STATE COLLEGE — When the lights dimmed and the familiar face of Bugs Bunny flashed on screen, children of all ages clapped their hands with delight. Sponsored by the Downtown Improvement District, the classic “Looney Tunes” cartoons shown at the State Theatre on Dec. 10 are part of the Bill Welch Memorial Cartoon Series, which runs Saturdays throughout December.
Jenn Miller, of State College, has brought her family to the shows a few times. She said you can’t beat the price.
“It’s just good family fun, and it’s free!” said Miller. “We all laugh and have good time, and we get to come together as a family.”
Her son Emery agrees.
“Yeah, it is fun, and the cartoons are funny,” said Emery, who noticed one big difference from cartoons of today. ”They don’t have as much talking.”
The free cartoons have been a holiday tradition at the State Theatre since 2007, and are a way to allow everyone a chance to experience the facility, said executive director Greg Ray.
Named in honor of former State College Mayor Bill Welch, who loved to come watch the cartoons before he passed away, the hope is to bring the whole community together to enjoy something special, said Ray.
“For parents, and even grandparents, this is a special way to take time to share something with the younger kids that they loved from their childhood.”
The State Theatre was a Warner Brothers movie theater until 1938, and Ray said they are confident that some of the “Looney Tunes” cartoons shown in the series were shown back then.
For former classmates Gloria Eisenbraun, of State College, and Don Pezzuti, of Harrisburg, the cartoons offer a great dose of nostalgia.
“We used to go to matinees and they would play these cartoons at the start, and often it was the best part,” said the 72-year-old Pezzuti. “Watching these really takes you back. It is fun to see it on the big screen again like old times.”
The shows run every Saturday at 10 a.m. in December, except on Christmas Eve. On Dec. 17, moviegoers will get a special treat, as the Nittany Knights Barbershop Chorus will be singing carols as people come into the theater.
“At the end of the day these shows are free, and so maybe the best way to first experience the theater,” said Ray. “So, why not come down and have some fun.”
And in the immortal words of Porky the Pig, “That’s all folks!”
