Argo Theatre Preps for Biggest Opening of Series
On June 12th, 1981, Stephen Spielberg, often credited as the man responsible for the summer blockbuster (Jaws being the first) introduced moviegoers to a character with plenty to keep audiences filling seats: Indiana Jones. Raiders of the Lost Ark opened on a Friday evening at the Argo Theatre, doing better than average business. That is, until word began to spread. While it didn’t continue playing at the Argo until it left theaters in May of 1982, it ran for nearly three months before giving way to September’s box-office topper, Body Heat…while remaining on one screen for matinees and midnight showings well into the Fall.
Argo Theatre owner Mark Finn was just an usher when Indiana Jones took theaters by storm, and he’s happy to be part of welcoming audiences to the final film in the franchise.
“It wasn’t like it is now,” Finn says. “At the time, Spielberg was a one hit wonder with Jaws. And Lucas was known for American Graffiti, if you even saw it. Rich (O’Brien, then-owner of the Argo) thought Raiders would be a hit. But, to be number one for nine months in a row? Unheard of. With everyone knowing this is Ford’s swan song with Indy? We’re much better prepared for what to expect!”
In addition to Dial of Destiny opening stateside, Raiders of the Lost Ark will be returning to theaters on June 4th and 7th in select cities, although to some, it seems oddly limited. Cy Timmins, who runs the Orransburg Drive-in, summed it up the simplest:
“You open Raiders two weeks before Dial,” the longtime owner proposed. “You’d open them at 1 and 2 respectively, and Raiders’d probably be able to stay around all summer. There are generations of moviegoers who weren’t even born when Raiders came out, and seeing them as bookends? Not exactly a hard sell.”
“42 years is a long time for people to be devoted to a character,” adds Finn. “It’s rare, but it’s not unheard of. What is rare is the same actor in the same role for so long. But, we saw with Jamie Lee Curtis and the Halloween trilogy, die-hard fans are still interested even after long periods of inactivity. Kingdom of the Crystal Skull wasn’t exactly a fan favorite. So, a lot of folks are crossing their fingers, hoping that this is the sendoff Indiana Jones deserves.”
For advance tickets, visit the Argo Theatre web site. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny will open in theatre 1 at 7pm, with showings in both theatres rotating every other hour. Matinees will begin at 12pm and 12:30pm respectively, with the schedule continuing through midnight/12:30am all weekend. Cosplay is welcome, says Finn, but please, no guns…and no snakes!
