Electric Mayhem Movie-watching

It's that time of year again. Time for the Christmas specials, that is. More specifically, time for the Muppet Christmas Carol. Ali found that it was playing at the El Campanil Theatre in Antioch. She called to let the owner, Rick, know that the Mayhem wanted to show up for the movie. While it is customary to show up in costume in San Francisco on the opening night of highly anticipated movies, it's probably less prevalent with even time-honored classics like the Muppet Christmas Carol. Thankfully, Rick didn't think us too crazy and allowed us out in public at his theatre. Where children would be! And with free tickets!


There was even press about the event ahead of time.


The movie started at 2pm, but Rick asked us to show up at 1pm to greet our fellow movie-goers and get pictures taken, if anyone were so inclined. It was a little quiet early on, but we did get our first posed picture with a little girl. Her brother declined the photo-op. We waved at a few cars that slowed down as they passed by. Then we went inside the lobby to greet the guests there, after we took a brief tour of the beautifully renovated, eighty-year old theatre. After becoming incorporated as a non-profit organization, it went through a face-lift to reopen in 2004. In the lobby, we stood next to the Christmas tree and a mechanized Santa and Mrs. Claus making out their list. I noticed that Animal was distinctly not on that list. It must have been the 'Naughty' list.


We had a few brave children that came forward to shake hands and introduce themselves at their parents' encouragement. Animal's head got petted several times and some even posed for pictures holding onto Animal's chain. Most were shy though, intimidated by 7-foot tall Muppets. It was fun and fascinating to wonder what the little ones thought of large, stuffed-animal looking creatures. On the one hand, we looked like cuddly Muppets. On the other hand, we were two, three, maybe four times their size. I guess it's akin to the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man in the first Ghostbusters movie without the whole world destroying rampage. One little girl didn't make it into the lobby. She took one look at us through the glass, screamed, and took off running down the street. We thought that was a good time to retire from greeting duty and wave to the people in the theatre.

The movie, for those unfamiliar, was Dickens' Scrooge tale with Michael Caine playing Ebenezer Scrooge. Kermit was Bob Cratchit and Gonzo narrated as Charles Dickens himself. But the most important part of the movie came during the ghost of Christmas past's lesson where the Electric Mayhem, clad in Victorian garb, rocked out Mr. Fozziwig's Christmas party. Highlight of the movie, I tell you.

Afterwards, some of the previously shy kids shed their reluctance to come say hi. Or maybe we looked smaller sitting down. At any rate, we got hugs and escorts and high fives as we all filed back out of the theatre. Having kids standing that closely to us was a bit of a hazard as none of us had visibility directly downwards (blocked by our huge jaws). As a result, I had to make sure to tilt my head down as much as I could before taking a step. Outside, we posed for more pictures and waited until the younger kids were gone before decapitating ourselves and revealing our true identities. Rick invited us back sans costumes for a future show and judging from the line-up coming up, I know we're sure to have a good time then too.