I love going to the movies. Even though the price of admission has gone up, some have substantially, and the cost of treats at the snack bar may seem high, there is still nothing like seeing a film on the big motion picture screen. Now the Marcus Theater chain (who owns most of the movie screens in town) is asking for a liquor license to offer beverages at their locations in Fargo. Good or Bad?

I’ve have talked to a lot of people and have gotten some different reactions for you. Some make a lot of sense and some not so much.

Some were concerned about underage drinking in the theater. While I don’t know what the exact plan is, should the license be granted, it could go something like what happens at many cash bars. If you want an alcoholic drink, you get a wrist band after proving your age. You approach the “bar” section of concessions, you’ve got your wristband on, buy whatever you want, and to the movies you go. If you don’t want to buy a beer, just move on through like normal.

Serve booze at adult movies only. Well that doesn’t make much sense since the drinking age is 21 and you have to be 17 or older to get into an R rated movie without a parent or guardian. NC-17 films are rarely shown in Fargo.

How much drinking could you do in a 90 minute to 2 hour movie? If the beverages were bought one at a time I’m thinking public drunkenness would be very slim. After all, how many times do you see people at the theaters get up during the movie for concessions or use of the restrooms? Next time you are at the movies, count how many times that happens. Unless the movie is of epic length, it’s not many. Almost all concessions are bought before the movie begins. And most of us “hold it”, because we don’t want to miss anything. Do you really think a person would get up from their seat 5 or 6 times to go get a beer? If lines were long, you’d miss half the movie. Could you imagine having your friend ask you “what did I miss,” 5 or 6 times? I wouldn’t go to a movie with them again.

Maybe something Marcus should bring back that theaters haven’t done in years. Remember back in the old days the ushers would do a walk-though the theater a couple of times during the film? They would tell you to get your feet off the chair in front of you, or maybe someone has pointed you out as one who can’t keep quiet. Unless you shut-up you were going to get kicked out. But it’s not done anymore. You only see ushers at cleanup when it’s over.

Speaking of cleaning up after a movie, I once asked my cousin Dana Harris, who used to work at the theaters years ago if he ever found anything unusual on the floor when he swept up after the audience left. Well, the list included: pop and beer bottles (or cans) and often times money. Usually change that someone dropped but it was too dark to find. Mittens, caps, wallets and the really odd stuff….Once a used diaper and a raw potato.

I almost think it’s time to bring back the intermissions in film too. They do it in-between acts at plays or how about every half inning in baseball. People would have a chance to use the restroom, buy a snack or in some cases…..a beer.

“I’ll get beer spilled on me like at the concerts.” Seriously? When was the last time someone has stood up at the movies for anything that was happening on screen? Well there was the one time this 3 year old stood up and yelled to Mathew Broderick “look out Inspector Gadget.” BUT that kid never spilled a drop of his orange pop!