Fans turn out in droves to see latest ‘Twilight’ film

By TOM LAVIS

JOHNSTOWN — Kelly Meenan of Johnstown isn’t your ordinary “Twilight” fan.

The 49-year-old woman wouldn’t let a little thing like surgery stop her from being one of the first in line Thursday to see an exclusive showing of the highly anticipated film “New Moon.”

Following a recent surgery at Magee-Womens Hospital in Pittsburgh, she found herself in Memorial Medical Center’s emergency room Sunday to quell some bleeding she was experiencing.

By 9:30 a.m. Monday, Meenan had her mother drive her to The Tribune-Democrat office to pick up her tickets that she had won in a promotion.

“I’m no teenie, but I am a Twihard fan,” she said. “I have read all four books in the series and ‘New Moon’ is my favorite.”

No one on hand Thursday can say that the women of Johnstown aren’t romantic.

Women, teens and tweens turned out in droves to get the first chance to see the sure-fire hit movie.

The newspaper arranged a special corporate deal with Richland Cinemas that entitled Johnstown to get a 7 p.m. showing.

Other theaters across the nation were embargoed from showing the movie until 12:01 a.m. today.

“New Moon” is the second in a series of vampire-werewolf-teen angst films based on the popular “Twilight” series of books by Stephenie Meyer.

The main characters feature Isabella “Bella” Swan, who moves from Phoenix to Forks, Wash., and finds her life in danger when she falls in love with a 104-year-old vampire, Edward Cullen. The original novel is followed by “New Moon,” “Eclipse” and “Breaking Dawn.” After Edward leaves Bella in “New Moon,” Bella spends much of her time with Jacob, who is a werewolf.

All 259 seats filled quickly as vampire fever was unleashed when ticketholders literally ran into the theater to get the best seats once the doors were opened.

“These are true fans of either Team Jacob or Team Edward,” said Tribune-Democrat Publisher Robin L. Quillon. “Once we announced the ticket giveaway, we had more than 4,000 entries. We couldn’t be more pleased.”

Catina Hajko of Johnstown’s West End said the romantic love story is an easy read. She was introduced to the series by her 19-year-old daughter.

“I’ve read the books and reread them,” Hajko said. “I’m looking to see how the characters in the book develop in the movie.”

Few fans can duplicate the enthusiasm for the movie of the five cosmetologists who showed up in matching “New Moon” sportswear.

Several had special sweatpants made with the word “Bit-ten” printed across their bottom and hoodies sporting a wolf silhouetted by a full moon on the front.

Kathy Glattke, 48, of Geistown and owner of Hair & Nail Studio in the East Hills Plaza closed her shop early to allow her employees a chance to get in line early.

Glattke said her shop is filled with “Twilight” posters and memorabilia because she, her employees and many of her customers are fans.

One of her employees, Sarah DeBose, 24, of Richland Township, said she can’t wait to see if Edward and Bella reunite in “New Moon.”

“In the first movie, Edward left Bella for her own good,” DeBose said. “He will only be in the first part and should return at the end of the film if it follows the book.”

Holding her ticket firmly in hand, Amanda Blough, 15, of Windber joined three classmates for the premiere.

“I don’t care if someone offered me $50 for this ticket, I wouldn’t sell it,” Blough said.

Tickets for the first public showing at 12:01 today went on sale at noon Thursday. The 500 tickets sold out in 25 minutes.

One man who knows something about blockbuster films is theater owner Ed Troll.

“We expect this to be big,” Troll said.

When Troll says big, he ought to know. He has witnessed the response to such commercial serial successes as “Star Wars,” “Harry Potter” and “Lord of the Rings.”

Troll said the third movie in the Twilight saga will be released in June.

“They actually shot ‘New Moon’ and ‘Eclipse,’ at the same time, so it’s just waiting to be released.”

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