By Staff
HARRY POTTER' n Cecilia Lawn, left, Scott Bounds and Regan Bounds clutch their tickets Friday in anticipation of the 3:40 p.m. showing of "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone." Photo by Paula Merritt/The Meridian Star.
By Sheila Blackmon/The Meridian Star
Nov. 17, 2001
Ten-year-old Scott Bounds of Meridian waited impatiently with his brother, sister and friends Friday for their first sighting of characters based on a spectacularly successful series of books.
His mother, Dale Bounds of Meridian, brought six children to see what's been promoted as the movie of the year. Bounds' children also brought along friends, and many, many other families followed suit.
The craze helped account for the sale of more than 1,000 tickets before the 3:40 p.m. showing of "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" at Royal United Artists Bonita Lakes 9 theaters on the movie's opening day.
The blockbuster is based on the first of four fantasy books by English writer J. K. Rowling.
Regan Bounds, 7, said she doesn't know what the movie is about, but she wants to see because people have been talking about it.
Ten-year-old Chad Bounds said he read the book but the movie will still hold surprises for him.
Scott Bounds said he never guessed Harry Potter would make it into movies, but he loves the books.
He said he read the 734-page "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" in 21/2 days. He wanted to see Harry's first movie the second he saw the previews.
Other children were equally excited about the film, which is showing nine times a day on two screens. The rotation opens about 650 seats every two hours.
Chris Courtney, 10, said he thinks it will be exciting. Seven-year-old Cecilia Lawn said she hasn't even read to page 2 of the book, and she thinks the movie may be a little scary but she can't wait to see it.
Selling 1,006 tickets to a movie by the 3:40 p.m. showing on opening day is "phenomenal," theater owner Monte Royal said. He said tickets have been on sale at www.bonitalakesmall.com and at the theater for two weeks.
Not since "Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace" has there been this much hype about a movie, Royal said, adding that he thinks Harry will easily surpass Star Wars.
Sheila Blackmon is a staff writer for The Meridian Star. Call her at 693-1551, ext. 3275, or e-mail her at sblackmon@themeridianstar.com.