Cinemas primed to raise curtains again
FAR North movie buffs can start returning to the cinema with Malanda’s historic Majestic Theatre and Event Cinemas at Cairns Central now dimming the lights and rolling the reels.
But industry insiders admit it will be a challenge getting moviegoers back into the seats with viewing habits changed by months of lockdown.
Owners Bernie and Charmaine Rayner have taken the first step towards recovery by opening the doors of Australia’s oldest continuously-operating theatre after three months in hibernation and will step up operations today as pandemic restrictions are reduced further.
After only being allowed to accommodate 20 customers since the first show screened on June 26 they will be able to welcome an audience of up to 90 customers from noon.
“The audience’s viewing habits have changed and people are now happy to sit at home and watch a new release or old favourite on a streaming service,” he said.
“People’s habits have changed and might take a while to come back, three months is a big hiatus and the movie industry will have to work at drawing that audience back again.
“Another problem is we have no new movies to show and they won’t become available until the American cinemas reopen – which could be some time – and blockbusters start to be released again.
“Movies are like any product and it’s the talk that draws people in, audiences come for blockbusters and big franchise actors, and even if a little movie is good people generally won’t come out to see it.
“Wednesday we had 20 people for two movies, five yesterday morning for a kids’ movie, and we are expecting a full house for Emma, so people are coming but not in big numbers.”
Mareeba’s drive-in cinema plans to reopen, with owner Raelene Newell setting a schedule for two weekends – July 17 and 18 and July 24 and 25 – as they also face the challenge of securing new movies.
“There are no restrictions on how many people we can have so we should be good there, we don’t do bookings, and the cafe will be open,” she said.
The Cairns theatres are also returning with Event Cinemas at Cairns Central reopening yesterday while the complexes at Cairns Earlville and Cairns Smithfield have pencilled in dates for later this month.