Potter-Mania in East Hampton

Muggle-borns came out in droves for the first look at the seventh installment of the magical story of Harry Potter at the  at midnight. What's usually a quiet hour on a Thursday in November was buzzing with moviegoers, atwitter over how the story would play out on the big screen.

Fans spanned in age. They came in singles, couples, groups, and families to see the movie, being shown in two theaters. The larger theatre, which seats 226 people, was sold out just after 11 p.m., and people continued to come steadily to fill the other one.

At the theater, Potter fans said that they were excited for midnight show. Victoria Ganga, who works at the  in East Hampton in the evenings, said, "I like being able to see something that I've been looking really forward to seeing after I get off work."

Ganga was enjoying a conversation in Potter parlance with her father Bob Ganga who has also followed the series closely.  "It's very rare that you get a midnight show in East Hampton," he said.

Another moviegoer, Shelly Watson who had been looking forward to this installment said,  "This one is going to be long, but it's going to move fast. It's going to be energetic and captivating and going to keep me on the edge of my seat." She was not deterred at all by the late hour, saying that the only way she would not be there is if she would "have to be sick and dying."

Oliver Culver, a high school student, came with two of his friends even though he hasn't seen all the installments. It was just "something to do before Thanksgiving break," he said.

Then there was Camille Herb who always tries to get a first look at the Potter movies. "I was in Montauk for the last one." 

Others, like Charlie London, were fanatics who are always first in line. "I've been to midnight book signings, been to two other midnight shows," she said. She's already thinking ahead: "I'm incredibly excited but it's unfortunate that we have to wait for the second installment." 

Although Willie Jenkins of Bridgehampton, who is 28, said, "I'm really not a fan for the most part," he grinned sheepishly and added,  "The movies are exciting and I'm excited to see what happens between Voldemort and Harry Potter."

MacKenzie McCann came with a group of friends. She said, "I Love it. I absolutely Love it. I read the book while I watch the movie." She continued, "I'm such a dork."