After Year of Uncertainty, Classic Cinemas Ready to Show Movies Again
WDCB’s Gary Zidek checks in with Classic Cinemas CEO Chris Johnson to talk about reopening.
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“I think (the new) TOP GUN will elevate the excitement of movie theaters to pre-pandemic levels. People will be talking about the movie and the experience, and not COVID-related things. That doesn’t mean everything is gone and done, but I think that gets us back, and people (will) understand that we’re still around.” - Classic Cinemas CEO Chris Johnson talking about his hopes for the upcoming summer movie season.
It’s been a challenging 13 months for theater operators all over the country. Cinemas have had to contend with a variety of hurdles that have made reopening more of a challenge than in some other industries. In addition to monitoring metrics and regional phases that affect capacity limits, movie theaters are dealing with constantly changing film release calendars. And of course, there’s public opinion and how films fans are going to feel about coming back to theaters.
Many Chicago-area movie theaters reopened earlier this year once the region’s COVID metrics improved and the state moved into phase-4. But some theater operators have taken a wait-and-see approach. Classic Cinemas will reopen all 15 of its theaters on April 15. Some of the Downers Grove-based company’s cinemas have been closed for over a year, others have been dark for the past 9 months. Classic Cinemas CEO Chris Johnson knows there are still some challenges, but he’s optimistic a combination of factors could mean brighter summer movie season this year.
Under the marquee of the York Theatre in downtown Elmhurst
