Frazz by Jef Mallett for July 03, 2023

My mom (1929-2020) told me that she could get into a movie during WW2 and have enough change from a silver quarter to buy an ice cream cone! That’s when they showed a double feature, newsreels and cartoons.

Or it may be that her sense of humor hasn’t suffered with age.

When I didn’t have air conditioning, spraying myself with water and sitting in front of fan worked well.

You can also fill a styrofoam cooler with ice, cut a hole in the top with a small fan blowing in, and a hole in side with a pipe for the air to exit. That pretty much IS air conditioning.

(And why do they call it an “air conditioner” instead of an “air cooler”? It doesn’t condition the air, it cools it. That’s the whole selling point.)

I just saw the new Indiana Jones movie today in the theater for $3. My husband’s popcorn was $4, but I didn’t have any.

I did that in the mid-90s when I didn’t have AC.

When movie theaters first began installing air conditioning (around the late 1920’s, I think) the term “air conditioning” hadn’t yet been established; the ads touted “Cooled by Refrigeration!” And yes, it was a big draw on hot summer days.

First thing air conditioned in our small town was the bowling alley. Had to drive to another town to go to the movies. But almost everyone was on a bowling team!!

I had to take my kids there fir relief until we moved to a house with AC. Today, people don’t have that choice!

Growing up in the south, some of my fondest memories were the Saturday afternoon double features at the local movie house where the air conditioning was the only respite we would get from the brutal summer heat. Those other local retailers who offered air conditioning prominently displayed it on their entrances with signs typically depicting a penguin. Most people who live in hot climates cannot conceive of not having air conditioning in their homes and cars but somehow we survived it but it was NOT the ‘good old days’.

And they sometimes gave away things to everyone who would buy a ticket. We still have some plates and bowls my parents got from movie theaters.

Since we are I remember when. I remember when you could sit through a movie twice for the same price. As, long as it wasn’t selling out, they’d let people stay if they wanted to. After all, if people stayed for the movie a second time they were more likely, than less likely to buy more snacks. Though, most of the time people stayed, because they got to the movie late, and would stay until where they came in, then leave. But those were the days were greed wasn’t regarded as good, but service was.