From part-time employee Donald Dolan in a comment on the story about Regal’s closing.
John Lopez, having worked at the Crystal Lake Regal theatre part-time for almost 6 years now, including the two recent shut downs (mid-March thru nearly the end of August) and then as of this past Thursday, what I know and speculate is the following.
Regal is hoping to open again this year, but much depends on what the movie companies are willing to do, and by that I mean stop pushing already filmed movies back 3, 6, 9 and in some cases 12 months from their original start date.
For Regal, my best guess is that when Marvel’s Black Widow got pushed back from May, to August, to October, and then to May of 2021 – along with the James Bobd movie No Time to Die similarly being pushed back several times to May of next year as well.. was pretty much the final straw for this year.
In my opinion, a theatre can’t generate enough revenue to stay open for any great length of time showing either all older movies and only some new ones.
In speaking with many of our regular patrons over these last 7 weeks we were open, they.. like many, were afraid come back to the theater due to Covid-19.
However, I can tell you first hand what a phenomenal job Regal did in setting up and executing continual and systematic desanitizing of the the 16 individual theaters, all public areas (door handles, counters, bathrooms etcc), making sure social distancing was observed and followed through on by all patrons.. including making sure masks were worn by everyone at all times, that employees washed amd desanitized their hands their hands every 15 minutes when helping customers at concessions, and that all theaters were fully cleaned an desanitized between all showings.
Again, they did an incredible job, and not one comment has been registered by anyone attending our theatre regarding their contacting Covid-19 there.
As for re-opening, as I stated above, it is my understanding that Regal hopes to re-open this year, but in my opinion Hollywood won’t release any of their larger and much anticipated movies until next year.. April or May at the earliest.
I find the Hollywood conundrum / catch-22 situation very interesting.
On one hand they want to make money on their already completed films, yet.. on the other hand they won’t release them to the theaters to earn money.. any money.
They can’t have it both ways.
They don’t seem to realize they’re killing movie theaters by their actions, but they don’t seem to care.. in my opinion.
Yes, Regal is closed for some undetermined length of time, the question is.. who’s next.. AMC (that would beva good bet), Marcus, Classic Cinemas.. who else?
I don’t know, but it’s coming unless the movie companies change the way they think.
We’re in different times now, and they need to think differently as well.. for everyone’s sake.
Otherwise, there won’t be any theaters left to show their movies whenever it is they decide to release them.
They’re only hurting themselves, and the theaters and all their employees are the resultant collateral damage from their actions and re-actions to Covid-19.. sadly.. much like many other businesses that have struggled to remain open during this pandemic, and many of which have either already closed and/or have laid off or furloughed their employees due to the pandemic.
Here is the link to the documentary of Mike Madigan entitled “Power.Privilege.Politics
from the Illinois Policy Institute.
It runs less than 1 one hour and is well worth your time.
Get on it, Cal.
https://www.michaelmadigan.com/
After the election Hollyweird will be back in full sick swing.
John, I sincerely hope that you meant so say “SANITIZED” in each instance where you use “DESANITIZED.”
I’d hate to think that folks were running out and wiping their hands on Pritzker or Jerk Franks every time they felt clean! lol!
You can by a 75” flatscreen for less than $900, add in a good sound system and why go to a movie theater?
It’s called obsolescence.
Get over it
Buy I meant
It’s just trash anyway.
I hate liberal Hollywood but I do enjoy going to Crystal Lake Regal and they did a good job keeping everything clean and trying to ensure people were able to enjoy themselves while staying safe.
I’ve been there about a dozen time over the last two months and had no complaints, other than Regal switching from Coke to Pepsi.
Hey dad, you’re the only person I saw this news from.
Thanks for covering it.
Thank god. Good riddance. Terrible seats. Bye Felicia.
Patty O’Kenneally was looking for a part-time job there as the Mens Rea Attendant.
Reick is tuberculosis
Sager is stage IV cancer
Take your pick
I feel sorry for all the employees, but really couldn’t care less if every single movie theater shut down and Hollywood became a ghost town.
Their movies have slowly gone from great to good to bad to propaganda.
This is what happens in the world they created, you get cancelled.
If anyone went to a movie cinema ever and saw a 75-in screen they would walk out instantly.. what a joke!
That’s like saying why should I buy a Mercedes if I can buy a Yaris for a lot less..
nobody can create anything remotely close to even an old cheap Cinema at home unless they are super rich
What this opinion piece fails to articulate is that movie studios and their investors have invested hundreds of millions of dollars into these products.
The reality is that cinemas are middle men delivery services for content they don’t have to pay for up front.
Movie studios are obligated to deliver a return on their investments which means they have to wait until the public is able to return on mass to cinemas.
If it helps you sleep at night, Cinemas will indeed make a comeback (The product is already made)
But in the mean time Cinema chains will have to find a way to make it through or cinemas will reopen under new management on the other side of the crisis.
Regal is a great theatre.
People that are afraid are Democratic idiots who support CRAZY joe who right now cannot remember is name.
Trumptards making fake comments.
Don’t worry Trumptard will save the world.
Let’s hope not, he’s done enough damage.
BYE DON…
Wonder what doofus bufoon plagiarist racist rapist dementia Biden thinks(?) about the theaters that have closed. Today in Toledo, Ohio, he said he was running for Senate.
Wow it’s so sad to see what’s happening today.
But it’s sad to see that maybe some theaters will never reopen.
The ones were the companies don’t own the space but rent.
Having to pull out because they can’t keep paying rent on a theater they can’t re-open .
As in NY were I was from “The Hamptons “ on long island NY .
Two of the “HAMPTONS “ Regal movies are “Rent” buildings the East Hampton is owned .
But with the A Hole in charge in Albany NY my never open .
The Land Lords want paying tenants.
Kicking them out does nothing can have anyone else move in .
Ya can’t open
And hate to see the condition of the insides of the closed ones.
If know one has been keeping a eye on them .
This is to Theater owners .
If you have been closed down 9 months now. And have not maintained your soda lines .
You better change them out.
You can never get ride of the old stale tastes the lines get .
I worked the old SOUTHAMPTON LONG ISLANDNY United Artists before the split and after the old vadvile stage in back behind the scenes was made in to a 4th screen .
They put in a mini concession witch was used only in summer for about 4 1/2 months .
And the soda lines ran from the FROUNT of the house .
About 400 feet of line .
That sat the rest of the year.
And believe me .
Were not drained or flushed .
The same with the East Hampton U A now Regal.
The stand down the hallway was nit used much .
But the soda beverage never tasted right .
Sorry for rambling
I just get going and down know what I’ve Been saying .
Just sad to see “”THE SHOW CANT GO ON “
Exit COVIC-19
RAUE CENTER SHOULD CLOSE DOWN, SELL TO HIGHEST BIDDER. THEY ARE BROKE AND TAKING TAX PAYER MONEY. SHEPLEY GAVE RAUE WAY TOO MUCH CASH. PRIDE GOES BEFORE THE FALL. LOSERS AND SUCKERS. CRYSTAL LAKE CITY COUNCIL.
Why are you shouting?
Yes, why?
Only stupid people scream like that. They use the excuse that they can read it easier. Which is absolutely false! It is so much harder to read ANYTHING in all caps. They are just lazy and don’t know how to unlock caps while showing their stupidity.
PERHAPS THEY ARE ALMOST BLIND, WITH GLAUCOMA, AND IT IS EASIER TO READ AND WRITE. SO PISS-OFF. DEPLORABLE CRYSTAL LAKE CITY.