Clear to reopen
Cuomo sets conditions for Oct. 23 return outside NYC
Gov. Cuomo sets conditions for the Oct. 23 return of upstate movie theaters./
Movie theaters outside of New York City have been given the go-ahead to reopen with capacity restrictions and coronavirus safety protocols in place,
Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced Saturday.
Theaters allowed to reopen must be located in counties where there are no hot spot clusters of COVID-19 cases and the daily infection rate is below 2 percent over a 14-day average, Cuomo said. They must operate at 25 percent capacity and will be limited to 50 patrons per screen.
The infection rate in the Capital Region was at 0.6 percent on Friday. The governor identified 12 counties, including Broome, Cortland, Greene and Rockland, where theaters must stay closed for now.
When bowling alleys and gyms were given the green light to reopen open in August theater operators were left wondering why they were left out of the state’s reopening plan.
“We are ecstatic,” said Joe Masher, president of the Theater Owners Association and COO of Bow Tie Cinema, which has Capital Region theaters in Schenectady, Saratoga Springs and Wilton. “It’s a big step in getting our industry rebooted.”
While most states allowed movie theaters to open in the summer, in California and New York — two major markets — cinemas remained closed. As a result, major releases have been pushed into next year or have gone directly to streaming services.
After “Tenet,” the Christopher Nolan-directed action movie released in the late summer, produced dismal returns at the box office, Disney canceled its theater release of the live-action “Mulan,” and put it out on its online platform. The next James Bond movie, which was due to come out in November, has been delayed until April of next year.
Earlier this month, Regal Cinemas, the sec
ond-largest theater chain in the United States, announced it was closing its 536 theaters nationwide, citing Cuomo’s regulations.
There are 44 Regal Cinemas in New York, including in Albany, Colonie, East Greenbush, Clifton Park and Queensbury.
They have 1,900 employees. Nationally, Regal Cinemas had 40,000 employees.
Some smaller movie houses, such as the Spectrum 8 — which is part of a chain called Landmark Theatres — as well as the Madison Theatre and Scotia Cinema, have stayed afloat during the closures by shifting their business models. The Madison Theatre, which had reopened in Albany right before the pandemic, has been able to still do some business by offering food and hosting
trivia and open mic comedy nights. Scotia Cinema was selling takeout popcorn.
California theaters were approved to reopen with some restrictions in mid- September.
Masher said he anticipates that most of the
Bow Tie locations will be back up and running by Friday.
Cuomo’s office said moviegoers can expect the usual safety guidelines. Masks will also be required inside theaters except for when patrons are seated and eating or drinking.
Other precautions include required assigned seating; additional safety to control occupancy, traffic and seating rules; and enhanced air filtration and ventilation standards.