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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Former Theater Manager Fed Up With Today’s Movies

It was the sex and violence that finally got to Paul Quam.

Spokane’s veteran movie theater manager left his job at the Garland Theater in early January.

“When people ask me why I quit the Garland, I tell them I’m tired of the profanity and garbage being put on the screen,” he said. “I don’t want any part of it anymore.

“I retired early, I’m sick of the movies,” he added.

But Don Clifton, whose company Reel One has operated the Garland for 10 years, said Quam was fired.

“He departed because he wasn’t managing up to the standards we wanted,” said Clifton.

The two often debated the types of movies to be shown at the theater.

“As long as violence sells, they’ll keep making these movies, and the (Garland) owner feels he has to run whatever is popular,” said Quam.

Quam said he’s disgusted by many of the recent releases.

“I don’t like what Hollywood is putting on the screen for us to view: explicit violence, sex and really poor stories.

“Frankly, I think, millions of people who have better taste have stopped going to these movies,” he said.

Quam has been getting phone calls from Garland regulars about why he’s left the theater.

“He has done so much for the Garland Theater, Spokane and the Garland District to keep it alive,” Garland regular Pat Summers wrote in a letter to the newspaper.

“He always greeted everyone with a smile and enjoyed his job,” she said. “I feel the people of Spokane owe Paul Quam a lot of gratitude for the job he has done in the past, and should be doing now.

Geoff Langley started working at the theater about six months ago and is now the manager.

Assistant manager Lee Smith said he always enjoyed working with Quam.

“Paul and I really got along. It’s really different without him here,” he said. “We’ve had lot of questions from people about where he is.”

No drastic changes are planned for the theater. Smith said owner Don Clifton continues to choose the movies.

“Internally, we are trying to make it run more efficiently and to improve the image of the theater,” said Smith.

After 34 years managing movie theaters in Spokane, Quam is probably best known for the eloquent welcome and film commentary he offered audiences before rolling the film at the Garland.

The tradition started when he went to work for Joe Rosenfield, owner of the Garland Theater in 1964.

Excited crowds flocked to the theater to see Rex Harrison and Audrey Hepburn in “My Fair Lady.” It was a real event and young Quam felt inspired to say a few words.

“I thought it would be neat if we said something about that fine motion picture,” said Quam, 60. “It took off from there.”

His announcements, always ad-lib, would change depending on the movie, the audience, or his mood.

“I think the audience always appreciated us taking time to say, ‘Hi, we’re glad you are here.’

“I would kid around with the audience, find out who was celebrating an anniversary, tease them about spending a dollar to take their wife out,” he said.

“It was always with the audience in mind, to get them to feel like they are a part of this. It’s natural; you don’t need a script.”

But modern movie producers could use a few better scripts, Quam contends, lamenting the loss of quality films.

“Those of us who have taste will read books and listen to music,” he said.

Quam is quick to add that there are quality movies, but they are few and far between.

“I’m not picking on the big time movies, like ‘Titanic,”’ Quam said. “It’s a fabulous motion picture.”

Quam hasn’t spent his recent weeks of retirement at the movies. He works with the Riverfront Park carousel preservation group.

“I went to the symphony on a Friday night recently,” he said. “I’ve never been able to do that, I was always working.”

Quam has managed Spokane theaters since he was 26 years old. He recalls seeing his first movie “Bambi” when it was released 1942. The gunshots and fire frightened the 5-year-old.

He also recalls walking through the Garland Theater with his dad while it was under construction.

The Garland opened November 21, 1945 with Sonja Henie’s “It’s a Pleasure.” A companion feature, “Double Exposure” was also shown, along with a Disney cartoon and news shorts.

The terra cotta building and the powder blue auditorium with stadium seating for 900 drew gasps of admiration.

Quam worries about the future of films, the future of filmmaking, and the loss of great theaters. He’s concerned about the impact of planned multi-screen theaters in Spokane.

“The pie isn’t getting bigger, they are just cutting it into smaller pieces,” he said.

He predicts movies in the future will include more gimmicks, more noise.

“If they’d just write good stories and have good acting, people would go to the movies,” he said. “I happen to like good acting and good stories.”

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo (South Side Voice only)

MEMO: This story also ran in the South Side Voice on February 5, 1998, page S6, in the column Cross-town Neighbors: News from the North Side.

This story also ran in the South Side Voice on February 5, 1998, page S6, in the column Cross-town Neighbors: News from the North Side.