Fun Times at CineMagic Theatres Great Lakes Cinema 7

Midnight showings are especially likely to be scheduled for book, comic, TV and movie franchises that have already proven themselves enormously popular, such as "Star Wars," "Indiana Jones," "Shrek," "The Lord of the Rings," "Harry Potter," "Spider-Man," "Pirates of the Caribbean," "Transformers," and "Twilight," to name but a few.

As a movie fanatic and a night-owl, I look forward to special midnight showings of potential blockbusters. It's a treat to be among the first members of the general public to see a new movie, and it's especially fun to attend showings with midnight movie crowds. Made up of individuals who are fans of movies in general and the most enthusiastic fans of the particular franchise of which the new movie is a part, midnight movie audiences tend to be the most fun.

I attend movies in many different locations, especially when I travel. Also, as a fan of historic old cinemas, I go out of my way to attend movies in small towns throughout northwest Iowa and southwest Minnesota. During the past eight years, however, since I moved from Iowa City to Arnolds Park in 2002, I've seen most movies at the CineMagic Theatres Great Lakes Cinema 7 (GLC7), 1698 Exchange St., Okoboji, 712-332-7553, www.cinemagictheatres.com. (I'm a lifelong summer resident of Arnolds Park and the Iowa Great Lakes, but I've only lived here year-round since 2002.)

During the past eight years, I've enjoyed at least a couple of dozen midnight showings at the GLC7. In recent years, some of the showings have become even more fun thanks to Todd Bennett, GLC7 General Manager. Todd is a hard working, professionally competent manager with excellent customer services skills. When I attend movies at the GLC7, I look forward to hanging out with Todd in the lobby, talking about movies and related subjects.

About three years ago, in July 2007, shortly before the sold-out midnight showing of "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix," Todd suggested we join forces for a little extra fun with a brief trivia contest before the movie. I came up with a few trivia questions, and Todd generously donated some relevant prizes, such as free movie passes, free concessions coupons, official movie posters, T-shirts, etc. In front of a sold-out auditorium of 232 enthusiastic "Harry Potter" fans, I asked the questions, Todd selected from among the first people who raised a hand for each question, and we gave away the prizes.

Since then, we've had trivia contests before several midnight showings, mostly for movies in the "Harry Potter" and "Twilight" series. I come up with the questions and emcee the brief event, and Todd donates the prizes.

Our next such contest will be at the special midnight showing of "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse" (2010, PG-13, 124 min.), www.eclipsethemovie.com. The movie opens nationwide on Wednesday, June 30, and the special showing will be on Tuesday, June 29 at 12:00 midnight, (Wednesday, June 30 at 12:01 a.m.). Todd is being even more generous than usual, coming up with extra prizes for our usual trivia contest plus an additional costume contest. Not only can midnight moviegoers win prizes for correctly answering trivia questions, but they can also win prizes for having the best costumes, as judged by their fellow attendees.

If you're a night-owl and a fan of movies in general and/or a fan of "The Twilight Saga" specifically, then you might want to join us for the June 29th midnight showing. But be sure to purchase your tickets early because the showing is most likely to sell out well in advance.

Thank you for your time! I hope to see you at the movies! And please support the arts!