OLDS — The co-manager of the Mayfair Cinema in Olds is cautiously optimistic about the fact the theatre can now re-open, effective June 12.
But he’s not yet certain it will do so. Dean Craig wants and needs more information before he’s ready to re-open it.
Also, as yet, it’s uncertain what movies the theatre would show if it did open, because the release dates for many major films have come and gone during the COVID-19 pandemic.
During a June 9 news conference, Premier Jason Kenney announced the fact that stage 2 reopenings – which includes movie theatres – had been moved up a week.
Kenney said the province was in a position to do that because data showed only 355 active cases and 44 people in hospital across Alberta on June 8, a decrease of almost 70 per cent in active cases since May 14, when the province began stage one of its relaunch strategy.
Originally stage 2 was not scheduled to begin until June 19.
Craig and his parents, Jack and Louse Craig, own and run the Mayfair Cinema in Uptowne Olds. They’ve owned and operated it since 1987. The facility was first opened in 1925, making it one of the oldest in the province, Craig says.
During an interview Craig was asked how he feels about the fact that theatre can – at least in theory – reopen this Friday.
“I guess it’s exciting, but I have to find out yet what are all the regulations that we need to put into place for the theatre; for the social distancing and the cleaning/sanitizing of everything,” he said.
When interviewed, Craig had not yet received any details about reopening movie theatres from the Motion Picture Theatre Association of Alberta.
Craig was also not sure what movies they could -- or would -- show because it was his understanding that no big releases are scheduled to come out until possibly some time in July.
“So right now there’s really no blockbusters if you will, to show,” he said.
Another issue is to find out what guidelines and protocols they’d have to follow to ensure the safety of staff and moviegoers.
“I don’t know if we would do the 19th or the 26th,” Craig said. “I’m not sure yet because like I say, we want to make sure we’re doing things correctly -- that we don’t do something incorrect and then people get mad.
“Because there’s going to be a whole new learning curve for our customers, for our staff, and with this two-metre distancing in our small theatre, it’s going to be a challenge in some spots to have that two-metre distancing.”
In his June 9 announcement Premier Kenney said indoor seated/audience events of up to 100 could be allowed. Craig noted that before the COVID-19 outbreak, the Mayfair Cinema could seat up to 245 people.
The Mayfair Cinema employs about nine people, all part-time.
“I think between now and the time we do open, we’re going to have to have a chat with the staff and find out what they’re comfortable with,” Craig said, noting that for example, some staff members may not be comfortable returning without wearing masks.
The Mayfair Cinema closed down completely on March 17, due to the COVID-19 lockdown, but reopened in a partial way from April 17 onward, selling popcorn and other concession items.
That was something they used to do beforehand anyway, but during the lockdown, it became a handy way to help pay the bills with no one watching movies in the theatre.
As a result, three or four employees have been working there, primarily on Fridays and Saturdays.
It’s worked well.
“The first night that we opened we had people lined up around the block – socially distanced and spaced. We had staff opening and closing the door and directing people in and out,” he said.
“It helped keep the wolf away from the door; because believe it or not, the bills do still show up,” Craig said.
He said overall, the fact the cinema can now re-open is “six of one, half a dozen of the other.”
“It would be best if there was no COVID and no social distancing. But the new reality is you‘ve got to try and work in all these new regulations to make it safe for staff and customers,” he said.
“I guess you want to say (you’re) apprehensive, because you don’t know what to expect, and just like with anything, you’ve just got to open the door and see what happens and then deal with the situation as it occurs.”
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