Column: An ode to the Varsity Theatre

It’s been said that baseball is America’s pastime; I’d like to argue that going to the movies is actually the true favorite leisurely activity.

There’s something magical and relaxing about going to see a movie: From the salty and sweet treats to the cool, dark theater and, of course, the excitement of seeing an anticipated film; it’s an escape to a different world for two or more hours.

Everyone has a place in their hometown that serves as a nostalgic comfort when they return home from school.

For me, this place is the Gem Theatre in Kannapolis. The Gem — like its name indicates — is a treasure. First built in 1936, it’s a one-show theater house with discount tickets and snacks. The theater was the place where I saw many favorite films.

The theater itself is an architectural dream with ornate ceilings, beautiful woodworked murals and a velvet curtain accompanied by an orchestra area.

I believed there wasn’t another place in the world like the Gem.

My first encounter with the Varsity was at the end of first semester. A few friends and I saw that the theater was showing “It’s a Wonderful Life” in December, and we decided to see it the last evening that we would all be on campus.

When I entered the Varsity Theatre in Chapel Hill for the first time, I knew I found a home away from home.

Whenever I felt the strongest wave of homesickness, I would head to the Varsity. I just wondered how I didn’t discover the cinema sooner. I thrilled in the low-price tickets, the familiar-looking marquee and the velvety carpet and wall paneling, very similar to the ones in the Gem.

As the classic movie played, I felt at ease. Soon enough, I would be home in Kannapolis, but when I returned to Carolina in January, I knew I had a place to turn to if I was feeling homesick.

During my first year, it made me feel a little more at home when I felt alienated and alone. It made me realize that no matter where I go in the world, there are places to call home that aren’t so unfamiliar after all. If I can find that kind of solace in an old movie theater, I hope that newcomers to UNC can also find it in places that are new to them yet still familiar and comforting.

The Varsity Theatre is a gem itself in the heart of downtown Chapel Hill. It’s a comforting little place to escape if you feel lonely or want to forget all the troubles of academics for a few hours. This feeling might not be found at the Varsity for everyone, but there are places around town where can all retreat to for a while.

And there’s nothing wrong with admitting sometimes that there’s no place like home, even when home turns out to be a different town.