Visalia Fox film series begins with birthday party for 80-year-old twins
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What better way to celebrate your 80th birthday than with a nostalgic movie at the Visalia Fox Theatre? That’s what twins Jackie Gray and Judy Jones will do on Monday, and everyone is invited.
The twins will celebrate the first film of the Fox spring-summer film series, “American Graffiti.” Invitations have gone out to their large extended family, and everyone in the audience will be invited to join in singing happy birthday before the film begins.
Jackie’s daughter, Cindy Gray, said the twins grew up in the 50s when Visalia was much like the town in “American Graffiti,” and the Fox was a big part of their youth.
“We did live in the ‘American Graffiti’ era,” said Jackie. “We didn’t even have TV until we were in high school.”
The family lived in Ivanhoe.
“When we were little, my mom would take us into town on Saturdays and drop us off at the Fox,” Jackie recalled.
The twins were song leaders at Redwood High School, and Jackie remembers dragging the Main every weekend. Saturday date night was usually at the Fox or at the other theater in town. There wasn’t much else to do.
Jackie can relate to the scene in “American Graffiti” about a drag race.
“I dated a guy, and one night we went out. I didn’t know what we were going to do. We ended up racing out in the boonies. I said, never again!”
Fox film series
The films are either $5 or free and sometimes include interactive activities or drawings.
Monday, March 20—American Graffiti (1973), starring Ron Howard and Harrison Ford, is about a small Central California town in the early 60s. Chance to win a basket of goodies, including Ray Ban Wayfarer sunglasses. 7 p.m. Doors open at 6 p.m. so the audience can celebrate with the twins before the movie begins. Free. Rocio’s catering will be on-site to sell food.
Wednesday, March 29—Nomadland (2020) is the story of a widow traveling around the U.S. in her van. Frances McDormand won an Oscar for her performance. 6 p.m. Drawing to win two tickets to the Freestyle Diva show on April 1. $5
Friday, April 28—The Secret Life of Pets (2016), a computer-animated comedy about pets living in a New York apartment building. $5. Patrons also can purchase a $5 interactive packet with gadgets and script to play along with the movie. Chance to win Taylor’s hot dogs. Plus, dogs will be on site for adoption. 6 p.m.
Friday, June 16—Love, Simon (2018) is about a closeted gay teen who struggles to balance his friends, family, and a blackmailer who threatens to out him. 7 p.m. Chance to win tickets to the next interactive movie night. 7 p.m. Free
Friday, July 14—Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989), a comic science fiction film about a struggling inventor who accidentally shrinks his kids and how they venture their way back through a backyard wilderness. Free. Patrons can purchase a $5 interactive packet with gadgets and scripts to play along with the movie. Drawing for Fox merchandise.
More information:
Visalia Fox Theatre, 300 W. Main 559 625-1369 or www.foxvisalia.org
This article originally appeared on Visalia Times-Delta: 'American Graffiti' leads latest Visalia Fox Film Series
