Not too many Christmases have gone by that I haven't checked in with my old building and loan pal George Bailey and the rest of the gang in Bedford Falls. Yet I'd never seen the Capra classic on the big screen ... until last weekend. What a treat.
The Aero theater was packed to capacity, and the audience applauded with delight for Jimmy Stewart's introduction in the luggage store. Spontaneous applause also broke out when Stewart discovered his mouth was bleeding again and ZuZu's petals had found their way back to his pocket. By the time the end credits rolled, the whole place had erupted into a full-throated, recession-be-damned roar. "Attaboy Clarence!" Christmas spirit in L.A. was alive and well on this night.
I snapped this picture before the show, fully intending, after the movie, to make a real idiot of myself by having Jessica film me reeancting George Bailey's celebratory run down the main drag of Bedford Falls. Alas, the marquee had already been changed by the time I got outside, so the humor slack in this post will have to be taken up by the totally random appearance of the "Mitzva Mobile" at the lower right of the frame.
And in case you're surfing by this blog and need a holiday pick-me-up: Here you go. Merry Christmas!