1943 Plains, Pennsylvania

Mrs. Agnes Munley

Born 1932

Plains, Pennsylvania

Interviewed on February 1, 2024

by Malia Munley

We used to go to the movie theater when we were kids because they would give dishes out. A set of dishes. And every week, we would get a new part of the set. So, we used to go during the week, and everyone would get a dish, and sometimes in the middle of the show, you’d hear “bang!” Somebody dropped their dish! But you could get a whole set of dishes by going to the movies. And then during the war, you would take a piece of metal to go in to see a show. That was our admission, during the war, when things were bad. That was what you would do. 

The first movie? From what age? Oh, God, I…I think maybe The Titanic? I loved watching that. Movies…if you mention a couple I might remember. Uh, yeah, yeah Shirley Temple was around then. But that was more of a kid’s show. I guess I was in high school when I started going to the movies. Casablanca? Oh yeah, I remember that one. I liked Casablanca. I really…I can’t think back that far, but I know it was a great movie. Hey, I’m 92! It had a lot of good young actors then, I can’t remember the names. One of my favorite movies is the one with uh…uh…Pretty Women. Every time it’s on the TV, I have to sit and watch it. I was eating last night, your uncle said, “I have to cut your mushroom because it might slide off the plate,” and I always think of…what’s her name…with the–eating the food, remember? Julia Roberts! I always think of her. But I love that movie. I love it.

I think we walked…we walked to the theater because it was in Plains. I think it was the Plains Theatre. It was a nice theater. Not there now, but it was. I couldn’t tell when you when it closed. I don’t remember…I don’t think there was a concession stand because you had your dishes, and you can’t be eating food while holding your dishes and watching the movie. Yeah, so I don’t think they had popcorn or anything. There were a lot of people at the movies. They were filled. I don’t think there were ushers. The seats were comfortable. It was a nice, comfy theater. Well, it was the only one. The other theaters were downtown. This was the only one in Plains. A lot of the other places didn’t even have a theater. That was pretty nice to have ours in Plains. Oh, you’re going way, way back! No, there was no orchestra. 

It will be interesting for people to know that we used to get dishes. They didn’t give dishes in the theaters in towns, just in our own little theater that they did it. I still have them, and I still have a box of them filled downstairs. But the longer you’d go, the more pieces of the set you’d get, for up to 12 people or whatever. They gave you one dish at a time. Every week was a different dish.

The Plains Theatre opened in 1940, but it is unclear when it closed (it was still open in 1957). The building is now home to Plains Antiques and Home Furnishings.

Note: Mrs. Agnes Munley is my paternal grandmother. My grandma, who is 92, could not recall the first movie she saw as a child. Together, we reviewed titles released in the 1930s and 1940s until she recognized one. As such, it was not the first movie but rather the memories of going to the theater that stuck with her.