Entertainment : Secretariat arriving at the Palace as well as Holiday Specials

The Palace Theatre is off and running this holiday season with “Secretariat,” playing Friday November 26 through Thursday, December 2 at 7 p.m. nightly, and Saturday and Monday, November 27 and 29 at 2 p.m.

Based the true story of the amazing 1979 Triple Crown winner (I remember this being BIG news when I was in high school), “Secretariat” stars Diane Lane and John Malkovich as owner and trainer, respectively. Reviews are fantastic for this Disney Pictures feel-good flick.

Rated PG for brief mild language and running just under two hours, “Secreatariat” is perfect for the whole family. After you stuff yourself with stuffing, be sure to bring your visiting relatives. Grandma, grandpa, aunts, uncles and long lost cousins will be so jealous of your beautiful theatre and $2 ticket price!

If you never read critic Roger Ebert, now’s the time to check out his column online. He was a close friend of Bill Nack, who wrote the biography of Secretariat, the book on which this movie is based. One of a lifetime of facts that Nack told his pal Ebert about Secretariat was that the race horse’s heart was two and a half times the size of a regular horse heart.

That made me think of the Grinch, which really put me in a Christmas mood!

Yep, you guessed it! The December calendar has arrived! And it’s AWESOME! “Megamind 3D,” “Morning Glory,” “Unstoppable,” “Tangled 3D,” and “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.” Will Farrell, Harrison Ford, Denzel Washington, Rapunzel and Voldemort (shh!) ~ what a line-up!

I’m going to be honest with you and admit that while I really love movies, it’s rare that I make time to see every single movie we get in a month. However, Frank the Booker outdid himself with our December schedule! I can’t wait to watch each and every one of these holiday offerings.

PALACE HOLIDAY SPECIALS

Give the gift that keeps on giving! Palace Theatre t-shirts, polos and sweatshirts! Not only will you be getting your friend or loved one a very cool addition to his or her wardrobe, but Palace patrons who wear their 1-year anniversary or $3 3D t-shirts, polos or sweatshirts to the theatre will receive a free small popcorn through December 31, 2011. T-shirts are $12, Polos - $15, and Sweatshirts - $25.

Another great gift idea for the cinema-goers in your life - make a $100 donation to the Palace and receive three movie posters. We are still accepting contributions to our Chair Club. Your sons and daughters, best friends and grandmas will receive not only fun and fabulous art for their bedroom or family room wall, but the possibility of new and better seating in their Palace future.

An important note for holiday gift buyers - due to the addition of 3D cinema and online ticket capability, the Palace will no longer be selling Monday Club memberships or punch passes. Palace Bucks, however, may be purchased in any amount, and may be used for admission, seat savers or at the concession stand.

Palace Bucks are available at the theatre every night after 5 p.m. and Monday afternoons, and may be purchased from Nathan Hesson at the Vinton Unlimited Office located at City Hall.

Ready or not ~ ‘tis the season! Enjoy it with us at the Palace!