Movie theaters were given the go ahead to open on Monday, as part of the province’s “Reopen Saskatchewan Plan” Phase 4.2.
CEO of Landmark Cinemas Canada, Bill Walker says he is excited to welcome back Saskatchewan movie lovers on Friday.
“We’re excited to get back open at our three locations in Saskatchewan,” said Walker. “And be able to get some people back out for entertainment, and back to enjoying some of our great theatres in the markets.”
Due to COVID-19, many major movie studios have pushed back their scheduled release dates, so theatres won’t be showing any new movies for the time being. Walker says that the delays present an opportunity for theatres to dig into their archives and show classic films.
Walker says Landmark will be showing classic movies like ‘Jaws’, ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’, and ‘Ferris Bueller’s Day Off’ over the course of opening weekend.
“All sort of classics that haven’t been on theaters for a really long time,” said Walker. “We think it’s an interesting opportunity for families and groups to get out and see those again on the big screen for the first time, or certainly for the first time in a long time.”
Walker says that being a recliner-seat theatre, people normally have more space than in conventional theatres, but with COVID-19 guidelines, that space will have to increase.
He adds that the auditoriums will be limited to around 30 people.
“We’re going to keep the best 30 seats we can for the guests that maintain physical distancing,” said Walker. “So, that’s a lot of seats blocked out, that’s no one sitting in front of you, no one sitting behind you, so that while you’re sitting there enjoying your movie, you certainly have lots of personal space to relax and enjoy whatever is on the screen.”
On top of physical distancing measures, Walker says that staff will be sanitizing auditoriums after every showing.
