By Lyra Bordelon
Lewisburg Cinema 8 celebrated its first day reopening on Friday, August 28, with a new set of movies and safety precautions in place for movie-goers to see.
“I feel really good about it,” said General Manager Franklin Johnson. “I think we’re going to be successful this time. … We are following NATO, the North Atlantic Theater Owner’s, guidelines,” Johnson explained. “They went by the CDC to govern how we could safety reopen – sanitizing, masks, gloves, wiping seats down between every show, no [self-serving] refills, social distancing.”
Johnson referred to a previous attempt to reopen the theater earlier in the summer, but shut down again shortly after. He explained that while COVID-19 could explain the second shutdown, a positive test result was not the reason; a lack of new movies was.
“We were open last time for about two and half weeks,” Johnson said. “Our business just wasn’t enough to maintain the building, payroll, and everything else, so we had to close down. … This time it should work – everybody’s been home watching everything old. … Last time we opened with older movies that have been out. Right now we’ve got a lot of new movies.”
These movies include Bill and Ted Face the Music, The New Mutants, Fatima, The personal History of David Copperfield, Unhinged, Words on Bathroom Walls, and another run of Sonic the Hedgehog. In addition, Tenet, the latest movie directed by Christopher Nolan, is expected to open on Monday.
The theater’s new safety precautions have brought a few changes to it’s operation. Popcorn and drinks are now served by theater staff with a plastic shield in place after movie-goers purchase their tickets and snacks. Every other row inside of the theater itself have been blocked off and Johnson emphasized the need for people to spread out.
“We are only able to do 50 percent capacity right now,” Johnson said. “If it’s a family, we do allow them to sit together, but the next people need to be three to four seats over. Six feet. … We do require you to wear a mask, before, during, and after the show, unless you’re inside eating popcorn. You can’t eat through a mask, you know, but we ask that when you stop eating, you put it back on, not only for your safety, but for all the other people.”
Johnson asked movie-goers to consider not only their own safety, but the safety of those around them.
“I understand and I respect that you don’t want to wear one, but respect the people who do want to wear one and are fretful of maybe catching coronavirus,” Johnson said. “We’re here to serve the public, not just one individual. … People so far have been complying with it. We’ll see, time tells everything.”
Among the first showings at the theater (author’s note, myself included), several locals were eager to get back to the movies.
“The movie going experience was a pleasure to enjoy once again after all other movie theaters had closed,” said Cody Sizemore, one local movie-goer. “Returning to see the first new release feature film since Disney’s Onward nearly six months ago was a refreshing moment. … Even though there are some changes to seating and procedure, the overall experience has not changed. … Going to the movies should be on everyone’s list for a feeling of normalcy if you feel comfortable to go then I urge you to do so. You won’t regret coming back to the theater!”