The last movie I remember seeing in this building was Sylvester Stallone’s “Demolition Man” with a bunch of friends from the karate dojo. My most vivid memory of the place was a lady who worked the ticket counter with iron-fisted notoriety. In the early days of the PG-13 rating, she was an unapologetic enforcer of what we kids thought was age discrimination. She was the gatekeeper between those things certain kids wanted to see and what the rules allowed them to see.

While I wasn’t inclined to sneak into movies rated for more mature audiences, I did look extremely young for my age (and still do). That was a problem even for a PG movie; without a parent present, I could have a hard time getting a ticket! Oh, the tribulations of youth.

I was more saddened when the Dakota Twin closed and the building remodeled than I am to see its shell finally coming down. The real tragedy for me was when it ceased serving its purpose as a movie theater, one for which it was solely designed. It wasn’t suited for much of anything else, which is why I believe it sat vacant for so long. Now it will be replaced with something else, but for me the demolition really began many years ago.

By the way…while I was outside my truck looking for a good angle with my camera, my four year old rolled down his window and shot the above photo from his booster seat in my truck. I didn’t have to level it, crop it, or anything aside from a slight color correction. I couldn’t be more proud of my little boy’s knack for photography! I have not taught him anything per se, choosing instead to simply hand him a camera and wait eagerly to see how life appears to him through the viewfinder. It appears he’s a natural!