Theater Helps Fill Kids’ Time With Free Movies

Lori Crume and her two sons drove from Tum Tum in Stevens County to be at the Garland Theater in time for the free movie.

“We actually have to set the alarm clock, don’t we,” she said Monday to her two sons and their friend.

Dru Searls, 13, a student at Glover Middle School was first in line at 7:30 a.m. “You get better seats that way,” he figured.

Bonnie Clark, 32, of Hillyard, has made it to the free movies every week of the summer except one, when her two sons, ages 12 and 10, were away.

“For free, you can’t beat it,” she said, after buying a $3.25 “bottomless tub” of popcorn and three super large soft drinks.

“They always say there’s nothing to do in the summer,” Clark said. “Well, this summer it’s just been fun-filled.”

The fifty-year-old Garland Theater has shown $1 movies for seven years. Last summer it charged 25 cents for the morning shows - just enough to cover the cost of film rental.

This summer, owner Don Clifton and manager Paul Quam wanted to go further. To present the movies free, Quam solicited sponsors and a dozen Spokane business owners responded with underwriting.

This week the theater is featuring “The Hook.” “Rookie of the Year” is next week followed by “Monkey Trouble.” The free shows start each weekday until Sept. 1 at 9:30 a.m.

Mothers with strollers, day-care providers and a school for the developmentally disabled all brought kids to this Monday’s show. Kids brought lunch and blankets, others munched popcorn from big tubs, which could be refilled all morning. Infants sucked away, while their older brothers ran back and forth to the video games.

A city police dispatcher on his day off brought his three kids. Another dad, himself a college student, was there with his 8-year-old daughter.

Kelly Gallagher, a mother with three kids, walked to the show from her nearby home. The Garland Theater and the city swimming pools, which are also free, is where she and her three children spend their summer days.

She passed on the drinks and popcorn. “I don’t get paid until Saturday,” she said.

Theater manager Quam, who still personally introduces every movie, said the Garland has always drawn patrons from all over Spokane - even more so this summer.

The theater, he said, feels an obligation to look out for kids who may be there alone and he stresses respect and safety in his introductions.

That’s one reason he advocated for free movies: parents and grandparents are more likely to accompany their kids because they don’t have to pay.

A large chain-owned theatre just wouldn’t think of that, Quam said.

“It’s been enormously successful, said Quam who estimates the free shows attract an average audience of 400 people.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: MOVIE PATRONS These businesses are underwriting the free movies this summer at the Garland Theater: The Muffler Mart, Houk Chiropractic Clinic, Empire Ford, ZipTrip, Cox Cable, Dr. Gunner Schneider III, Orthodontist, Coca-Cola, Shadle Mall Merchants Association, Garland Cycle, Sta-Fit.