A little bit of PIX

People go to movie theaters to see movies, they usually don't take time to look around the establishment or have a short conversation with an employee. The movie is why they are there but wouldn't it be nice to be able to enjoy the experience completely?

From the first time that you enter the PIX Theater in downtown Albany, you enter an environment not found in bigger theaters. It's warm and inviting and the ambiance is perfected by the style and decor. It's not just a movie theater, it's an experience that you don't get anywhere else.

As you walk through the door, you get the feeling like you’ve entered a different time period. You see photographs of old movie actors and of movie theaters as well. It may be small but it’s inviting.

“I really enjoy working here,” Bonnie Thompson said. She’s worked there since the PIX opened and loves every minute of it.

The concessions were reasonable with non-alcoholic drinks named Marilyn Monroe, Katherine Hepburn, Cary Grant just to name a few. It seems that the past big screen stars still draw movie goers in.

"The theater is nice," John Beck, a local student, said. "The sound is clear and the qualities of the movies are above decent."

Entering the theater you notice that the seating isn’t like the normal seating in a movie theater. It starts with stadium seating and then slopes up near the middle so that each movie goer gets the same enjoyment. When you sit down, you sink into the seat as if you were sitting in a couch.

It’s an experience all of its own. From the drinks to the employees to the atmosphere, it’s a place where people can be comfortable and relax, eat popcorn and enjoy the movie.

                                "Walking into the PIX is like walking into the past"
                                         Photo courtesy of the PIX website, www.albanypix.com


At a Glance:
The CARA Project
History of the PIX building

321 2nd Ave SW
Albany, OR 97321

OFFICE: 541-967-SHOW

SHOWTIMES: 541-926-PIXX

"Burlesque"

Jan 24th	Monday	7:30p
Jan 25th	Tuesday	7:30p
Jan 26th	Wednesday	4:45p & 7:30p
Jan 27th	Thursday	4:45p & 7:30p

History 203: LBCC class brings History to life!

            As Dr. Robert Harrison passes out his class syllabus for the term, students look through it and settle on the last few pages. These pages are the schedule of what will happen each class meeting but there is something students don’t expect to see; names of historical figures.

            Scott Joplin, Alice Paul, Henry Ford, Amelia Earhart, Rachel Carson, and Lt. William Calley- what do they have in common? Of course they are important historical figures but they will also be visiting Dr. Harrison’s History 203 class this term.

            Each student gets to pick a figure to portray from a list that Dr. Harrison puts together. The people come to life as the term goes by, sharing their unique stories and their time in history. 

            One of the places that he got his inspiration from was the t.v. show “Meeting of the Minds.” This show not only inspired the idea but also inspired the name for these interviews.

“I think I always had in the back of my mind the idea of re-creating it,” said Dr. Harrison.

These “Meeting of the Minds” have been appearing in Dr. Harrison’s classes for almost 11 years. The personas that are chosen aren’t the same every term. Dr. Harrison chooses these people partially based on who he would like to meet as well as how historically interesting they are. He also tries to make sure there is a balance of males and females.

After each student picks a persona, they do research so they can present themselves as the historical figure that they decided on. About 3 weeks before their meeting, Dr. Harrison sends questions for each student to answer about their persona.

"It is quite possibly the most inventive major project any teacher at LB assigns." said Travis Watters, who is a current student of Dr. Harrison's.

As the term reaches the third or fourth week, the class gets to have their first “Meeting of the Minds.” The personalities are interviewed and questioned about their parts in history. “Sometimes, guests respond to each other, since I sometimes pair them up on the show, creating a "reunion" show.”


"The most enjoyable part of the meetings is seeing how each person brings life to the historical figure they have spent the last several weeks researching." Watters said.

            Usually the meetings are limited to about 5 guests, which allows time for questions from the audience after Dr. Harrison himself interviews the figures. Bringing these personas to life helps bring history to the classroom.

“These personal stories are really why I love history and love learning about it,” Dr. Harrison said.

            If you see any LBCC students walking around in cloths not of this era, you now know why. Stop and talk to them, you may learn something about history that you hadn’t known before.







At a glance:
"Meeting of the Minds" based on the book called "Famous Lives"
Contact Dr. Harrison: 
541-917-4571
M, W: 10-11 a.m. and 1 to 2 p.m.
T, Th: 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 to 1 p.m.
Friday: 10-11 a.m.     
Other times by appointment
203 South Santiam Hall