CHANGE MY LOCATION
Potterites plead for more
SEE THE LATEST ON THIS STORY
Related Topics: BALTIMORE
)
Many movie-goers dressed up for the midnight showing of the fifth Harry Potter film, "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" at The Senator Theater in Baltimore. Eighteen-year-old Jenna Morton, center, dressed as Hermione Granger, Harry's best friend, who was temporarily turned into a cat in the second book by a botched potion.
BALTIMORE (Map, News) - The lights went down, the curtain opened and the cheering, clapping and waving was deafening. The Harry Potter logo appeared on the screen and the theater filled with shushing noises.
These were no ordinary movie-goers. These were Harry Potter fans, some of whom had been waiting at the Senator Theater since noon on Tuesday for the first public screening of the latest movie, “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.” That happened at midnight on Wednesday.
“The waiting isn’t only for the movies, it’s the fun of meeting new people and seeing old friends you haven’t seen in a while. It’s just an all-around good time,” said Liz Slabik, 24, of Baltimore.
Slabik was the first person in line for the showing, waiting through thunderstorms and chasing away line jumpers for 11 hours. She has attended six other midnight showings at the Senator, most of which were Star Wars movies.
“There’s nothing like a midnight showing at the Senator,” she said.
Nicole Sclama arrived soon after Slabik and is the self-proclaimed “biggest Harry Potter fan you will ever meet in your life.” She and her friends read and played cards to pass the time.
“I didn’t have to sit on a street corner all day, but I did it because I love Harry Potter,” she said.
Many of the fans dressed as their favorite characters.
Jenna Morton, 18, dressed as one of Harry Potter’s best friends, Hermione Granger—but with a twist. In the second book, “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets,” a botched potion leaves Hermione halfway to a cat transformation.
“It’s a bit warm, there’s a little condensation, but I will do anything for my Harry Potter,” she said. “The more people who get into the spirit of it, the better it is.”
Tina Duvall, 16, brought Beary Potter, a stuffed bear dressed as Harry Potter to see the movie with her. “Harry is definitely my favorite character,” she said.
When the doors opened at 11 p.m., the first people inside sprinted to save their seat for the sold-out show.
The audience clapped and cheered throughout the movie, to the annoyance of some. Sam Massa, 12, attended his first midnight showing. He said the clapping was annoying because it meant he couldn’t hear the movie.
“It’s OK though, I have a lot of family at home and I’m going to see it again,” he said.
Penny Gershman, 30, owns a podcast, Harry Potter Prognostications, with her husband.
“This is the summer of Harry Potter,” she said. “This is just part of the excitement.”
al.robinson@baltimoreexaminer.com
Comments from Examiner Readers
11:41 AM MST on Wed., Jul. 25, 2007 re: "Fans Obtain the Final Harry Potter Book"
Report as inappropriate
8:42 PM MST on Sun., Jul. 22, 2007
re: "Fans Obtain the Final Harry Potter Book"
Report as inappropriate
3:52 PM MST on Fri., Jul. 20, 2007
re: "Fans Line Up to Buy Harry Potter Book"
Report as inappropriate
1:31 PM MST on Sat., Jun. 16, 2007
re: "Potter or bus: Fans line up to board tram"
Report as inappropriate
Examiner Reader said:
I agree, little Harry is too cute!
78 agree | 87 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
I know, this is supposed to be about Potter books, but this is the cutest photo of a little Harry I've seen! Who is this adorable kid? How did the photographer find him? Who is #46's agent?
106 agree | 93 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
Take an aspirin and call me in the morning.
110 agree | 104 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
While I don't know the answer to that question now, I would like to say that my son, now 14, was one of those typical boys who did not enjoy reading and was a very poor reader until he picked up the Harry Potter books. I was shocked when after finishing Prisoner of Azkaban, he immediately delved into the hefty Goblet of Fire. He only started reading these books a couple of years ago as it was actually myself and his Dad who are huge fans of the books and movies. But after finishing Order of the Phoenix at 13 he started reading the Tom Clancy novels (typically 1500+ pages in paperback). I know that he would not have had the courage to do so if he had not seen that reading can be enjoyable when you find an interesting and well-written book.
165 agree | 146 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree