Lock One welcomes back patrons
NEW BREMEN — Originally opened in 1913 as the Crown Picture Show, the now-named Lock One Theater has been a staple in downtown New Bremen for over a century.
The theater had been closed since March 2020, when it was forced to close its doors, like many other businesses, because of the coronavirus pandemic, but it reopened last week with showings of “In the Heights” starting on Thursday.
The 96-seat theater — 80 seats in the auditorium and 16 in the balcony — has seen its fair share of changes through the years, undergoing many name and venue changes and a full-on remodel recently in 2003 when it opened up again full-time as a movie theater.
“I love it,” said Theater Supervisor Michael Siebenaler. “I love movies as it is but to have something local like this is just great. Something that will mix the community — that’s a big passion of mine — and it mixes film, which is another big passion of mine.”
The movie business has been an interesting
one to follow over the last 15 months as film studios began trying new ways to get its movies to the masses by either delaying big releases so they could be shown to full theaters in later months and by releasing releases to streaming platforms like Netflix, HBO Max or Disney Plus in lieu of a theatrical release.
Siebenaler has spent time deep cleaning the theater to ensure guests feel safe and protected for when they return.
“I’ve always enjoyed every part of it,” he said. “The technology, the projection, the hospitality part, getting to communicate with the community and people like Crown at the company,
cleaning the theater, whatever it is. It all just rolls into such a great experience. The staff is great and we just love serving the community.”
He recalled how before the theater closed last year, he had hung up a movie poster to display for Marvel’s “Black Widow” which was scheduled for a May 1, 2020 release. The movie ultimately got postponed four times altogether, with the official release coming later this week on July 9.
A “Black Widow” poster hangs today in the frame, it’s just a different one that the studio sent over, as the release was delayed for a total of 14 months.
Siebenaler, who started as the theater supervisor in October 2018, said he thinks the time that the theater’s been closed as served as time to reminisce.
“Basically, absence is going to make the heart grow fonder,” he said. “We are going to come back to it. I can’t control when, but just being able to offer that back to the community … it was kind of a good break to reminisce about things, too. Like the history of the theater and what our role is in the community. Coming back to it kind of gives you a new perspective about it, too. It’s kind of almost a reboot, really.”
Lock One offers competitive ticket pricing — $6 for adults and $4 for children 11 and under. The theater also offers full concession services, as well three vending machines and options for cocktails.
“We offer alcoholic drinks along with regular concessions,” said Siebenaler. “With the three vending machines, it gives us a nice balance.”
Since announcing the reopening of the Lock One Theater, Siebenaler said the support from the community has been amazing.
A June 7 Facebook post stating that the theater would be opening in the “near future” garnered close to 600 reactions, 88 comments and 142 shares.
“You just think of all the community events that have been affected as well too and how those come into play,” said Siebenaler. “Just reconnecting with people I think is the biggest thing. Some people are just really ready to come back. There’s been overwhelming response, especially on social media. I’m just so thankful for everybody’s support.”
As more people begin getting back to going places and as the theater begins welcoming the public back, Siebenaler
said patrons will be welcome back with open arms.
“I never take it for granted. I was thankful for it when I was a patron and I’m even more now so as a supervisor,” he said about the theater. “Just having that rich history to it and being able to offer people a nice variety of entertainment and a great experience when they come in. They know they’re comfortable, they know they’re safe, they know it’s a clean environment — they can just enjoy themselves and escape a little bit. That’s what movies are all about.”
Lock One will hold one show Thursday and Friday; three shows on Saturday and two shows on Sunday.
More information can be found on the theater’s Facebook page or by going to the website at LockOneTheater. com.