Batman swoops down on Houlton

By Ben Austin
Staff Writer
    HOULTON — Batman fever hit the Shiretown hard last Friday night as the Temple Theatre, located in downtown Houlton, had a huge showing from people all around southern Aroostook for the premier of the highly anticipated Batman film, The Dark Night.
Pioneer Times photo/Jennifer Ruth
DEFENDING THE INNOCENT — The Caped Crusader, aka Batman, was seen guarding the outside of the Temple Theatre in Houlton on Friday, July 18 while his newest movie, “The Dark Knight” was being viewed for the first time by area residents.
    "The rain held off pretty well and the night went excellent. We felt really good about the whole thing,” explained owner Mike Hurley.
    The corner of town square was packed, as Batman fans, young and old alike, crowded around Zippy's, and the movie theatre parking lot, looking at classic cars, and trying to catch a glimpse of the caped crusader as he made his rounds through Houlton.
    The night’s events, along with the giant spotlight outside the theatre which could be seen as far as Hodgdon, drew in roughly 600 people at the peak of the night.
    “The place was packed. We had people coming in, people going out. Zippy’s was full and lines for the theatre ran around the corner all the way to Key Bank. It wasn’t quite Midnight Madness, but we did have our own little bit of madness,” explained Hurley.
    Inside the theatre people sat elbow to elbow as they watched Batman and the Joker, in a nearly sold out theatre, for both shows.
    “It was pretty packed. We bought our tickets and then we had to go outside to wait in a line. Once we got inside it wasn’t really that bad, but it was probably the most packed I have ever seen the theatre. It was pretty intense,” explained movie-goer Casey Faulkingham.
    Nationally, The Dark Night was a box office smash, bringing in $66.4 million on Friday night alone, and $155.3 million over the weekend. These record-breaking numbers easily exceeded the opening weekend numbers for any previous Batman movie.
    The Dark Night will be showing at the Temple Theatre Saturday, Sunday, Wednesday and Thursday at 7:15 p.m., with matinees Saturday and Sunday at 12:30. For more show times please call 532-2200.�