BACK TO THE MOVIES
Canyon Meadows Cinemas supervisor Ethan Hunter showcases the theatre’s new cleaning procedures Thursday. While the independently-owned theatre has been open since June 12, many of Calgary’s other cinemas are planning to open Friday.
Moviegoers eager for buttered popcorn and the big screen can get their fill of cinema as many theatres in Calgary reopen Friday after three months of closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cineplex and Landmark Cinemas have both released detailed plans on how they intend to keep guests as safe as possible during their trip to the movies, and both companies have lowered ticket prices while expressing hope the movie experience won’t be too different than what people are used to.
“The day that we closed our doors over three months ago was the day we began planning for the reopening. So when our guests come in, there will definitely be changes to the way you enter and exit the theatre, the way you enter the auditorium is different. But the experience in the auditorium, watching the magic on the big screen, will remain the same,” Sarah Van Lange, spokeswoman for Cineplex, said Thursday.
Some of the health and safety protocols being implemented by Cineplex include enhanced cleaning, wiping chairs with hospital-grade cleansers between showtimes, staggering guests through reserved seating and reducing capacity by between 60 and 80 per cent.
Cineplex is reopening its Calgary locations at Crowfoot Crossing, Sunridge Spectrum, and Seton and
VIP on Friday, but if all goes well, the rest will follow July 3.
“We are excited to open our doors and get back to the business of entertaining Canadians like we have for over 100 years,” said Van Lange.
All three of Landmark Cinemas’ locations in Calgary — Market Mall, Country Hills and Shawnessy — will reopen Friday, though some theatres elsewhere in Alberta won’t reopen until July 3.
To fill the gap of postponed summer blockbuster releases, Landmark Cinemas will offer classic films such as Jurassic Park, Jaws and The Empire Strikes Back, as well as some of the premieres that were missed because of closures.
“We’re having some fun offering stuff that hasn’t been on our big screens for a long time,” said Landmark Cinemas CEO Bill Walker.
“It’s fun for people to see (movies) in a theatre that they haven’t seen in a theatre for a very long time.”
Landmark Cinemas has also enhanced cleaning, introduced stronger cleansers and limited capacity so guests can maintain a safe physical distance. Walker said with all the provincial government’s guidelines, the theatres will be at about 45 per cent occupancy.
The floor has been marked to help guests maintain safe distancing in line for popcorn, and staff will be wearing reusable masks.
“In today’s unique environment, I don’t think the movie theatre experience is going to be particularly foreign to guests but we’re making sure it’s enjoyable while still maintaining safety,” said Walker.
Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Alberta’s chief medical officer of health, said during Thursday’s news conference that wearing a mask is the prudent thing to do while attending a movie.
“We know that indoor spaces are a higher risk than outdoor. Especially if you’re in a theatre watching a movie where there might be people laughing heartily or, if it’s an action movie, people might be shouting, you may want to be wearing a mask just to protect yourself and those around you,” said Hinshaw.
The prices at both Cineplex and Landmark Cinemas theatres are being lowered temporarily to reflect the current market. Regardless of the showtime and movie, tickets at both theatres will be $5, except on Tuesday when they’ll be $3.
“Given the age of some content and the availability of it on different mediums, the price is appropriate,” said Walker.
Both companies have been rehiring and retraining staff to operate safely during the pandemic.
The first theatre to resume operations in Calgary was independent theatre Canyon Meadows Cinemas. Lux Cinema in Banff has also reopened, as has The Plaza Theatre, Okotoks Cinemas and Cochrane Movie House.