Most of the urban crime fighters of the 1970's were maverick loners, like Kojak and Baretta, whose big-screen patron saint was the incorrigibly solitary Dirty Harry Callahan.
More important, theater executives say, they provide another incentive for patrons to watch movies on the big screen.
In truth, even before these new screens came to life, there was a contingent of patrons who did not like video with their orchestra, big screen or not.
That evening, in the garden of a family restaurant called Roots ("No Weapon Please," a sign said on the front door), patrons munched salads and gazed at "Friends" on a big screen.
Garden officials thanked their patrons that night by televising the final innings on the big screen after the Rangers skated to a scoreless tie against the Atlanta Thrashers.
His big screen test awaits.
The big screen flickered.
Earlier this year hordes of cinema patrons around the world watched – eyes agog, mouths agape, nerves shattered – as George Miller's bat-out-of-hell epic Mad Max: Fury Road exploded on to the big screen.
Kiss!" at the big screen.
