they paid the price of admission and now the show’s interrupted with a breakdown. If there is a malfunction with the new equipment, then the owners are surrounded with a friendly audience. Besides, the price of admission is about as good as it gets . . . free. You can’t beat that with a stick! And to add pleasure to pleasure, the new owners were giving away all the popcorn and soda anyone could carry to his or her seat. Talk about getting one’s money’s worth . . . this was the quintessential bargain.
Anyway, the night was an absolute success; no breakdowns and the popcorn was as good as I recall it as a kid at the old State and Braden theaters. The new owners and operators (Arlen, Nancy and Chris Dow) are extremely accommodating and gracious hosts. In addition, they’re community-minded. These qualities will certainly ensure their success. In addition, the seats are comfortable and spaced just right. I was a bit worried about the volume. I’m horribly uncomfortable if the sound is too loud . . . that’s something which would send me out of the theater real early. But I was very pleased with the chosen volume . . . just right, thank goodness. Above all, this new downtown addition is as friendly and homey as it gets. It’s like you expect to see Andy and Opie, Aunt Bee and Barney in the lobby loading up on all the conventional moviegoer goodies (popcorn, soda, Good n’ Plenty and Raisinettes).
My grandson and I watched “Spiderwick Chronicles,” a very scary kids’ movie, well done, accompanied with a good story. He sat spellbound, entranced, gulping down popcorn with great intensity. I wouldn’t have traded that hour and a half with my grandson for all the tea in Ceylon, er, I mean Sri Lanka. I’m always a generation behind these new names of these old countries. Likely he’ll remember last night for the rest of his life. I recall my grandmother taking me once to the old State Theater between the Northern Nat’l Bank (now KeyBank) and the Maine Public Service building. We saw “The Boy With Green Hair,” a movie released in 1948. I would have been only 6 years old then but recall that clearly – not the movie, mind you, but just sitting with my grandmother. That was the only movie I ever remember her going to. Certainly wasn’t my only or last one; I practically lived in that theater growing up because it was right around the corner from my house. The price of admission was a bit cheaper (12 cents) than today’s. Despite the years which have passed since 1948, today’s ticket at the new Braden is still a great bargain at $5 for each man, woman and child. You can’t beat that with a stick either!
One more item before my ramblings quit. Although the Dows offered everything at no charge that evening, I was bound and determined to at least pay for our goodies (popcorn and soda). I put down on the counter $3 but was very kindly refused. I stood my ground and gently insisted that the $3 be taken. She said thank you and my grandson and I went on our way to stake out our seats for the show. Later, I realized that those three bucks were perhaps the very first bucks taken in by the new theater. That’s significant because back in the spring of 1953, W.T. Grant opened a new store on the corner of State and Main. I made sure I was there to be the first paying customer. As the doors opened for the first time, I pushed through to the candy counter, pulled out a nickel and purchased a pack of Wrigley’s spearmint gum. That was on purpose to be the first. Last night, 55 years later, I – unwittingly this time – became the first to fork over money for another new business. I’m proud as punch to own those two distinctions.
Next week, allow me to write once more a little history of the Braden Theater. I’ll take you back to the original grand opening in 1950 and back even farther to the origin of the name, Braden. Let me extend a hearty thank-you to the Dow family for taking on such a challenge – blowing new life into an old and venerable establishment. The residents of Presque Isle will love you for it . . .
by Dick Graves
Photo courtesy of Dick Graves
MOVIEGOERS Dick Graves and his 5-year old grandson, Alex, attended the soft opening of the new Braden Theater on Friday, Feb. 29.