At a cinema near you soon... the matinee

BEFORE the rise of modern multiplex cinemas, matinee showings were a hotly-anticipated weekend fixture for many of us as children.

But they could be back on the cards again once lockdown ends, as earlier showings may be the only chance some of us get to watch the latest Hollywood blockbusters.

After getting the green light to reopen in July if the pandemic is under control, Britain’s biggest cinema chains want to stretch out the viewing times of popular movies to avoid overcrowding. It means there will be early afternoon showings for many films usually only screened at evening and weekend peak times.

Vue cinemas boss Tim Richards said Britons are now working more flexible hours from home and will want to see a film when it’s quieter. ‘They’ll be finished at 3 o’clock in the afternoon and they’ll go and see a movie and have an early dinner after,’ he told The Mail on Sunday.

Vue is aiming to reopen on July 4, while other operators such as Odeon are also hoping to reopen that month in time for the release of films including Disney’s Mulan. Safety measures may include cinema staff wearing face masks. Mr Richards added: ‘ There is going to be a pent- up demand like never before to get out of your home. All of the market analysis that we’re doing has shown the first or second thing people want to do is go and see a movie.’

In the 1950s, around a million children a week would go to a matinee. Youngsters would flood to the local cinema on a Saturday morning, giving their parents a well-earned rest.