Theater of the mind

It was the Strand.

Popular, until times hardened and the mill closed.

Then a dusty ghost.

" Hud "posters browning nicely in glass cases by the sidewalk.

Newman was nominated, but Oscar loved Poitier  that year.

So much for blue eyes.

Patricia Neal did all right though.

But, until some entrepreneur re-baptized it into the Newmar, it was the Strand.

Anyway, it was the Strand when I woke up.

There were five of us, as many as could fit in Eddie Well's convertible.

 Typical.  Curious, uninitiated, eager.

  Sweaty boys.

 You know the type.

The smells rolled down the aisle  before her. During a newsreel I think.

 As one our heads turned.

Think Linda Blair without the vomit. (If you can manage it.)

We saw legs to the gilded ceiling,

Forever tits that overhung

 the tub of hot buttered popcorn cradled in those arms.

Smell one.

Gold hair that gleamed in the dark. 

And her skin, my God, that skin. 

Anointed, lubricated, consecrated -  with Jungle Gardenia Perfume.

Smell two.

Fifty years, Newman is dead, Neal is dead. 

Poitier a knight.

The Newmar nee Strand is a wig shop now.

And me?

 I'm still sweaty, still hungry.

 

Reviews

[h d e rushin]

I had a pimpmobile that me and a fool name Tuggle drove to his hometown outside of Montgomery
in 78. There's that part of me that still believes that the inhabitants there didn't quite get it.
Didn't quite understand that some people held a liscense to drive such a car and thusly be outrageous.
i have come to love the distinctive mild sweet flavor of poetic agitation; those where the events
of the supernatural are swallowed whole. That "theatre of the mind" where fixed morality collides
with all the established practices of stabilizing influences.

That old car, like this poem, was a wonderful ride......dana

[Delmar Cooper]

Thank you Dana. Nice to be outrageous once in a while.

[Matching Socks]

This brings back memories of the little Roxy theatre. I wasn't old enough to go to the movies yet but I remember when it was showing the Rocky Horror Picture my friends and I would hide out and just watch all the teenagers and some 'freaks' dressed in drag, we were 6/7 years old keep in mind, most people were freaks. That place is a 7/11 now.

[Delmar Cooper]

We all have a place like that or we should.

[Matching Socks]

I have quite a few, maybe because I grew up in the inner city.
I had an active childhood.

[steve turner]

you have a deep well, a rolodex of creativity. rock on.

[Samuel Dickens]

I knew a different town,(Booneville) different theater, (Savage) different girl, (Vicki Brown) but the rest is very much the same. Sweaty--yep, there wasn't much air conditioning back then. I love memories like this.

[Delmar Cooper]

In those days, at that time sweat was probably nit relevant to the AC. Thanks for remembering with me.

[Nitesh Mahabal]

I just well away with the flow of this one. Could see ur imagination thru my eyes

[Delmar Cooper]

Thanks for reading, Nitesh.

[Einstein Noodle]

i love the history in this .. so many thoughts and memories triggered .. the old theaters were incredible .. funny .. i (truth) just the other day was ruing the loss of them .. two feature films, newsreel, cartoons .. all for $.50 (childrens price) .. we spent all of saturday afternoon there and never got bored .. the sweaty boys of my mind packed into a red '57 Chevy .. owned by Bob .. a hoodlum type from the projects but a great guy ... oh my .. now you really have me rolling down the lane .. enjoyed your poem .. well done!
E.

[Delmar Cooper]

So glad to share the stroll with you.

[AprilRN1210]

what a layered, entertaining, vivid, journey you took my mind on... you played with my senses with such stunning imagery.. I forgot I was reading and just became lost in the tale you were weaving.. that is my favorite kind.. to become fully immersed, forgetting that you are "reading"... I could see the bright lights of the cameras flashing on the red carpet, smell the sweat and popcorn... and even the scene out of exorcist.. made me giggle.. This was a fun, well-rounded, amusing story, that I thoroughly enjoyed..

[Delmar Cooper]

I thought I had responded to your gracious coment but maybe not. Thank you for reading.

[Emily B]

glorious, sweaty, smelly, orgasmic poetry, i can dig it

[Delmar Cooper]

There is a thumbs up icon beneath your review, and a question: "Did you find this review constructive?" Yes but. To get such a comment, ah. Like Lindbergh in Paris. A little like that.
Thank for the rest of my day.

[Emily B]

It didn't needconstructive, just somebody to breathe it in

[Emily B]

Besides, kortas got here first, everybody knows he leaves the best reviews

[Marie]

I like it. I also like Jungle Gardinia perfume...I'd forgotten about it till I read this...