Well, dear readers, people are funny. Yes, you heard it here, dear readers, people are funny. I have spoken of a phenomenon that occurs with people, where they will swear on their life that they remember doing something vividly when they are provably misremembering. And when you point this out, they get angry and call you names and double, triple, and quadruple down on their false memories. The first time I became aware of this phenomenon was probably two decades ago with a large number of people swearing on a stack of bibles that when they saw Back to the Future during its original run that at the end it said: To be continued. Well, no, because no one knew there’d be a sequel at that point. They ADDED that title card to the home video releases. But you cannot dissuade these people, and they get vicious, obnoxious, and rude if you try. The filmmakers said no print of the film ever had “To be continued” on it. They called the filmmakers liars. It’s unbelievable. This phenomenon of false memories has played out many times on Facebook and always in threads about the Cinerama Dome in Los Angeles. It’s shocking how often it happens with the Dome. The most amusing group are the people who swear they saw How the West Was Won there during its original run. They swear on the lives of their children. They will not hear that they didn’t. They will name call, they will double down, they will stomp their feet because they remember it as if it was yesterday. The only teensy-weensy little problem with it is that the Cinerama Dome wasn’t BUILT when How the West Was Won opened and when it WAS finally built and opened in November of 1963, the first attraction was It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, which played the for something like sixty-six WEEKS. But these people will still not hear of it. They damn well saw it there even if it wasn’t built. You show them photos of the Warner Cinerama on Hollywood Boulevard, where it did play. You can see it clearly on the marquee. You show them tickets and ads and they will still argue and tell you you’re full of it.
Then there are the people who SWEAR they saw 2001: A Space Odyssey there during its original run. You tell them, no, you saw it at the Warner Cinerama on Hollywood Boulevard. They scream, they shout, they call you names, they KNOW where they saw it in 1968. You provide a photograph of the Warner Cinerama from the premiere of 2001. You provide them with ads and a premiere invitation – they will not budge. Same with Jaws – the KNOW they saw it at the Dome. Only they didn’t, they saw it at the Pix if they saw it in Hollywood. You show them a photo of the marquee, the ads – well, they KNOW they saw it there. Now, to be fair, 2001 did play at the Dome in 1974 in a reissue. Jaws played there in a reissue. But they’re not talking about that, they’re talking about the original runs. Anyway, all that is a preamble to yet another Dome thread that showed up a couple of days ago. In the thread, there are the usual suspects who swear they saw some film there that never played there, and I correct them as I always do and most never even respond. Someone posted they saw Mary Poppins there. Only it never played there, it played the Grauman’s Chinese. Anyway, some guy posts that the first movie he saw there was when he was taken at six years of age to see The Sound of Music. Well, no, he didn’t. He saw it where everyone else saw it – the Fox Wilshire. Well, here’s how it went. I responded thusly: “No, you didn’t see it there, you saw it at the Fox Wilshire, where it played for over a year. It never played the Dome.” To which he responded “nope. Saw it at the Cinerama domre. Remember it well.” (I’m leaving his typos as they were.
To which I responded, “I love when people double down on their memories that simply aren’t correct. Let me say it again – if you’re talking about the original release in 1965, it played the Fox Wilshire for well over a year, then it moved to the Carthay Circle. So many have false memories about what they saw at the Dome – and everyone doubles down on them when shown the PROOF. So, I’m going to show you the PROOF and we’ll see what you do. In 1965, Mad World ended its run in mid-February. On February 17th, The Greatest Story Ever Told opened and played for forty-seven weeks. It was followed by Battle of the Bulge, which opened on December 16, 1965 and played twenty-seven weeks. In 1966, it played Khartoum and Grand Prix. So, you see, you did not see it at the Dome. As I said, it never EVER played the Dome. Attached find the ad for The Sound of Music’s opening – tell me what theater it’s playing at.” (I provided the opening day ad). To which he responded, “calm down Bruce. Its not that big of a deal but I sure seem to remember seeing Sound of Music at the Cinerama Dome. Are thrse two theatres real close together?” To which I responded, “I just like to keep the record straight. Dome is in Hollywood – Fox Wilshire was on Wilshire a block east of La Cienega. I saw The Sound of Music there about twelve times over its long run.” I then explain the whole thing about the Dome and false memories and end with, “I think the real point is you loved the movie and on that you’ll never get an argument from me.”
That should have been the end of it, but of course, it wasn’t. He responded, “I think you worry too much aboit this subject. Enjoy your day.” To which I responded, “In other words, it’s just impossible to say “Oops, I misremembered.” Hence, Facebook. I enjoy all my days.” To which he responded, “I will crown you the king of knowledge about what movies played at the Cinerana Dome !!” To which I responded, “Nah, there are many of us who know. In fact, there’s a lovely list which is not hard to find of every movie that ever played there, when, and how long. I think at this point we have a dead horse.” That should have been the end of it. But of course, it wasn’t. Meantime, some woman chimes in that she saw it at the Dome and researched it. I believe I know exactly who this troll is and from her two other posts (she responds to nobody but me) I think we ALL know exactly who it is. In any case, and this is where we go to loony land, he responds, “since your bring such a shithead about this stupid iissue I reasearchef it. The Sound of Music played at the Cineramadome beginning on 3-2-1965 as part of the initial theartrical release. Look it up on google. Apologies ?” Of course, unlike me, he provides no proof of this research. And according to his Facebook page, he’s a LAWYER. I then have to stop this and in the course of my response you’ll see exactly what his “research” was. “Okay, you’ve now entered completely insane territory. So, I’m going to now show you just how wrong you are and then YOU can apologize for being a merdehead. For a lawyer, you’re not very good at presenting evidence, which I am. First up, here is the ad announcing the PREMIERE of The Sound of Music, which was NOT playing anywhere on March 2, 1965, except perhaps in your fervid imaginings. The Sound of Music opened exclusively in Los Angeles on March 10 at the Fox Wilshire. Here is the ad. Then, in the next post, since I can’t do two photos in one post, I will give you the entire page, dated top left as March 2, 1965. On the right, you will see the listing for Pacific Theaters and you will clearly see what is playing at the Dome – The Greatest Story Ever Told. Here’s the premiere ad – and NOTE THE DATE AND THE THEATER.” I provide the ad, then continue in a subsequent post, “And now – drum roll – the L.A. Times from March 2, 1965, dated top left and the Dome listing on the right playing The Greatest Story Ever Told. Now about those apologies, I just know you’ll be man enough to admit you were wrong. Also, you say you “reasearchef” it – show it to us, big guy, show us that “reasearchef” and where it came from. We’ll all wait. Never mind, you silly, silly man – you Googled it and got an AI response that is complete BS and even admits it at the bottom by saying there is no definitive proof that it ever played the Dome. How ridiculous you are. I said at the start of this, that people will double down on their mistaken memories and rather die than admit they were wrong. I have given you irrefutable proof three times now, bud. I’ll now wait for you to behave like an actual human being and apologize.”
A day goes by, but he can’t stop. “Sorry but I clearly remember going with my parents to see a showing of The Sound of Music at the Pacific Cineramadomr. I was about 6 My search showed that tge Sound of Music was shown at gge Cineramadome in March of 1965. Not sure why I would remembrr it so clearly if it didnt happen. You believe what you eant to believe.” The woman troll comes back and if there was any doubt who it was it ended with her posting that she also saw 2001 there. Put on your thinking caps, dear readers, you’ll figure it out. I responded, “I believe FACTS, which I have provided you three times. What I don’t believe is Google’s AI responses, which are usually completely wrong. All the AI response said is yes, some people remember seeing it at the Dome, but there is NO definitive proof that it ever played there. You were six. And you remember incorrectly, and there’s no shame in it as long as you acknowledge the FACTS. You think the LA Times is lying? You think Pacific Theaters is LYING about The Greatest Story Ever Told playing there? You think the two ads for The Sound of Music opening at the Fox Wilshire are LYING? I said it before and I’ll say it again – not only do people double down when they’re presented with irrefutable proof, they’d rather die than admit they were wrong, which is why you haven’t apologized. I vividly remember seeing The High and the Mighty and The Tender Trap at the Village Theater – VIVIDLY. Like it was yesterday. Guess what? Neither film ever played there – they both played at the Picwood Theater about four miles south. It happens. Now, be a good fellow and give me the apology you demanded of me when you called me a “shithead.” You’re a charmer.”
He can’t stop. “found 4 other people in the comments about the Cinerama Dome who saw Sound of Music there. i guess its some sort of group delusion. Sorrybut you are wrong. Stubborn, but wrong.” I respond, reiterating all that I’ve said before, followed by, “If I posted the LA Times listings for the entire year and change Sound of Music was at the Wilshire and every single day’s listing of The Greatest Story Ever Told while IT played the Dome. You say you saw it in March of 1965 and I have shown you that you didn’t. Do you think the LA Times created some conspiracy just for you and listed the Fox Wilshire for The Sound of Music and the Dome for The Greatest Story Ever Told? Just to fool you? I can never believe that anyone is this ignorant and yet here you are, proving me wrong. Stubborn? Let me introduce you to this marvelous thing called a mirror. And I’ve seen exactly ONE other person say they saw it there and she’s misremembering just as you are. You’re both living in Fantasyland. At this point, I’d say you were just trolling and trying to annoy. I’ve already had five people private message me about your idiocy, shocked at how a human person can see PROOF in front of their eyes and still deny it. So, I’ll tell you what, lawyer. YOU provide one iota of evidence, real evidence like I’ve provided, not some idiotic Google AI crap – surely if The Sound of Music played the Dome you’d be able to find an ad for it – a photo of the theater with it playing there. But guess what? YOU CAN’T because it doesn’t exist. Whereas I have provided newspapers of the era that are DATED as to what played where. And here, just to irritate you further, enjoy this video from the premiere on March 10, 1965, of the premiere of The Sound of Music. You’ll see exactly where it was playing and even hear the narrator say it – in fact, it’s the first thing out of his mouth. This was an exclusive roadshow release that played a single theater in LA for well over a year – and the theater in which it played is the one in this video. Deny THAT.” And I put a period on it with, “And then enjoy this from the Dome at the same time. “”The Greatest Story Ever Told” (1965), an epic religious film about the life of Jesus of Nazareth, had its West Coast premiere at the Cinerama Dome in Los Angeles on February 17, 1965. It opened two days after its world premiere at the Warner Cinerama Theatre in New York City. The film remained at the Cinerama Dome for a 43-week run.” Opened less than a MONTH before The Sound of Music and played for 43 weeks. Do you think they snuck in The Sound of Music for one day when little Jimmy saw it?”
That’s where it currently stands. We’ll see if he’s foolish enough to try and continue this nonsense.
Well, that was exhausting, but a shining example of – People Are Funny. Anyway, it won’t take much longer to wrap up these there notes and get them posted. Yesterday was a day. I ultimately got eight hours of non-consecutive sleep, I was mostly lazy, I didn’t really watch much of anything, other than some amusing YouTube stuff and some irritating YouTube stuff. I had Chinese food for lunch – ate less than half of each thing I got – cashew chicken and string beans. Took three pills. For my evening snack, I had small sides of mac and cheese and coleslaw from Popeye’s. That’s really about it.
Today, I’ll try to be up by ten, maybe earlier. I’ll hopefully do some banking, come home, place the book order, and then I’ll continue helping a friend conform her manuscript into something my designers can work with. Whatever formatting they did cannot be undone easily. I Googled, figured out the problem but the only way to fix it is to go page by page. Can’t do it globally. What I could do globally was re-conform the basics of the document, but I have to get rid of all the spaces she put in rather than just going to the next paragraph. Just weird. She’s a nice person and while it’s kind of a pain to do, I can’t give the designers something that will make them tear out their hair and probably up the cost. They can take me for a nice dinner. I’ll eat something light, then at some point I’ll watch, listen, and relax.
The rest of the week is more of that, barstools are now arriving either Tuesday or Wednesday and as soon as I know which, I’ll reschedule the assembly people for the following day, presuming there’s a time when they’re available.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, try to be up by ten or earlier, hopefully do banking, place the book order, conform a manuscript, eat, and then watch, listen, and relax. Today’s topic of discussion: Have you ever run into hard-headed people who insist on something they’re wrong about, and no matter how much you correct them, they won’t budge? And if so, how do you deal with it? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, as I reiterate that people are funny.