East Towne Cinemas

96 East Town Mall,
Madison, WI 53704

Unfavorite 1 person favorited this theater

Showing 2 comments

Ed_Rooney
Ed_Rooney on March 27, 2023 at 5:06 pm

Anyone else remember oversized “ET” marquee (in East Towne Mall parking lot)?

Ed_Rooney
Ed_Rooney on March 27, 2023 at 4:57 pm

I saw E.T. at E.T. My first real movie experience was Summer 1982, to sold-out screening of E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. Can’t recall seating-style, but distinctly remember rocker chairs, because annoying six-year-old me constantly rocked until patron seated directly behind me appropriately locked his feet/legs under my seat, preventing further repose. Also recall seeing the “Revenge of the Jedi” teaser poster just outside our screening (not featured in the main lobby), which meant nothing to me, but very much piqued my best friend’s interest (being a year older, or, more exactly, familiar w Episode 5 (1980). Would eventually see ‘Jedi’ (1983) and ‘the Temple of Doom’ (1984) here; but my kunt mother forbade admittance to Gremlins (1984) with the rest of my friends — I had to make do with Hardee’s promotional Gremlins Adventures storybook record sets. Last movie I saw there was Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure (1989) again, after we tried [and failed] sneaking into Bright Lights, Big City. Easily my favorite venue until Eastgate debuted.