The Scala Misadventure

The film �Ben Hur� starring Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton was showing at Scala Cinema in
Mokola Ibadan and the whole school was given permission to go and see it. The film was captivating and the lead actor and actress fascinating.

Filing out at the end of the movie, my attention was caught by a poster of another film �Who�s Afraid of Virginia Wolf� starring the same Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton who had just wowed one. This was a certificate �A� rated film, which I later learnt to my chagrin meant that the film was mainly conversational and for mature audiences who could concentrate on the discussions therein. My mind immediately read another exhilarating film that must be watched. I could not concentrate on anything during the bus ride back to school other than how I would watch this film. Immediately we got to school I mentioned my dilemma to Tunde Adesanya, who coincidentally was going through the same turmoil.

The film was to be shown on a Friday night. Both of us felt we could sneak out of school unnoticed. On mentioning our plan to Segun Matthews, he decided to come with us... a wiIy accomplice and partner in �crime�.

We had sat in the theatre for about an hour watching willy nilly what was the greatest boring film and total anticlimax to our expectation.
I was about to dose off when I got a tap on my back accompanied by the familiar voice of �my boy�. It was D.J. Bullock, our school principal who was sitting right behind the three bound- breakers.

The only thing we gained that night was a free ride back to school in D. J.�s car. He teased us by asking how much we enjoyed the film knowing full well we couldn�t have and to compound our discomfiture asked a few questions about some of the scenes, to which we had no answer.

On our way out of Scala there was another poster advertising �A Hard Day�s Night�, the Beatles first film. The Beatles were the rave of the period and they were box office chart busters. My thought went racing as to how I would again be at Scala the following week Saturday to watch the film.

The following night the principal sent for the trio. We knew what the call meant. Corporal punishment. The idea then suddenly struck me that I could make D.J. allow me satisfy my passion to watch the Beatles.

After taking six strokes, I asked if could have another six in advance. D.J. was stunned and looked at me with consternation. He asked me why, and I told him I would be sick if I did not go to watch �A Hard Day�s Night� because the Beatles were my idols. D.J. patted my back and asked me to go to sleep.
I was pleasantly surprised when at the morning assembly the following Monday, Ogunruku, the head of school, announced that the principal had given permission for his boys who were interested in the Beatles film to so indicate by registering their names. Of course I was one of the first to do so.

D.J. later explained to me, at our debate on why I was chosen as the head of school, that our going to watch �Who�s Afraid of Virginia Wolf�, was stupid, and described my request for six strokes in advance to watch �A Hard Day�s Night� as audacious and rascally. A normal adolescent behaviour.

Culled from 50 YEARS GROWING ON THE ROCK: The Lives and Times of Government College Ibadan Class of '62