The Sad Fate of Old Style Moviehouses When I first went to Movies in the 1970s and 80s There where Drive-Ins And old style Moviehouses With marquees and lights The names of the Films and stars In big letters. They were each Unique and all Had the aura of age. Built in another Era. I used to love to Go to them And would always Love to see movies In as many different Places always rotating Back to the ones I Loved the most. So many moments Burned in my mind Of action, romance, horror, drama, and later The revelation that Some films were Actually works of art Not just escapist Escapades. Over the years dreaded Shopping malls Had multiplexes Which later Evolved into The freestanding cinemaplexes of Today, some Of which I Actually really Love too. But the old style Movie places Have slowly Vanished. Some sit vacant And abandoned, relics of past times and memories. I at least felt Good that The places Still existed at All. When I saw Them standing there Empty, Lifeless, It made me Smile that at Least the beauty Of their architecture Remained, Ghostly But still alive. But I've seen so Many Get the fatal Kiss of the Wrecking ball And an Empty hole Is all that is left Or something New, invariably Shoddy Wiping out The little beacon That used to Be. I just hope That when I die I go to A place Where i Can go Back in Some time Warp And see movies Again at all The places I Loved, and the Many that I would have Loved But never Even got to See, and Infuse Myself All Their little Glories.