Pixar Magic

Even though Spencer is only 2 1/2 years old, when the opportunity came to take Spencer to his first movie, better yet his first movie in an actual movie theater, we couldn't say no. Emerson had reserved seats to a morning performance of Wall-E at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood. So far the only media he's been exposed to has been Seasame Street and back-to-back episodes of Word World, a great children's show for those of you who are interested. We weren't sure how he would do in a darkened room with a big screen and an audience around him. To prepare him we read Curious George Goes to a Movie emphasizing the part about staying in your seat, not running up to the projection booth like George.

The El Capitan is very close to Mike's work so he was able to join us for this outing. We arrived at the theater early so we walked over to Grauman's Chinese Theatre . Spencer was more interested in throwing pennies in the fountain than looking at the celebrity handprints and footprints so we headed back to El Capitan. Once inside, we listened to a gentleman play Disney tunes on a gold-painted Wurtlitzer that descended into the floor when it was time for the show to start. The previews confused Spencer a little bit but he seemed enthralled by the dancers in the stage show that followed despite the fact that he doesn't know any Disney characters. Twenty minutes later, an eternity in the life of a toddler, it was finally time for the movie to begin. Wall-E lives up to the hype, at least for older children and adults. The story was a bit over Spencer's head even though Mike and I tried to quietly narrate what was happening. The lack of dialogue in the first part of the movie didn't help matters.

Towards the end of the movie, Mike took Spencer for a diaper change in the bathrooms downstairs. Suddenly, the theatre began to rumble. I presumed, at first, that it was the metro running underneath us. When the shaking continued, I knew it was an earthquake. Over half the audience left the theatre but I stayed put, thinking the building was constructed solidly enough not to crumble on top of us. Luckily for all of us, the theatre stayed intact. The experience left me feeling a bit disconcerted and thinking that I really need to complete our earthquake kit, not that it would have made a difference in the current circumstance since I was miles from home. I felt better when Mike and Spencer were safely back in their seats. Spencer did indeed stay in his seat, as he pointed out to me several times, making it all the way to the end of the movie but conking out in the car on the way home. A memorable morning in more ways than one!