GOSHEN —
Harry Potter mania swept across Goshen Thursday. The final installment of the eight-part movie franchise based on the hit books was set to open at midnight last night and people were out in full force to buy their tickets Thursday morning.
According to Linway Cinema assistant manager Billy Schneider, theater staff posted on Facebook when tickets would go on sale and people were lined up to get them before the 11:45 a.m. opening time.
"The line was all the way down to Malibu at one point," Schneider said.
By 12:15 the theater had sold about 230 tickets, according to Schneider. He said the theater has eight total theaters, four each of 3D and 2D screens.
Schneider said the theater would be selling 1,300 tickets but he thought a sellout was unlikely.
"Sell out? I don’t think so," he said. "But who knows? It’s the end of an era."
One group of people included in the line were Stephanie Marsh, 20, of Elkhart, Mary Schneider, 19, of Goshen, and Kristy Camacho, 21, of Goshen and their friends.
The group said they arrived at 10 a.m. to guarantee a spot in line for tickets but when they saw they were the first to show up they grabbed a bite to eat and came back.
The group is anxious to see the final movie, even if it is an end of an era for them.
"I’m so sad," said Marsh about the movie being the last and finishing off the books and movies she grew up reading and watching.
They agreed that this is the end of their childhood in some regards.
"There’s nothing more to look forward to," Mary Schneider said.
But overall, the friends are keeping a positive outlook on the event.
"It’s exciting; the hype and seeing the people dress up and quote the book (at the premiere)," Camacho said.
Marsh said she might dress up but would definitely be carrying her magic wand, which she brought with her to buy her tickets.
"We’ve read the book," she said, "Now we get to see how it looks."
Three Goshen High School sophomores were waiting at the 3-D movie door Thursday evening, wearing Harry Potter T-shirts and their "dark mark" tattoos. Alexis Barton, Brianna Carmona and Zack Graber said they have read all the books and wanted to be first in line to see the final movie, and in 3-D.
"There is something for everyone" in the stories, Barton said. She said she was at the Linway Theater to see the movie Thursday night "because it’s the last one."
"Everything is better in 3-D, " Carmona said. "We waited a long time for this," she said of the second movie based on the last Harry Potter story. "I don’t want the series to end."
Graber, who was wearing his "time turner" around his neck, said he has been waiting a long time to see this episode. He said the last book came out in 2007. He has read the book five times and said he read the final chapters 25 times.
"Each time you read it you catch more," Barton said.
Sam Wineland said, "This is where everything happens," speaking about all the action in this final segment. He said he has been anxious to see this movie since the first part came out.
"I’ve read all the books," Wineland said.
"It’s all going to happen in this movie," agreed Tara Hunt. She said she began waiting in line at the 2-D movie line about 6 p.m. "to get a good seat." A bad seat would be sitting in the front row, she explained.
"Read the books first," said Maria Galindo, Goshen.
The movies are a good representation of the books, Hunt said.
Police: Man Arrested in Etan Patz Disappearance
Hurricane Forecast: 15 Named Storms Expected
NYC Protests: the Revolution Will Be Scripted
Chicago U.S. Attorney Fitzgerald Resigns
Neighbors of Etan Patz's Suspect: It's Shocking
Search Intensifies for Missing Louisiana Woman
Bloomberg: Man Implicates Self in Etan Patz Case
NYPD: Person Implicated in Etan Patz Death
Raw Video: Fire on Nuke-powered Sub in Maine
Illegal Burn Suspected in Nevada Fire
Obama: 'We've Got More Work to Do'
Astrologers Predict Outcome of Presidential Race
Gulf Fishermen Reel From Seafood Troubles
Stuntman Makes Skydive Without Parachute in UK
FAMU Bandmates: Victim Volunteered to Be Hazed
Raw Video: Bride Who Faked Cancer Released
Raw Video: Tornado Appears During Wedding
Raw Video: Passed Out Man Robbed
Inquiry Hears Wider Secret Service Misbehavior
HP to Cut 27,000 Jobs, Save Up to $3.5B
