I enjoy a good watermelon every now and then. I’ve even competed in a Dirty Dash race carrying a watermelon as a throw back to Dirty Dancing’s, “I carried a watermelon” scene {side note: watermelons are HEAVY!}. They are the perfect summer snack, great to bring to BBQs and delicious when grown in a garden. BUT, clearly I’ve been underutilizing them.
A group of friends used them to sneak some cheap snacks into the movie theater. They chopped the melons in half, strapped them to their bellies, faked a pregnancy and then settled in to enjoy their juicy contraband. That seriously happened. I’m not making it up.
Don’t get me wrong, I’ve been guilty of sneaking a box of Milk Duds that I picked up at Target for $1.00 to avoid the $5-a-box movie theater prices. But a freakin watermelon?! C’mon now. That’s either an example of going to the extreme to save a buck or just plain crazy.
What do you think? Totally nuts? Envious that they got to enjoy a watermelon treat in the theater? Would you ever go to this extreme to save money?
~Mavis
Just for the record… I think bringing a watermelon into a movie theater and then leaving it behind for the usher to clean up is ridiculous. Candy is one thing. But a sticky watermelon? Or anything you need a utensil for? Ummm no.
Miriam says
I think that we need to follow the rules when going to the theater, so I usually go without snacks myself, but even if you don’t agree with me, you should agree that the girls should have just cleaned up their mess. Is it so hard to use the trash can and make life easier for the theater employees?
I’ve seen people dump popcorn out of its container and onto the floor because, “It’s their job to clean it up.” Um… Let me go into a library and dump all the books on the floor, go to a nice restaurant and dump my leftovers on the floor, or go to a grocery store and just start dumping things off the shelves because, “It’s their job to clean it up.” Just because they have to deal with it, doesn’t mean that you need to make a mess. Why can’t we simply be courteous?
Sue says
Well when I worked retail I had a customer dump their items on the floor when I wouldn’t let her jump in line in front of other customers. And, although I didn’t witness this, another worker had a customer sweep a whole shelf of stuff on the floor when my friend asked her to stop her kid from pulling stuff off the shelves and dropping it on the floor. The customer actually told her it was her job to pick stuff up. Nothing surprises me any more.
Julia says
I wish places like the movie theater had healthier snacks/food. Not that I would smuggle a watermelon in!! But if I did I’d take the evidence hone with me!! On the same healthier snack note, I wish places that promoted exercise and health didn’t sell junk food. Like the local trampoline parks that sells Dippin Dots and pizza. Even out YMCA has a snack vending machine. When did we as a society get so hungry that we need access to food all the time?
Jannete says
I don’t know Mavis. I think that I ran with a totally different crowd. I can totally see taking a one dollar box of raisinettes or Mike & Ike in lieu of paying a fortune for the same thing at the theater. But a watermelon???? Why not just pocket some trail mix or dried fruit instead? Or — I know this sounds nuts though — just have the melon fest AFTER the movie or perhaps BEFORE the movie? Maybe they were in it for the thrill of not getting caught. Just seems rude and weird to me. I sat in one of the lovely reclining seats at my local movie theater and lost my phone. Two really kind and truly patient young guys helped me find it (yes, it was under the seat). I would NEVER EVER take the clean up crew for granted and certainly I wouldn’t leave a mess. But it takes all kinds to make a world. So, whatever floats your boat, people. Whatever….
Ann says
If theatres would price snacks reasonably, we would not be forced to smuggle snacks. Having shovelled popcorn behind a candy counter while in high school I remember the days of 25 cents a bag. No need to bring a watermelon, just a large tote bag, and do clean up after yourself!
carrie says
I once saw an Asian family eating corn on the cob before the movie started. I think something got missed in the translation.