Blurb: Local theater fills up seats when old movies jump back on the big screen.

Most movie theaters today show the newest films that are full of special effects and

3-dimensional elements. Audiences everywhere are used to using 3D glasses and being surrounded by sound in the theater. At Regal Sehome 3 Cinemas, however, old films are the new rave.

Luke E'Dell, 28, is the manager at Regal Sehome 3 Cinemas in Bellingham, Wa. He said he wanted to start a flash back film showing because it seemed like a cool idea. Regal Sehome 3 Cinemas shows older films in the original 35 mm prints. According to E'Dell, the films are in the condition they were last used in. “The films have been through a lot of hands,” he said. E'Dell said some of the films have noticeable damage, like sound quality, but overall they are still in good condition.

Although it has taken them a long time to get the process started, E'Dell said it has been something they have been talking about for years. “We've wanted to do this for about ten years, it just took someone to get the ball rolling,” he said. For E'Dell it has been a lot of extra work to prepare for the flashback film showings.

Kade Brumbaugh, 19, was excited about his first experience seeing the flashback films. “I hardly ever go see movies in the theater, I usually watch old movies anyway,” he said. Brumbaugh said what he liked the most about the flashback films was that it was easier to focus on the actual story rather than paying attention to the visual elements. “Even though it doesn't have all of the glitzy high-tech stuff and good video and sound, the story is great. It shows what the director wanted,” he said. Brumbaugh saw The Shining for the first time and for him, being able to focus on the great story line was way more important than special effects. “I'll definitely go back,” he said.

Another part of the flashback night that Brumbaugh liked was the introduction by the manager before the film. “The manager talked about the film before hand. He told the audience how water damage effects the film and the sound will cut in and out of the first couple minutes. He explained the film and it's quality really well,” he said.

Kathleen Minor, 21, has been attending the flashback film night regularly since it started. Minor heard about the flashback films when she was renting a movie at Blockbuster a couple weeks ago. When Minor was informed about the flashback films, she was told nobody really knew about it so it was important for people to go and support it. “When we showed up to the first one it was sold out in minutes!” she said. Minor and her boyfriend went to see Indiana Jones on April 13 for their first flashback film experience.

Why Audiences Love Old Films

For Minor, seeing old movies in theater is way more fun than renting them from the movie store. She said that renting the movie and going to see it in theater cost almost the exact same amount, so it is worth it to her to go see it on the big screen. “It only costs $5 to go to the flashback film. You can either see it on the big screen or go rent it at home for the same price,” she said.

Minor also noticed that the audience seems to be more together when they see old films as opposed to new movies. “Since most people have seen the old films before, we all have a sense of knowing what’s going to happen. Everyone applauds and laughs at the same time,” she said. “It's like a big slumber party!”

So far, Minor has seen Indiana Jones, Jurrasic Park and The Shining in the flashback theater. “I don't know if I'll go every Tuesday night depending on the movie, but I will definitely go back,” she said.

What Will We See Next?

E'Dell planned to do the flashback films for 8 weeks. In the following weeks they will be showing The Breakfast Club, Ghostbusters, Ferris Bueller's Day Off and Titanic. With the idea of showing flashback films at a time when 3D movies with special effects are very popular, it's has been successful at the Regal Sehome 3 Cinemas. “So far it has been worth it,” E'Dell said.