Lisa McOmiel, left, and Sara Scheafer stopped by the mobile blood donation van parked in front of the theater to make a donation. Jasmine Lovelace acts the vampire in this case. (Paul Fraughton / The Salt Lake Tribune)
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Sandy » Lori Lundwall bought her tickets to "The Twilight Saga: New Moon" months ago.

The avid fan wanted to be sure she could see the midnight premiere of the film based on Stephenie Meyer's best-selling novels that continues the story of the human teenager Bella Swan and her developing love triangle between vampire Edward Cullen and werewolf Jacob Black.

Lundwall gathered with dozens of fans Thursday night as the online fan group TwilightMoms transformed the South Towne Expo Center into Jacob's motorbike garage, the Italian town of Volterra and the Washington cities of Forks and La Push.

"I saw the first 'Twilight' movie 15 times in theaters, and I'm so excited for 'New Moon,' " said Lundwall, who was dressed up as Edward's vampire sister Rosalie. "I've been looking for my Edward tonight, but if I can't find him, I'll settle for an Emmett," she said, referencing Rosalie's husband in the books and films.

Utah's Megaplex Theaters, owned by Larry H. Miller Group, took first, second and third for most pre-sold tickets for the first "Twilight" film, and early numbers look like they'll continue the trend with the second installment of the four-film series, said Jeff Whipple, marketing director for the theater chain.

Megaplex's 69 screens and 18,000 seats stretching from Lehi to Ogden were fully booked for the midnight showings as throngs of teenage girls and their mothers posed with cardboard

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cutouts of the main characters and purchased "Twilight"-themed products, from stickers and makeup to chocolate bars, as dutiful boyfriends and husbands watched.

A lucky few were able to see an early screening because several corporations reserved theaters and gave tickets to customers and employees.

Julie Newland took Thursday off work to drive her daughter, Sammy Dutton, 11, four hours from their home in Tropic to see the film at 5 p.m. Thursday.

"It was awesome!" Dutton enthused. "It was just like the book."

This film focuses heavily on the friendship between Bella and Jacob, and even though Dutton considers herself an Edward fan, she said "it was still cool."

Even the moms in the crowd appeared to enjoy the show.

"All of the women my age screamed when the guys took off their shirts," Newland said.

Molly Vroom, 13, came with her mom, Jane Vroom, to see the early screening.

"I liked that they had more of Jacob in this movie," Molly said. "And I liked the setting a lot more. They weren't in school as much in this one."

Molly was hoping to not be in school Friday to catch another afternoon screening, but her mom wouldn't hear of it.

"She has tickets for Friday night for Pete's sake," Jane Vroom said.

And some fans, such as Lundwall, already know where they'll be June 30, 2010, when the next film arrives in theaters.

"I already have my tickets for 'Eclipse,' " she said. "I know I need help. I'll get therapy later."

smcfarland@sltrib.com

Looking to the future

Twilight Saga fans can go to www.megaplextheaters.com to register for an e-mail and text message to alert them when tickets for Eclipse go on pre-sale.