August, 2002: I didn't think it would happen...
August, 2002: I didn't think it would happen...
Job Journal Entry: Monday, August 5th, 2002.
A vacation is just what I needed. When I returned to work after being gone nearly two weeks, everyone actually wanted to hear about my adventures in Belgium and Amsterdam. They were really interested in my trip. (My boss even told me his funny story about Amsterdam) Joy. Then, my main boss asked me when I would be leaving for college and I told him I would either leave in two weeks or keep working on Fridays and Saturdays. He quickly said I should keep working. So, they don't want me to leave. It's because I'm the best, you know.
The last time I was at work before my trip, I emphatically told my boss I can't work the box anymore because it's horrible. So, when I got back, he of course scheduled me the box for every one of my shifts. Although this was discouraging, yesterday I turned all my box boredom into something constructive. I spent the entire day making a scale model of the box with little slips of paper and tape. The model is perfect in every detail. I feel it is my masterpiece. When the General Manager saw it, he picked it up and just started laughing (which is good). Greatness.
Side Note: Soon, I will be in college. Classes: Bad. Dorm: Good.
Job Journal Entry: Wednesday, August 7th, 2002.
That little model of the box I made is so cool. Looking into it through one of it's windows is like looking into the real box. It's freaky and I half expect to see myself sitting there.
Next week is my last full week before school starts, again. I'm reminded of the double life I lead last year and will again this year. Five days a week as a regular college kid and two as the movie theater person. We'll see what happens.
Job Journal Entry: Friday, August 9th, 2002.
You know how sometimes you have to deal with a person who is just so mean or rude that you're completely flabbergasted and you feel so completely flooded that its a wonder you can even speak or breath? Last night, I encountered one of those people.
When someone loses their money in a video game, they're supposed to come to the box office and fill out a little slip of paper with their name and address and then I can give them back their money. However, I can only give them back the price of the game, so if it's a 25 cent game, but they lose their money twice, I can still only give them 25 cents. So, this clean looking guy (about 45 years old) walks up with his teenage son and tells me the game ate his money. I say "Ok, I just need you to write down your name and address." Then his gets really aggressive and starts filling out the paper while loudly repeating "Why do you need this? What are you going to do with this? What are you going to do with this?" I stay cool and I'm like "We just need to have something on record for the refund." And then he tells me it took a dollar, so I explain that I can only give him back fifty cents and while I'm talking he keeps trying to interrupt me saying "Well, that's ridicules. It took a dollar and you're going to give me back a dollar!" So I'm thinking "Fuck it" and I say (while he's still interrupting me) "Although I can ONLY give you back FIFTY CENTS I'm going to give you a dollar." To which he replies "That's right you're going to give me a dollar"
=PAUSE=
This is where I departed from my normal passive stance in situations like this. This guy had gone too far. He was commanding me, tell me what to do, extending authority over my free-will. He was not my father, he was not my boss, he was not my teacher or a police officer. He in no way had control over me, but he thought he did, and he probably still thinks so now.
So at this point, I clenched my teeth and looked him straight in the eyes and said very firmly "I'm giving you back a dollar because I want to." And he said "You're giving me back a dollar because it's the right thing to do." From that point on I said nothing and didn't break eye contact as he slinked away.
I told my boss about it and he told me I don't get paid enough to deal with people like that and he went to go find the guy, unsuccessfully.
That wasn't the end of it, though. This guy left me feeling horrible. He had tried to dominate over me and he really left me flustered. Later that night, I was walking down the hall and he came running (actually running) around the corner (to get back to his movie) and nearly ran into me. When I saw it was him I just stood there, in his way, and looked at him. He walked around me and that was that.
Then, his movie got out at the same time I was leaving so, I ended up walking right behind him on the way to the parking lot and I got kind of beside them and stared them down as I walked to my car. Then I stood there and looked at them as they got in their car and drove away. Then I said really loud "It was fifty cents, not a dollar," and then I turned around to get in my car and noticed about five people staring at me. Oye. OYE!
I think this situation was one of those little life tests to see how much you've learned and what you have left to work on and it's like there's a panel of administrators watching a taking notes. I don't think I handled the situation very will but I'm not sure what I could have done differently and I know I would have done it all the same. Nonetheless, it's like a straight A student scoring a C on a test they should have known all the answers to. I guess I still have a ways to go.
Job Journal Entry: Sunday, August 11th, 2002.
Scandalous. So much talk floating around the theater and so much of it scandalous. It's tough not to get caught up in it all...
Also, it seems the whole management crew may be shifting around and openings will become available. It's also very likely that we'll get a new manager from somewhere else that we've never seen before. A few months ago I dreamt this happened and the new manager was a real asshole. We'll see...
Job Journal Entry: Wednesday, August 14th, 2002.
In the words of Floyd (An old guy that works upstairs at the theater), "Nothing's certain but change." Yup.
The General Manager is being transfer to a different theater (which is really good for him because it'll help him make his way to District Manager, a position he would do really well in) and the head manager is becoming the new GM. I knew this would happen and I think it's an all around good thing. The only bad part is that we're really short on Managers now and the ones that are left are working insane hours. Still, the managers are finally getting the promotions they deserve.
Also, starting in September, the theater isn't going to open until 4 on everyday except Friday and Saturday. Hmmm, this could be bad. We'll see...
For me, I'll soon be working just weekends again. This is good. (Note to self: I got to push the button!)
Job Journal Entry: Monday, August 19th, 2002.
Haha! Yesterday, I moved into my college dorm. After everything was put away, though, the first thing I wanted to do was go to work. The theater is like my safe zone and I just feel compelled to go there for comfort. Also, I've now discovered the whole college social scene and working every friday and Saturday night could really suck. We'll see.
Job Journal Entry: Friday, August 23rd, 2002.
I made it to the end. The theater is closing. We're having a meeting tomorrow morning, but last night my boss let some of know ahead of time that yes, the meeting is to tell us Sept. 5th is the theater's last open day. Someone leaked to the local news paper and they ran a story this morning with the head line "Ridge Cinemas to close Sept. 5 after 32 years."
It's closing. This is it. This place was my life. It was a lot of other people's life too. I didn't think it would happen. El fin, the end.
Dare I go so far as to say this is a good thing? I have a new life now: college. I was even thinking about quitting the theater, but I know I never would have left under my own power. So, now that it's closing, the gates are open, I have my chance at freedom. Maybe I've worked for the movie theater industry long enough. Maybe I should just work my last day then walk away. But, it's like this: They're going to try to get us all jobs at other theaters. The two head managers are going to "West Tower" and I've been strongly encouraged to transfer to West Tower, too. I don't know what I'm going to do.
In the mean time, I'm going to buy lots of little cameras and take lots of pictures of Ridge, for memory's sake. I'm also going to try to get a piece of the carpet and maybe some other stuff.
I think it's good for it to end now, I've gotten to do everything I wanted to do there. I started a movie, I changed the Marquee, I tore tickets and I worked box, concession and ushering. I chilled with the managers, I talked back to a customer, I got a raise, my little messages were even found. That's everything.
The theater is going on the chopping block. They're going to sell it to whoever wants it. Most likely, the little shopping center near by will buy it, demolish it, and build more shops. I don't think anyone will buy it and keep it as a theater. Sad.
Bummer.
Job Journal Entry: Sunday, August 25th, 2002.
I only have three or four shifts left at the Ridge Cinema. For one day, the closing of the theater was big news and every single news station was there filming and interviewing people. Per Regal policy, I couldn't say anything to the reporters, but I wanted to. I wanted to call on the people to ban together and protest this injustice, but I didn't. We're now yesterday's news and tomorrow's garbage. The company is selling the place, but it's unlikely to sell it to anyone who has hopes of keeping it as a theater because that would create competition. I'm fairly certain the place will be demolished and built over.
As my memory tends to fade very quickly, I bought lots of film and took 81 pictures of the theater. I can't believe the place is being closed. We're still profitable. However, the company will make 11-15 million (yes, MILLION) bucks selling the place, so I guess it makes sense. Still, a lot of customers are sad that we're closing "their" theater. After all, Ridge is the one that everyone has gone to since they were kids.
It's really sad. At night when I'm working in the box, around 10 it gets really quiet and depressing and now it's even more depressing than before. Makes me sad.
Life goes on. I, along with almost everyone else, am transferring to the West Tower theater. West Tower has a reputation of being really run down and ghetto-y. It's poorly run and no one there cares about anything. But with our management and "my" crew, we're hoping to really clean the place up. We'll see what happens.
Job Journal Entry: Thursday, August 29th, 2002.
In exactly one week, the theater will be closed. Last night I dreamt that the lobby had windows on all sides and that we were all there the day after it closed. All the electricity had been turned off, but the windows let in enough light. Everyone else was just kind of running around like "Weeeee, it's closed!!!" But I was standing there picturing what it would be like when all the merchandise and stuff was taken out. Then all the stuff and people did disappear and it was empty, closed.
Although I've signed up to work at a new theater, I'm starting to think working and going to college at the same time might not work out. We'll see.
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