VIDEO: 'Potter' fans camping out before Wednesday movie opening

The Harry Potter Hooverville sprang up at Cinemark Carefree Circle theater nearly two weeks before the opening of the film, as campers armed with tents, couches and video games turned the pavement into Platform 9 3/4 - the place to wait for their ride to Hogwarts.

"Pretty crazy I guess," said moviegoer Tonya Ruth, as she walked by the tent city.

Crazy like a transfigured fox.

Camping out well before big summer movies open has become a tradition at the Cinemark theater off Powers Boulevard. Sure, most people would rather handle a blast-ended skrewt than camp on the pavement for two weeks, but most of the hardcore campers are in league with the theater, a hang-loose group of teens who are there to have a good time, play Mortal Kombat all night, and drum up interest in the next blockbuster. It helps that they set up an elaborate bachelor pad that draws gawkers.

"Most campers don't see an Xbox 360 control as a must-have item," said Aaron Bitner.

"Or a coffee table," chimed in John "Chief" Schumacher.

But they do. They help the theater build excitement, and the exposure from the camping tradition has spawned two successful Web sites (fanboyz.net and firstshowing.net).

They've even enticed others to join in the madness. David Satin, 20, set up camp a full week before "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" opens at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday after he saw the shantytown starting to grow and decided "drastic action must be taken."

We decided to put these fans to the test. Are they Potter poseurs or did they actually bother to read the books before they pitched a tent?

To see the results, and take our quiz along with them, check out the video.