Over on Threads, Wil Wheaton was asking about our best movie theatre experiences.

There are a few that I could mention: watching Apocalypse Now while drunk on Southern Comfort; attending my first midnight showing of The Rocky Horror Picture Show (both at the now defunct Broadway Cinema in Hamilton); or the old drive-in theatre we used to go to when I was in uni, or even getting to sit in on daily rushes for a movie that a friend was a technical advisor on…

But I’m going to say my best movie theatre experience involved a Star Trek movie, but not one Wil was in, The Search For Spock.

I was, and to a tempered extent still am, a Trekkie. When The Search for Spock was coming out (in 1984), my core group of friends and I were excited for this continuation of The Wrath of Khan storyline. Of course none of us believed that Spock was (irretrievably) dead. That just wasn’t how Star Trek worked.

I so wanted to see the film immediately, opening Friday night if not before. How before? There was a special showing being held in my city, hosted by one of the local AM radio stations, CHML on Thursday night. I kept trying to win tickets, to the point that at least one of the DJs, I believe it was Paul Bertina (I could be wrong, four decades later), recognized my voice when I called in, and encouraged me to keep trying when I didn’t win.

But no luck, I never won a ticket (each ticket was for two).

So I decided that I knew the time and the place. I’d go down and if any group had an odd number, that might mean they had an extra spot, a seat that was being unused. I stood out front and politely asked any single or group of three or five if they had an extra seat, and if I could accompany them.

Again, I had no luck.

Near screen time, a man came out of the theatre. It was Paul. He’d heard my voice and wanted to confirm who I was. He went in and came out with another man. This man was the one of the higher-ups for the station. He had an extra seat, and I could sit with him as long as I was quiet, respectful, and didn’t disturb his two kids.

I got to see The Search for Spock that night (and amazed my friend group the next day at school). To top if off, on the radio Friday, Paul mentioned about how fun the evening was, and that a die-hard fan, Steve, had been waiting out front, hoping to get a seat, and he had.

And, yeah, Spock lived.