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Photos: Let Us Respectfully Admire These Costumed <em>Harry Potter</em> Fans
By
John Del Signore
Published Jul 15, 2011
Modified Jul 15, 2011
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By
John Del Signore
Published Jul 15, 2011
Modified Jul 15, 2011
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Last night at midnight, the final installment of a little under-the-radar avant-garde film series quietly premiered at select theaters around town. Called Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows 2, the film attracted a devoted cult following of moviegoers, many of whom observed the saga's conclusion by dressing up as their favorite characters. Although you surely have no time for such frivolity—ensconced as you were in your study with your leather-bound copy of Wittgenstein's On Certainty—do not judge these fantasy novel enthusiasts too snidely for their festive attire. In a world gone mad, isn't it nice to know people can still geek out? (The young ones, at least... anyone over 30 wearing a Hogwarts scarf really needs to get laid.)
“I’m very upset it will all be over but really excited,” 14-year-old Amal Hassoun told the Chicago Sun-Times. “I can’t believe my mom let me go but its worth it.” Up in Albany, 20-year-old fan Mary McCormack tells the Times Union, "The people who watch the movies I'm sure are going to miss it when it's over, but the people who have been with it from the beginning ... It's like, 'What are we going to do now?'"
One person who isn't sorry to see the movies go is 66-year-old retired mailman Harry Potter from upstate New York. Prank calls at all hours have made his life a living hell, and although he looked into making his phone number unlisted, he decided he shouldn't be the one to have to pay to switch it over. "[J.K. Rowling] is making all this kind of money, and I think I should get a half a percent of it," he tells the Times Union. "I was Harry Potter before this thing was ever thought of. I think she should take some of the blame for this. It's not fair to me." Well, don't worry Potter, now that the final film as been released, we're sure everyone will forget all about that other Harry Potter!
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John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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