Faces of Rochester

The Ticket Taker

By Chris Miksanek

“I’ve always loved movies,” says David Danielson, although he then offers a not-so-happy example one of the first films he’d ever seen. “I was about six and my older brother took us to the old State Theater in Lanesboro.” It was a wonderful experience, he recalls. That is, until Frankenstein lurched onto the screen and the frightened young boy leapt from his seat, ran up the aisle, out the door and back to the safety of his home.

The Galaxy 14 Cine ticket-taker—the official job title is ‘Guest Services Host’—started his ‘movie career’ in high school, where he helped manage the local theater. He served as its projectionist, operated its concession stand and, along with the parish priest, selected the family-oriented films that would be shown. Later, he worked a long stint as a surgical assistant, but says he prefers working with those “who are conscious,” which is why he enjoys being the front man for the Wehrenberg where he’s been a fixture since the theater opened in  2007.

Some things haven’t changed since Danielson’s high school theater days, though. Patrons occasionally complain about the film they’ve seen (understandably, last summer’s “Disaster Movie” probably had the most “walk outs”). Oh, and outside food is, of course, still verboten. That’s in part why he’s obligated to check large purses and bags.

And what exactly is the strangest thing anyone’s tried to bring in one of those? “I asked a woman to look inside her handbag once,” he says. “When she opened it, a little dog was peeping out at me.” There to see “Beverly Hills Chihuahua,” no doubt.