This must be some kind of a cultural thing

I'll admit it -- I've not been in NY very long, so maybe this is just how free movies work here (they work differently in other cities I've lived in when they've actually shown free movies, at least). Or maybe it has something to do with the fact that In-Style magazine was one of the bigger sponsors...but, I went to the fabulous Rockefeller "drive-in" movie thing at around 8:40 last night. Show starts at dusk. And they had fenced off the entire square where the theater screen was located. Okay, fine, good crowd control technique. Each gate was covered by a Rock-center-a-cop. Fine, too. But, in the middle, where all of the chairs were located...there were empty seats. And the rock-cops weren't letting anyone into them. A full 45 minutes before the show would even start. I asked one of the guards when you needed to arrive to get seated. He said, "About 8." For a show that starts at 9:15ish. Sure, it's free...but maybe the saying "time is money" hasn't made it to these here parts. Sitting around for 1:15 to see a free movie. Well, I guess you get what you pay for. I was a little discouraged, though, if I'd planned to make an evening of it, I could've graced the lower deck restaurant with my presence. But, as the security guard noted, "Then you'd be paying for the movie." Tomorrow night is Danny Deckchair which I really, really, really tried to convince myself that it would be a fun movie to see (if it were free). But, I'm afraid the trailer and the premise is forcing my opinion in completely the opposite direction. I'm sure it's going to be wonderful, really (okay, no, actually it looks pretty dreadfully dull. And like a rip-off of a Bloom County cartoon from 20 years ago). If you don't mind devoting your entire evening to watching it. Good luck!