Movie Natters: March 13, 2006 Archive

Cultural differences

Posted at 5:17 PM on March 13, 2006 by Euan Kerr (4 Comments)

"We have really everything in common with America nowadays, except, of course, language." Oscar Wilde

I have twice been stopped short in recent days by friends who didn't know what I was talking about when I used the term "fleapit." It's clearly a function of my age and origins. A "fleapit" is a British term used to describe a slightly rundown moviehouse. It's a functional, if not entirely honorable appellation.

My parents often told a story about going to a local moviehouse when they were courting to catch a matinee. (This would have been in the late 1950's.) The establishment in question was the largest cinema in Glasgow and prided itself in having "divans" rather than seats. In fact if you spent a little extra, you could get yourself a "Golden Divan" which was akin to a sofa, and perfect for two.

My folks decided to splurge and got the golden ticket, then settled down to watch the movie, in what was an otherwise deserted auditorium. Soon after the film started they heard a strange noise. It was a repeated "fft-fft-fft" sound, which seemed to be getting louder. A figure slowly emerged out of the darkness, working his way up and down the rows. It was a man pumping what the locals called a "flit-gun," a pesticide sprayer.

Eventually he got to the row where my parents still sat in amazement. They were even more amazed as he just kept going, spraying them as if they weren't there. Truly it was the golden age of cinema!

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