MEETING MEL

"I think laughing keeps you healthy and happy."
__ Mel Brooks

How many times have you seen "Blazing Saddles?"  Have you watched it twice? Let's be honest, how many times? Over the years,  I have lost count. "Blazing Saddles" is the funniest comedy ever made. I am sure Mel would agree with me.

In fact, Mel was on fire in 1974 with not one but two movie releases. The other movie was "Young Frankenstein." Not surprisingly, both movies were hits at the box office.

From 1967 to 1995, Mel wrote and directed all eleven of his movies and is a true icon in Hollywood. Hands down, Mel is truly Hollywood royalty.

Now, travel back in time with me to June 1991, when a sneak preview of a new movie by Mel was announced. You better believe that I made sure to score two tickets, getting them through our favorite radio station, 94.5 The EDGE. The preview was scheduled for the 19th of June, which was the same day as a telecourse orientation at Richland College. Naturally, I scheduled and submitted the paperwork to be off work that day.  

As planned, after the orientation, I walked over to Walnut Street, caught the 202 bus, and transferred to the 84 bus route, arriving at the Glen Lakes AMC theatre on Walnut Hill Lane in Dallas, Texas.

At approximately 4:30 P.M., I was the first in line for the preview of "Life Stinks."  Being first in line for a sneak preview of a movie was a first.
Never before or since have I been first in line for a sneak preview, and I never waited in line for three hours again to see a movie before the general public, as I did for "Life Stinks."

Because of my friend's work commitments, we planned on meeting at the movie theatre. Upon their arrival, my friend spotted me right away. Grinning from ear to ear, my friend asked, "How did you manage that?" We were both amazed that I had waited so long.

Naturally, we considered the movie to be a sneak preview. Free sneak previews were our source of inexpensive entertainment in the 90s. In reality, it was a private test screening of the movie. The film was released a month and a week later, on July 26, 1991. 

Entering the theatre, we were handed a comment card and a golf pencil. Being handed comment cards and a pencil was a first, too. That should have given us a clue that this was a test screening, not a sneak preview.

As the movie theatre filled, I am sure the audience that evening was expecting to see a rapid parody like "Blazing Saddles." Instead, it was a social fable. 

We ate our popcorn and enjoyed the movie. I thought the bet was wild and wondered how Goddard Bolt (Mel Brooks) would survive homelessness. During the cardboard dance scene, I recognized the dance was a nod to Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. The scene was enjoyable; the dance was too long and disrupted the pacing of the film. I commented on my card that the dance scene needed to be shortened.

At the end, my friend and I were some of the last attendees in the theatre. Holding our comment cards, we watched the last of the credits roll.

I wasn't starstruck, but completely and utterly surprised to see Mel Brooks walking up the aisle and towards us. By this time, I was standing and noticed that he was a little taller than I was. Standing 5 feet 5 inches tall, Mel made a huge impression.

Mel was funny, kind, and gracious. His willingness to autograph the bottom of our empty tub of popcorn stands in stark contrast to Kenny Rogers, who refused to sign a TV Guide for my coworker during the May 25, 1986 "Hands Across America."

Before leaving the theater, we dropped our comment cards in the designated drop box. Driving home, all we could do was laugh and exclaim, "We met Mel Brooks!"

Of course, the autographed bottom of a tub of popcorn is a unique piece of movie memorabilia. If only I could find it! While I remember placing the round bottom of the popcorn tub autographed by the one and only Mel Brooks into a protective sleeve, my memory draws a complete blank as to where it was placed.

The Glen Lakes AMC theatre, where the test screening was held and where the audience reactions were used to make final edits to the film, no longer exists. However, the memory of meeting Mel Brooks is etched in my brain.

Side note: Years later, Mel recalled that he was proudest of his acting in "Life Stinks." I would agree with Mel's statement. Indeed, his acting in the movie was one of his best.

June 28, 2026: Mel celebrated his 100th birthday.

A BELATED HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MEL BROOKS!

This story is dedicated to Godfrey E. at PT. Godfrey, I kept my promise.