Posted on 10/01/2021 5:56:15 AM PDT by billorites
NEW LONDON Conn. — Movie theaters have long hosted theme nights, but here's a new one: In the world of COVID-19, some are now holding vaccinated-customers-only days.
Niantic Cinemas is the latest to add to this growing trend, with its first "CinéVac Mondays" scheduled for Oct. 4.
Peter E. Mitchell, manager of Niantic Cinemas, says he heard a podcast about two movie theaters, one in Peterborough, N.H., and one in Bryn Mawr, Penn., doing vaccinated-patrons-only days, to great effect. It has attracted back to those cinemas people who were wary of returning even though they are vaccinated.
With this concept in mind, Niantic Cinemas asked for feedback from its Facebook followers and got positive responses.
And so Niantic Cinemas is going to try its "CinéVac Mondays."
"It's an evolving program, and we have to see how people respond to it," Mitchell says.
The plan is that, on Mondays, when patrons are buying tickets, they will be asked to show their vaccination card and a photo ID, so the face can be matched with the name.
Customers are supposed to wear their masks until they are in their seats.
The auditoriums are fairly large so allow for social distancing, Mitchell says.
On a related note, Niantic Cinemas also recently established a new policy: everyone who works at the theater has to be vaccinated. One employee hadn't gotten a shot and now has the first of two, with the second scheduled for Oct. 12. that person won't be working on Oct. 4. And all employees will wear face masks.
On the other six days of the week, Niantic Cinemas will continue to be open to everyone, with folks required to wear masks when not eating or drinking.
After reopening on June 25 from shutting because of the pandemic, Niantic Cinemas' audience numbers has been significantly down, Mitchell says. (Some of that no doubt has to do with the fact that a number of companies, Disney and Warner Bros. among them, are now streaming their releases on the same day they premiere in theaters.)
The "CinéVac Mondays" are a way to try to bring some hesitant folks back into the venue, including seniors, who have been a big part of Niantic Cinemas' business. Mitchell says that seniors like coming with friends to the theater to see a matinee — and enjoying that sense of community — as opposed to streaming a release at home. During the pandemic, though, they have been staying at home more. Mitchell says they seem to be trickling back to the theater, and "CinéVac Mondays" are meant to create an environment where people — seniors and everyone else — feel safe.
This is why people torrent.
No problem with this. Ladies Night, Seniors Day, I’m fine with such promotions. And Monday is a weak business day anyway.
The stupidity of those going for it, however, is breathtaking.
I honestly find this to be a creative way to accommodate customers who may be interested in patronizing your business under these circumstances.
“Niantic Cinemas will continue to be open to everyone, with folks required to wear masks when not eating or drinking.”
I for one, am thrilled at the prospect. Sounds like almost as much fun as riding the bus.
Should have an unvaxxed day. Gotta stay away from those vaxxed superspreaders, ya know.
Who cares? I wouldn’t step foot in a movie theater even if they were giving out free popcorn by the barrel!
Sounds like a super-spreader event.
So you're OK with a movie theater demanding to see your medical records and ID? I am not. Would not go there Monday or any other day.
That will stop after they all start getting Covid.
If a business likes to reserve a portion of its time for those that find comfort in masks and vaxxes, but not every day nor every theatre, everyone can associate as they wish.
For myself Hollywierd hasn’t met the first criteria, namely producing something worth my eyeball at all rather than preachy woke BS, so it hardly matters where I don’t watch it.
They can show Zombie Movies! 🤢
That's not the point. The theater owners don't really care about your vax status. What they care about is that this policy effectively bans blacks from entering their theaters.
Stupid policy. What’s next? Moving the unvaxxed to detention facilities for the rest of their lives?
Jim Crovid.
They call it superspreader Monday.
Don’t miss the partee!
It's theater, both on the screen and through the management office. No discrimination to see here, absolutely none.
That’s actually not a bad marketing idea. All the Karens and commielibs will go out to see the movies with their fake sense of security and then the rest of us can go to the theatre the other six days. And Mondays are traditionally the worst-attended night at the movies so the stunt may actually prove a money-maker.
Exactly ! They will see a boost in revenue from all the virtue signal types. Somewhere, W.C. Fields is smiling, P.T. Barnum, too (originally from Connecticut).
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.