A Christmas Tradition

By: William Covington

On Saturday, December 3rd, a Christmas tradition was born. The Palace Theatre, on Main Street in Frostburg, has achieved great popularity with local residents of Frostburg. Foreign films are the norm there, in addition to documentaries, and older pictures. Every December for the last few years, however, they have shown a Christmas-related film. This years film was, “The Bishop’s Wife,” starring Cary Grant, David Niven, and Loretta Young. The line to get in stretched up the block, with mostly locals in evidence. Tickets were only $5, a bargain in this day and age. Once inside, the concessions didn’t follow the norm. At most movie theaters, popcorn comes in buckets, and costs as much as (or more than) the tickets. At the Palace, however, they pop and bag organic popcorn behind the counter. They have bottled rootbeer and REAL chocolate (no sugar, just chocolate) on offer. After passing the counter, movie-goers view the massive projecter that takes center stage in the lobby. It looks as though it was cast out of solid iron, and the maker’s mark on it announces that it was created in 1923. Once past the lobby, movie-goers enter the single theater. It is long and high-ceilinged, and the walls are blotched and patchy. The seats, however, are comfortable. The theater uses old fashioned projectors, much akin to the one in the lobby. The movie is, of course, excellent. But the experience as a whole is what makes this a Christmas tradition. John Jankosky said, “It’s really nice to be able to see a movie and have it be an occasion, instead of just a way of filling time. “ Anthony Kascak was in agreement, stating that, “I think this place allows you to sort of time travel, experience what it was like to go see a film and have it be a BIG DEAL.” Nathan Cartwright summed up the occasion, saying, “This is how movies ought to be. No previews, tickets and popcorn don’t cost $30…I honestly just can’t wait for next year.”