amnews.com - The Advocate-Messenger in Danville, = KY

More than 400 local Harry = Potter=20 fans came to Danville Cinemas 8 Tuesday night = for a=20 midnight showing of =E2=80=9CHarry Potter and = the Order of the=20 Phoenix.=E2=80=9D (Charlie Cox = photo)

At right, recent Danville = High=20 School graduate Elizabeth Thompson dons a long = robe,=20 dress shirt and tie representing = Hogwarts=E2=80=99 traditional=20 attire. (Charlie Cox photo)

Cinema manager Robin = Strey, left,=20 taking tickets, says the midnight showing was = the=20 theater=E2=80=99s second most successful. = (Charlie Cox=20 photo)

Wednesday July 11, 2007

Midnight premiere: = Harry Potter=20 fans pack theater for newest flick

By CHARLIE COX =
charles.cox@wku.edu

Though it may just be a movie theater, Danville = Cinemas 8=20 looked an awful lot like Hogwarts on Tuesday night. =

The theater offered a midnight premiere showing of = "Harry=20 Potter and the Order of the Phoenix," the fifth film = in the=20 endlessly popular franchise based on the books by = author J.K.=20 Rowling.

Potter faithfuls from around the area began lining = up in=20 the theater's lobby about 10 p.m. to get a prime seat = for=20 first viewing of Harry's latest big screen adventure. =

Manager Robin Strey, a self-described Potter fan = himself,=20 said the adaptations of Rowling's books are always a = favorite=20 among moviegoers, especially at Danville Cinemas 8. =

"Before tonight, we'd already sold 400 tickets for = the=20 premiere," said Strey, "and who knows how many we'll = sell=20 tonight."

Strey said the late-night early showings are an = exciting=20 service the cinema is proud to provide, and that = "Harry Potter=20 and the Order of Phoenix" was one of the top draws it = has had.=20

"We always like to try and offer the midnight = premieres. At=20 first, it's up to the film company. If they OK it, = then we=20 like to do as many as we can," said Strey.

"This is the second-best seller we've had in terms = of these=20 late-night shows. It ranks just behind 'Star Wars: = Episode=20 III.'"

Strey anticipated that the big business will carry = on=20 through the weekend. The last Potter film, "Harry = Potter and=20 the Goblet of Fire," holds the distinction of driving = the=20 cinema's single largest day at the box office when = 2,400=20 tickets were sold.

Three movie houses

And by comparison, the midnight showing for = "Goblet"=20 required three movie houses, whereas "Phoenix" needed = four.=20

What drives so many people out to the movies at a = late hour=20 to see "Harry Potter?"

Strey thinks it's all about Rowling.

"I think the main appeal is in the story. It's = created so=20 many fans. They really are everywhere."

And some of them came to the cinema in costume, = too.

One of those dedicated Potterphiles was Elizabeth = Thompson,=20 who came decked out in traditional Hogwarts garb. = Thompson,=20 17, who recently graduated from Danville High School = and will=20 attend Centre College in the fall, says her dedication = to the=20 exploits of the boy wizard runs deep.

"I've always been a big fan of Harry Potter. It = really=20 feels as though I've grown up with it," said Thompson. =

Crazy month for fans

Dressing up for the midnight showing is not the = first=20 daring thing she's done out of Potter admiration.

"I've always done crazy things for 'Harry Potter.' = I waited=20 in the rain for five hours just to pick up the first = ticket=20 for 'Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets," = admitted=20 Thompson.

This is a crazy month for fans, what with the = release of=20 both the movie and the final book in the series, = "Harry Potter=20 and the Deathly Hallows," due out July 21.

"I can't wait for that book! I plan on doing what = I've done=20 for all the past books: waiting in line with all the = other=20 fans at Joseph Beth at midnight. But I'm pretty = excited about=20 the movie, too," said Thompson.

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