Numbered among the various places we practiced mischief was the Shine’s Theatre in Norwalk. We spent a lot of time there, especially Sunday afternoons. The reason for this was most every Sunday afternoon, when our dad was still alive until we were 12, we would go to our maternal grandparents house at 145 Whittlesey Ave. in Norwalk. Of course, as soon as we got there Tim and I started “raising Cain” (AND Abel). My continual hyperactivity would immediately kick in with the excitement of being at “Ma’s” house. (For some reason all of us kids always called her “Ma” rather than Grandma). After a very short time EVERYONE would say, “How would you boys like to go to the show ”!  We NEVER had any problem with the 25 cents admission or extra money for theatre treats once there. It seemed the donations poured in for us from EVERYONE! We would then walk the approximately ¼ mile or so distance to the theatre on East Main St. They usually showed “kid type” movies, which we enjoyed. One time, in their hurry to “get us out to the show,” they didn’t bother to check the paper to see what was playing. In fact, I doubt they EVER did, since most of the time it was “kid type” movies. On one occasion, we had an unpleasant surprise. On that Sunday afternoon, they went through the usual routine of “getting us to the show” ASAP. When we got there, instead of the usual “kiddie fare,” the movie playing was “It Came from Beneath the Sea.” This was the usual American International late 50’s formula of an A-Bomb turning various animals and reptiles into giant mutant, mean beasts with an attitude! This time it was a giant squid that had overdosed on radioactivity and had grown to colossal size. Naturally, it was really ticked off at its fate and took it out on the nearest city. That movie scared the “daylights” out of us! Of course, now, when I can catch this movie on AMC, etc., it’s amusing to the see the crude “special effects,” but when you’re around 9 or 10, it was all too real! I doubt they would have sent us to see this movie at our tender ages had they known what was playing. Instead to “get rid of us”, they would have probably given us a lot of money (from all the adults gleefully and generously contributing), and sent us walking to “Joe and Ed’s” general store to buy “novelties”. Usually, for a normal “kid movie” we had a great way to have fun during the movie. We always made sure at least one of us had an “unbreakable pocket comb.” At age 11 or so, this was CERTAINLY NOT for hair grooming; rather, we used the comb for launching various things throughout the darkened theatre. Since we had a lot of extra money to spend on “junk” such as popcorn, candy, etc., we had plenty of ammunition. We used to start out by throwing popcorn at the kids in the seats in front of us, but we usually got “nailed” by the flashlight toting mean ushers who stealthily patrolled with random rounds in their black outfits. I remember the sheer terror just as we tossed some popcorn in front of us of getting caught in the flashlight beam from the stealthy usher! They usually just yelled at us to “cut it out or we’ll kick you out of the theatre “!  We eventually evolved our “super clandestine ultimate stealthy weapon” to foil even the most astute usher with a flashlight. We would buy popcorn, candy, and DOTS, one of my favorite “sweetie”! I used to eat them by the boxful not only at the theatre, but also anywhere else! I still crave them, but unfortunately, they tend to pull out my fillings, so I rarely indulge unless my 6 month dental cleaning and check are relatively near. Just before it, I usually buy a few boxes and gorge myself, then when the inevitable filling(s) get pulled out, I get them replaced fairly soon! For ammunition for our stealthy weapon, I always bought “Black Crows” because I never cared for those too much and I didn’t want to waste any coveted DOTS. We would take a “Black Crow” gumdrop and shoot it with the comb. It would be propelled a long way both vertically and horizontally! We were probably the very first to realize the power and velocity a “Black Crow” could achieve by pulling back a comb and launching it! When the theatre wasn’t too full, it would hit the top of the metal-rimmed seats with a “BINGGGOINK”! Although, based on our previous behavior, the theatre management and all the ushers strongly suspected it was US who were launching the gumdrops that caused so much consternation among patrons and management alike. However, we never got “caught in the act” because we would hold the comb in our laps while keeping our eyes on the movie screen, then launching the small black projectile! We even had an “emergency, contingency plan in the even we were in imminent danger of being caught. If we saw the darkened outline of an usher sneaking toward us, we would very carefully and quickly toss the box of “Black Crows” under the seat ahead of us; to this day, we still grin and feel a little smug as a result of yet another successful execution of unabated and undetected mischief!