Base auditorium opens for free movies

See you at the movies

Rachel Trent, from the Peterson Youth Center, hands popcorn and soda to Mrs. Nancy Diel Feb. 1 during free movie nights at the base theater. Sponsored by the 21st Services Squadron, members with access to the base can enjoy free, newly-released movies and discounted snacks and beverages each week. Mrs. Diel is married to Lt. Col. Todd Diel who is assigned to Air Force Space Command. (U.S. Air Force photo/Corey Dahl)

Published Feb. 5, 2008
By Corey Dahl
21st Space Wing Public Affairs

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- Popcorn. Big Screen. Surround Sound.

Opening its doors for movie nights Feb. 1 and 2, Peterson's base auditorium had all the elements of a standard movie theater. Only one thing was missing: the overpriced tickets.

Thanks to the 21st Services Squadron, dozens of Airmen and their families were able to enjoy free showings of recent movies such as "Pirates of the Caribbean 3: At World's End" and "Live Free or Die Hard" over the weekend. Lt. Col. Todd Diel, his wife Nancy and their daughter Mariah were among the families at Feb. 2's matinee and said they were thrilled to have free movies on base.

"It's something the whole family can do that doesn't cost anything," Nancy Diel said. "We think it's great."

Services will continue showing free movies in the auditorium every week, screening family-friendly movies on Saturday afternoons and more adult fare on Wednesday and Saturday nights. The movies will typically be films that have left the movie theatres but have not yet been released on DVD.

Affordable concessions, including popcorn and soda, will be sold by children from the base Youth Center, with proceeds funding future center activities.

If the movies continue to prove popular, the 21st Space Wing has promised to pump more funds into the auditorium to improve the movie viewing experience. Lt. Col. Dwayne Hall, who brought his two children to the movies, said he wouldn't mind that at all.

"This auditorium was originally the base movie theater, and I wouldn't mind seeing it converted back into one," he said. "Movies all the time? That would be great."