First movie theater reopens in Kansas City area since COVID-19 closures, with limits
Closed because of COVID-19, its seats empty, lights of its projectors darkened, the Screenland Armour movie theater in North Kansas City is reopening Friday — the first in the area to do so.
The theater, at 408 Armour Road, shut down in March because of the coronavirus pandemic, along with hundreds of Cinemark Theatres, AMC Entertainment, B&B Theatres and other screens.
Going back will not be what it was.
“We’re trying to make it as easy as possible. … This is kind of a big trial,” said owner Adam Roberts. “We’re playing things pretty soft and trying to see how reopening works.”
Because Hollywood shut down the flow of new movies, the theater will show older films, nothing first-run.
For now, only two of the theater’s four screens will be open, but they will admit only a fraction of their capacity to maximize social distancing. The 250-seat theater will, for now, accommodate a maximum of 60 customers. A 65-seat theater will accommodate 20.
Every other row will be closed. Seats will be left empty between individuals or groups, which will be limited to no more than six people.
Masks are not required, but Roberts encourages people to wear them to the theater and take them off once they are seated. Ushers will guide customers to their seats. Popcorn, soda and a smaller selection of other concessions, including beer and cocktails, will be available. A limited supply of tap beer will be available, but mostly it will be served in cans.
Showings have been limited in number to allow the staff to thoroughly sanitize seats and arm rests between shows.
Roberts encourages people to buy tickets online and to arrive perhaps 45 minutes prior to show times in order to buy concessions, socially distance and allow ushers to seat them.
“We’re trying to see what happens,” Roberts said.
Other major movie chains, such as Leawood-based AMC, Liberty-based B&B and Cinemark, are planning on opening in July. That is when new movies are expected to start trickling back, including Russell Crowe’s “Unhinged,” Christopher Nolan’s “Tenet” and Disney’s live-action “Mulan.”
But in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing this week, AMC raised what it termed “substantial doubt” regarding its ability to remain financially viable in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
AMC controls about 11,000 of the 40,000 movie screens in the United States. All have been shuttered since March, as the virus spread The chain previewed its first quarter earnings Tuesday morning, predicting a net quarterly loss of $2.1 billion to $2.4 billion.
At Screenland Armour on Friday, three movies are offered: a double feature of Quentin Tarantino’s “Kill Bill: Volume 1” and “Kill Bill: Volume 2” at 6:30 p.m., Spike Lee’s “Do the Right Thing” at 7 p.m. and “Candyman” at 10 p.m.
On Saturday: “Mama Mia!” and “Dune,” both at 3 p.m.; “Do The Right Thing” at 6 p.m., the “Kill Bill” double feature at 6:30 p.m. and “Candyman” at 9 p.m.
On Sunday:“Mama Mia!” and “Dune,” both at 1 p.m., and “Candyman” and “Do The Right Thing,” both at 4 p.m.
