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<DIV><FONT face=Impact size=6><U>AVON THEATRE NEWS & VIEWS</U></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Georgia><STRONG><FONT color=#0000ff><EM><FONT
face=Papyrus>Showtimes, Programs, Erudition and Miscellaneous
Folderol</FONT></EM> </FONT></STRONG><FONT face=Papyrus><BR><FONT face=Impact
size=5>WEEK OF FRIDAY, <FONT color=#ff0000>APRIL 11th</FONT> thru
THURSDAY, <FONT color=#ff0000>APRIL 17th</FONT> ONLY!! <BR><FONT
face="Comic Sans MS" size=3><EM>"All of Life's Answers are in the
Movies!"</EM></FONT></FONT> </FONT></FONT><FONT face="Comic Sans MS"><EM>
<STRONG><FONT size=2>-</FONT></STRONG></EM><STRONG><FONT size=2>Prof.Skippito
Hustonovitch</FONT></STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Georgia><FONT face=Papyrus><FONT face=Arial size=4>Check out our
cool website at: </FONT><A href="http://www.TheAvon.com"><FONT face=Arial
size=4>www.TheAvon.com</FONT></A><FONT face=Arial size=4> </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Tahoma size=2></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Impact size=5>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#ff0000 size=4><STRONG>OPENING FRIDAY:
<BR><FONT color=#000000><U>BELLA</U> (PG13) <FONT size=2>LIMITED ENGAGEMENT!! A
MOVIE YOU WILL RAVE ABOUT!!<BR><BR></FONT></FONT></STRONG></FONT><FONT
face="Comic Sans MS" color=#ff0000 size=4><STRONG>CONTINUING:</STRONG><FONT
color=#000000><FONT
face="Rockwell Extra Bold"><STRONG>
</STRONG><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#ff0000><BR><STRONG><FONT
color=#000000><U>LEATHERHEADS</U> (PG13) <FONT size=2>GEORGE CLOONEY
- RENEE ZELLWEGER!!</FONT></FONT> <BR><FONT color=#000000 size=2><FONT
size=4><U>NIM'S ISLAND</U> (PG)</FONT> JODIE FOSTER - GERARD BUTLER - ABIGAIL
BRESLIN!!<BR><BR><FONT size=4><FONT color=#ff0000>COMING SOON FOR SPRING &
SUMMER!!<BR></FONT><FONT color=#000000>APRIL 25th: BABY MAMA<BR>MAY 2nd: IRON
MAN<BR>MAY 9th: WHAT HAPPENS IN VEGAS...<BR>MAY 22nd: INDIANA JONES 4<BR>MAY
30th: SEX AND THE CITY<BR>JUNE 13th: THE HAPPENING<BR>JUNE 20th: GET
SMART<BR>JULY 18th: THE DARK KNIGHT<BR>JULY 18th: MOMMA MIA!<BR>JULY 25th: THE
X-FILES SEQUEL<BR>AUG 2nd: HE'S JUST NOT THAT INTO YOU<BR>AUG. 2nd: THE
MUMMY--Part 3</FONT></FONT></FONT></STRONG></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#ff0000 size=4><FONT color=#000000><FONT
face="Rockwell Extra Bold"><FONT face="Comic Sans MS"
color=#ff0000><STRONG><FONT color=#000000 size=2><FONT size=4><FONT
color=#ff0000><EM><FONT color=#000000>...and more to be announced
soon!!</FONT></EM></FONT></FONT><BR>+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++<BR><FONT
face=Tahoma size=4><U>BELLA</U> (PG13) <FONT size=2>I heard about this movie
many times over the past few months... It even played a sparsely-attended run at
the "other guys" some time back...Then, when Decatur St. Mary's
hospital booked their annual movie fest for their major contributors, and
specifically requested BELLA to be shown,<EM> I started to get
interested</EM>... St. Mary's sponsored an additional showing last Saturday
morning to a sold-out Twins #2, and now I was <EM>REALLY</EM> interested! I
waited to see what people thought of the film, and, let me tell you: <U>They
LOVED IT</U>! Oddly enough, we had a hole on our schedule for the 11th, and I
got the <EM>(hopefully)</EM> brilliant idea to bring in BELLA for one-week-only!
This is a film with heart, folks. It is about love and family and redemption. I
hope you will come and see it for yourself! ONE-WEEK-ONLY (<EM>unless you
come in droves and change my mind about that one
too!).</EM></FONT></FONT></FONT></STRONG><BR><FONT face=Tahoma><FONT
color=#000000><STRONG><U>BELLA</U> (PG13)</STRONG></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Tahoma color=#000000 size=1><STRONG>(Showtimes in brackets are
$5.50 'Bargain Matinees")</STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Tahoma color=#000000 size=4>FRI: (4:00) - 7:00<BR>SAT
& SUN: (1:00) - (4:00) - 7:00<BR>MON, TUES & WED: 6:15<BR></FONT><FONT
size=2>+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++</FONT></STRONG><BR><FONT
face=Tahoma><STRONG><FONT color=#000000><U>LEATHERHEADS</U> (PG13)
</FONT></STRONG></FONT><FONT face=Tahoma color=#000000 size=2><STRONG>What other
George Clooney movie has a visual reference to the Decatur Bears?? The character
Renee Zellweger plays also states she is from "Champaign, Illinois", but we'll
let them toot their own horn... The box-office analysts were buzzing on Monday
that this was not as big at the box-office as had been hoped, and gave the
reason for that as it "skewed to boomers and seniors" as opposed
to the "all-important teenagers and young adults" <FONT
size=3>HELLO????</FONT> Let me tell you, folks: If I have to consider
only the teenagers and young adults as "all important", I am not interested
in doing this any longer, see? THE AVON considers<EM> </EM><U><FONT
size=3><EM>ALL</EM></FONT> OUR CUSTOMERS</U> as "all important", and
that ethos does not necessarily fit into the pigeon hole these
Hollywood idiots think we should be concentrating on... <BR>(Gee, maybe that's
why we did so much better on LEATHERHEADS than the "other guys"?? <EM>'nuff
said?)<BR></EM>Here is an old-fashion screwball comedy of the kind they don't
make any more! Think Preston Sturges or Frank Capra (if you don't know who they
are, you need to enroll immediately in my Richland film classes in order to save
your immortal soul!) <FONT size=3><BR></FONT></STRONG></FONT><FONT
color=#000000><FONT face=Tahoma size=3><STRONG>See it at THE AVON, where we
<U>appreciate</U> the 'boomers and seniors!<BR></STRONG></FONT><STRONG><FONT
face=Tahoma><U>LEATHERHEADS</U> <FONT size=2> </FONT><FONT
size=4>(PG13)</FONT></FONT><FONT face=Georgia size=2> </FONT></STRONG></FONT>
<DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Tahoma color=#000000 size=1><STRONG>(Showtimes in brackets are
$5.50 'Bargain Matinees")</STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Tahoma color=#000000 size=4>FRI: (5:00) -
8:00</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Tahoma color=#000000 size=4>SAT & SUN: (2:00) -
(5:00) - 8:00</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Tahoma color=#000000 size=4>MON thru THURS:
7:00</FONT></STRONG></DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Tahoma
size=4></FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT
size=2>+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++</FONT></STRONG><BR><FONT
color=#000000><STRONG><FONT face=Tahoma><U>NIM'S ISLAND</U> (PG) <FONT
size=2>Man, is this one a lot of fun! It's about time that Jodie Foster
lightened up a bit, and Gerard Butler is such a huge up-and-comer, I think the
ladies would watch him in virtually anything! Add to that Abigail Breslin (that
"Little Miss Sunshine" girl) and you have all it takes for a great time at
the movies for the entire family! This has elements of ROMANCING THE STONE, in
that it involves an author who writes adventure novels, but is not in the least
connected to her two-fisted character. This was #2 at the national
box-office last week, but it should have been
#1!!</FONT></FONT></STRONG></FONT><STRONG><FONT face=Tahoma color=#000000
size=2>(So, should have LEATHERHEADS!)</FONT></STRONG> </DIV><FONT
color=#000000><STRONG><FONT face=Tahoma></FONT></STRONG></FONT></DIV><FONT
color=#000000><STRONG></STRONG></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT><FONT
face="Comic Sans MS" color=#ff0000 size=4><FONT color=#000000><FONT
face="Rockwell Extra Bold"><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#ff0000><FONT
color=#000000><STRONG></STRONG></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV><FONT
face=Impact size=5><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#ff0000 size=4><FONT
color=#000000><FONT face="Rockwell Extra Bold"><FONT face="Comic Sans MS"
color=#ff0000><FONT
color=#000000><STRONG></STRONG></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Georgia><FONT face=Georgia><FONT face=Papyrus><FONT face=Impact
size=5><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" size=4><STRONG><U><FONT face=Tahoma>NIM'S
ISLAND </FONT></U><STRONG><FONT size=4><FONT face=Tahoma>(PG)<BR><FONT
size=1><STRONG>(Showtimes in brackets are $5.50 'Bargain
Matinees")</STRONG></FONT></FONT> <FONT face=Tahoma><BR></FONT><FONT face=Tahoma
size=4><STRONG>FRI: (4:15) - 7:15<BR>SAT & SUN: (1:15) - (4:15) -
7:15<BR>MON, TUES & WED: 6:30<BR>THURS:
7:15<BR></STRONG></FONT></FONT></STRONG></STRONG></FONT><FONT
face="Comic Sans MS" color=#ff0000
size=4>+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#ff0000><FONT size=4><FONT
color=#000000><U><STRONG><FONT face=Tahoma>CHARLTON HESTON
R.I.P.</FONT></STRONG><BR></U><STRONG><FONT face=Tahoma size=3><FONT
size=2>BEN-HUR changed my life.<BR>I remember in 1959, my late-father
took our family up to Chicago so my Mom and sister, Stephani, could do
some shopping, and he and I could have some father/son bonding... We went
to the enormous Michael Todd Theater to see BEN-HUR in its original roadshow
presentation. <BR>Important movies used to be "hard ticket" attractions,
and played for a few months in the big cities before making their way
to towns like Decatur...<BR>
<DIV><FONT color=#ff0000><FONT color=#000000><STRONG><FONT face=Tahoma
size=2><EM>It was right then and there that my love for the "epic" movie was
forever born!<BR></EM>Seeing that spectacular panorama on the huge screen,
with the cast of thousands, and the gargantuan sets (that were NOT
computer generated) not only profoundly affected me <EM>then</EM>, but has
carried over <U>to this day</U> in the way in which we promote the "biggest
screens" at the
Avon.</FONT></DIV></STRONG></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></STRONG></FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#ff0000><FONT size=4><FONT
color=#000000><STRONG><FONT face=Tahoma size=2><BR>-And, BEN-HUR has been
in my "Top Ten" favorite movies ever
since!<BR><BR></FONT></STRONG></FONT></FONT></FONT><FONT color=#ff0000><FONT
color=#000000><STRONG><FONT face=Tahoma size=2>Today, my 12 seat basement
theater <EM>(ironically in the same house where I lived as a kid back
in 1959 when I first saw BEN-HUR)</EM> boasts several large posters from not
only the 1959 BEN-HUR, but the 1926 silent version, and the
Victorian-era stage-play from the pre-movie
days.<BR></FONT></STRONG></FONT></FONT><FONT face="Comic Sans MS"
color=#ff0000><FONT size=4><FONT color=#000000><STRONG><FONT face=Tahoma
size=2><BR>CHARLTON HESTON, to me, was the <EM>epitome</EM> of the hard-chiseled
legendary hero!<BR></FONT></STRONG></FONT></FONT></FONT><FONT
face="Comic Sans MS" color=#ff0000><FONT size=4><FONT
color=#000000><STRONG><FONT face=Tahoma size=2><BR>Heston's mammoth 1961
movie EL CID is another of my "Top Ten"
favorites...<BR></FONT></STRONG></FONT></FONT></FONT><FONT face="Comic Sans MS"
color=#ff0000><FONT size=4><FONT color=#000000><STRONG><FONT face=Tahoma
size=2>His portrayal of Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar ("El Cid"), medieval Spain's
greatest national hero, elevated his ability to make historic icons
into flesh and blood, yet larger-than-life people, to an art that has <EM>never
been equaled</EM>.</FONT></STRONG></FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#ff0000><FONT size=4><FONT
color=#000000><STRONG><FONT face=Tahoma
size=2></FONT></STRONG></FONT></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#ff0000><FONT size=4><FONT
color=#000000><STRONG><FONT face=Tahoma size=2>So many memories from that
silver screen...</FONT></STRONG></FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#ff0000><FONT size=4><FONT
color=#000000><STRONG><FONT face=Tahoma size=2>-Heston as Moses in THE TEN
COMMANDMENTS stretching that staff out over the Red Sea as he intones in
that magnificent voice "Behold his mighty hand!", and the waters part with a
divine power...</FONT> </STRONG></FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#ff0000><FONT size=4><FONT
color=#000000><STRONG><FONT face=Tahoma size=2>-Heston as Judah Ben-Hur rowing
into battle as a galley slave, determined to not show any exertion as his
Roman captors test him...</FONT></STRONG></FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#ff0000><FONT size=4><FONT
color=#000000><STRONG><FONT face=Tahoma size=2>-Heston as El Cid forcing King
Alfonso VI to swear on a huge bible that he had no
complicity in his brother's murder...<BR>-Heston as Michelangelo, in THE AGONY
& THE ECSTASY, stubbornly taking his own sweet time to paint the
Sistine Chapel ceiling while an imperious Pope Julius II rants and
raves down below the scaffolding...<BR>-Heston as Andrew "Old
Hickory" Jackson, a role he would play twice; once in 1953's THE
PRESIDENT'S LADY and again in 1958's THE BUCCANEER, silently contemplating and
fondly remembering his recently dead wife in THE PRESIDENT'S
LADY...<BR> </FONT></STRONG></FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#ff0000><FONT size=4><FONT
color=#000000><STRONG><FONT face=Tahoma size=2>The only other
possible actor working today who is capable of playing such historic
figures is Russell Crowe, yet even though his talents are staggering,
he is a far cry from having Heston's unique talent for portraying
towering characters with such verisimilitude.<BR><BR><EM>Not to mention Heston
was an Illinois boy!<BR></EM><BR>Farewell, Mr.
Heston.<BR></FONT></STRONG></FONT></FONT></FONT><FONT face="Comic Sans MS"
color=#ff0000><FONT size=4><FONT color=#000000><STRONG><FONT face=Tahoma
size=2>We won't see your like again on this
earth...</FONT></STRONG></FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#ff0000><FONT size=4><FONT
color=#000000><STRONG><FONT face=Tahoma size=2>But we will have you forever in
the movies!</DIV></FONT>
<DIV></STRONG></FONT></FONT><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#ff0000
size=4>+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++<BR><EM>Here is
the official announcement of Avon pals Troy & HavenTaylor's new store
in downtown Decatur!<BR></EM></FONT></FONT><B><FONT face=Arial size=4><U>Prairie
Fire</U> <BR>Grand Opening Celebration April 19! <BR>Join us on Saturday, April
19 for a grand opening day for <U>Prairie Fire</U>, <BR>the new retail
store in downtown Decatur!!<BR>Hours: 12 - 5 PM<BR>228 West Main Street in
downtown Decatur<BR><FONT size=2>(across from the Salvation Army
offices)<BR></FONT>(217) 424-1600<BR>Here's some words about Troy and Haven
Taylor's NEW store:<BR>
<TABLE style="WIDTH: 617px; BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse; HEIGHT: 275px"
cellSpacing=3 cellPadding=3 width=617 border=0>
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD><FONT face=Arial><STRONG>Our new retail store, Prairie Fire, will
officially open for business on Monday, April 14! Feel free to stop in
anytime and be sure to join us on Saturday, April 19 for our Grand Opening
celebration at the new store! Our open house event will include a book
signing with author Troy Taylor, a drawing for a free gift basket of
special items from the store, samples of some of our gourmet and
hard-to-find dips, salsas and other items, and more. We'll look forward to
seeing you on Saturday, April 19 for this exciting afternoon!</STRONG>
</FONT>
<P><FONT face=Arial><EM><FONT size=4><B>What can you expect to find at
Prairie Fire?</B><BR></FONT></EM><STRONG>* Specialty teas, bulk teas,
organic teas and a selection of tea-related gifts<BR>* Gourmet food items,
including dips, sauces, vinegars and more<BR>* Bulk and packaged herbs
& spices, seasonings and medicinal herbs<BR>* A wide selection of hot
foods, including salsas, spices, sauces & rubs<BR>* Pastas, mixes and
other food items<BR>* Natural soaps and Zum bars from Indigo Wild<BR>* The
complete line of Whitechapel Press books<BR>* Tickets for the Haunted
Decatur Tours<BR>* And much more!
</STRONG></FONT></P></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></FONT></B></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT><STRONG><FONT
face=Tahoma
size=2>******************************************************************<BR><FONT
size=4>BIG NEWS!!!<BR><U>NOW AVAILABLE IN OUR CONCESSION
STAND!!</U></FONT></FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Tahoma>We have promised it for years, and now it is
really happening!</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Tahoma><EM>You can now buy some of our incredible
popcorn flavors pre-bagged!!</EM></FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Tahoma></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Tahoma>Look for the display tree in both of our lobbies
for...</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4><EM><STRONG><FONT face=Tahoma>The return of
</FONT></STRONG><STRONG><FONT face=Tahoma><U>MR. POPCORN</U>!! <FONT size=2>(Sue
and I's Gourmet Popcorn line from Oregon in
1985)</FONT></FONT></STRONG></EM></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Tahoma>Try some of our wild flavors and <U>get
hooked</U> on such delicious <EM>unlikely</EM> popcorns
as...</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Tahoma>GREEN APPLE POPCORN</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Tahoma>CHOCOLATE POPCORN<BR>VANILLA
POPCORN</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Tahoma>WATERMELON POPCORN<BR>COCONUT CREME
POPCORN<BR>TOFFEE POPCORN<BR>BANANA SPLIT POPCORN <FONT size=1>(Mix of Banana,
Chocolate, Vanilla, Strawberry and Cherry)<BR></FONT><FONT size=3>ORANGE
POPCORN<BR>BLUE RASPBERRY POPCORN</FONT></FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Tahoma><FONT size=3>THE AVON'S OLD-FASHIONED CARAMEL
CORN<BR>...and our popular CHEEZE POPCORN FLAVORS!!<BR><BR>AVAILABLE <U>ONLY</U>
AT THE AVON THEATRE!!<BR><FONT size=2>(and soon to be available at the new store
"Prairie Fire" too!)</FONT></FONT></FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Tahoma><FONT size=3><FONT size=2><FONT size=3><EM>And,
yes, folks: <FONT color=#ff0000>It is made right on the premises
too!!<BR></FONT></EM></FONT>+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++<BR><BR></FONT></FONT><FONT
face="Lucida Handwriting" size=4><EM>Come See Me
Soon!</EM></FONT></FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=+0><FONT face="Lucida Handwriting" size=4><EM>I'll Be
Watching for YOU!!</EM></FONT></FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=+0><FONT face="Lucida Handwriting"
size=4><EM></EM></FONT></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Tahoma><FONT size=3><FONT size=2><FONT
face="Lucida Handwriting" size=5><EM>-Skip Huston</EM></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV></FONT></FONT></FONT></STRONG>
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