State College’s 2 movie theaters set to reopen. Here’s what you should know about safety, changes
For the past five months, Anthony Smith — the regional manager of State College’s two movie theaters — has openly wondered when the smell of buttered popcorn would again fill his lobbies while customers buzz about the new box-office hit.
He won’t have to wait much longer.
According to Smith, who oversees both College 9 and UEC 12, Centre County’s largest movie theaters will reopen Aug. 21 with new rules, limited showings — and a whole lot more cleaning supplies. Many theater properties around the U.S. plan to reopen around that time, and Smith wants to make sure his theaters are ready before studios ramp up their blockbuster movie releases by October.
“I’m itching to get back to work,” Smith said. “I would like a chance for our industry to prove that it can be safe for you to come out and enjoy a little entertainment during this crazy time. For two hours, a theater is a getaway.”
College 9 and UEC 12, both run by United Entertainment Corp., can’t guarantee zero spread of COVID-19. But, then again, neither can restaurants, bars or gyms. But both local theaters are implementing a series of new rules and policies that they hope greatly minimize exposure — from improved air filters (MERV Level 11) and 25% theater capacity to installed plexiglass and staggered showtimes.
“When you get one chance at this,” Smith acknowledged, “you can’t screw it up.”
The first movie with a wide release — since March 17 — will be the mystery and suspense film “Unhinged” with Russell Crowe next Friday. Smith plans to show that on a handful of screens in his theaters, in part because his biggest 262-seat screening area will be limited to 65 customers.
Of course, that begs the question: What else will the movie theaters show opening weekend?
Even Smith isn’t quite sure yet. (He said he’ll find out by Monday.) Because there are essentially no other “new” movies right now, he knows his 12-screen theater (125 Premiere Drive) and nine-screen theater (3031 Carnegie Drive) will likely show older or more classic films like “The Goonies,” “Raiders of the Lost Ark” and Harry Potter — but customers won’t find out for sure until a few days before reopening.
“Over time, we’re hoping we can build back our fan base,” he added. “We want to give you an option to do something because, right now, there’s not a whole lot of options to do anything.
“I’ve streamed for five months, and I’m running out of stuff to watch.”
Are the movies safe?
State College’s two movie theaters shut down March 17 in response to the pandemic. They reopened briefly around Mother’s Day to sell popcorn — but not show movies — and could’ve opened earlier than Aug. 21.
In fact, they initially wanted to reopen around Father’s Day in late June. There were just no new movies to show.
But just because the theaters could’ve reopened doesn’t necessarily mean they should have. One popular chart, designed by the Texas Medical Association, went viral earlier in the summer when it rated the risk of popular activities. Going camping, for instance, was a low-risk 2; swimming in a public pool was a moderate 6, heading to the gym was a high-risk 8 — and going to the movies was a high-risk 8.
The Texas Medical Association did not respond to a message from the Centre Daily Times seeking comment.
Penn State’s Matthew Ferrari, a researcher in the Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, acknowledged it’s inherently difficult to rank activities because so many variables exist. Is the movie theater still a high-risk 8 if its capacity is capped at 25%, per the state Department of Health guidelines? What about if masks are required while not eating or drinking? What about increased cleaning and sanitation?
But generally, Ferrari said, he disagreed with that part of the chart’s premise. Going to the movies, he said, is not riskier than going to the gym.
“It’s a risky activity,” he acknowledged, in that it’s indoors and some people might not wear masks. “It’s less risky than if you were in the exact same room taking an aerobics class.”
Ferrari said it’s important to keep four things in mind when measuring COVID-19 risk: Size, space, time and place. The person-to-person density, time you’re there and whether it’s indoors or outdoors all play critical roles in coronavirus risk. Places with lots of strangers, such as movie theaters, could also prove difficult to contact trace.
But, ultimately, just about everything has some level of risk. Both Ferrari and Smith said it’s up to the individual to weigh it out himself or herself. Afraid of going to the grocery store? You might want to skip the movies. Don’t mind heading to the gym? The movies likely won’t be worse.
“If you come in and it just doesn’t feel right or you even get to the theater and you just don’t feel comfortable, I’m not going to argue with you — we’re going to take care of you,” Smith added. “If that means you want to leave and you want your money back, we have no problem doing that.”
The changes
College 9 and UEC 12 will reopen with a number of changes in hopes to address safety concerns.
No more than two movies will start at once to foster social-distancing, and both films must be on opposite wings of the theater. Movies will be spaced out at least 20 minutes apiece. Plexiglass will be installed at the concession stand. Masks will be required (unless eating or drinking). Restrooms and common areas will be cleaned more often, with different products. Hours will be limited. And the computer system will not allow more than 25% of a screen’s tickets to be sold.
The theaters will have showtimes between 4-8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 4-10 p.m. Friday, and noon to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Admission to new releases such as “Unhinged” is $10.75 for adults, $9.50 for students and $8 for children/seniors. (Matinees are $8 for everyone, all movies Tuesday are $5.50, and admission for older movies is $5.50.)
College 9 has also since upgraded all of its theater seating, and Smith hopes UEC 12 will see its own seating upgrades finished in the near future.
“Would we open if we didn’t feel safe? No,” Smith said. “We feel we can provide that safe environment, but it’s ultimately up to the customer to decide that.”
Coming soon ...
For those tired of online streaming or those who don’t wish to drive to a neighboring county for the nearest drive-in, State College’s two movie theaters should remain a popular option.
More than a dozen films set to be released sometime in 2020 still don’t have release dates. But the following is a list of movies set for wide releases and with concrete dates so far, according to “The Numbers” website:
Aug. 21: Unhinged (Solstice Studios)
Aug. 28: The New Mutants (20th Century Studios)
Sept. 18: Infidel (Cloudburst Entertainment), The King’s Man (20th Century Studios), The War with Grandpa (101 Studios)
Oct. 2: Wonder Woman 1984 (Warner Bros.)
Oct. 9: Honest Thief (Briarcliffe Entertainment)
Oct. 16: Candyman (Universal)
Oct. 23: Connected (Sony Pictures), Death on the Nile (20th Century Studios), Snake Eyes (Paramount Pictures), Untitled Universal Event Comedy (Universal)
Oct. 30: Fatale (Lionsgate)
Nov. 6: Black Widow (Walt Disney), Let Him Go (Focus Features)
Nov. 13: Clifford the Big Red Dog (Paramount Pictures), The Comeback Trail (Cloudburst Entertainment), Deep Water (20th Century Studios), Red Notice (Netflix), Universal Event Film (Universal)
Nov. 20: No Time to Die (United Artists), Soul (Walt Disney), Untitled Amblin Project (Universal)
Nov. 25: Happiest Season (Sony/Tristar)
Dec. 4: The Empty Man (20th Century Studios)
Dec. 11: Free Guy (20th Century Studios)
Dec. 18: Coming 2 America (Paramount Pictures), Dune (Warner Bros.), West Side Story (20th Century Studios)
Dec. 22: P31 (Carl Jackson Entertainment)
Dec. 23: The Croods 2 (Universal)
Dec. 25: News of the World (Universal)
This story was originally published August 13, 2020 at 3:12 PM.
