Feather River Cinemas set to open for Memorial…
Feather River Cinemas set to open for Memorial Day weekend
Feather River Cinemas has plans to reopen May 27 with a ribbon cutting and sneak previews of "Quiet Place 2" and "Cruella." (Kyra Gottesman — Mercury-Register)
By Kyra Gottesman | Correspondent
OROVILLE — All the action will return to the big screen when Feather River Cinemas reopens Memorial Day weekend.
The theater doors will open May 27 for sneak previews of "Cruella" and "Quiet Place 2." The box office opens at noon and there will be two showings of these movies that evening.
"We're going to do a ribbon cutting at about 4:30 (p.m.) on Thursday and welcome everyone back. And, of course, the concession stand will be fully open too," said Leon Lazzarini, FRC owner.
On May 28, the local movie house will open with a full slate of entertainment. In addition to "Cruella" and "Quiet Place," the cinema will be showing "Mortal Combat" and "Godzilla vs Kong."
Tickets for all shows are available at the box office at 2690 Feather River Blvd. No online ticket purchases will be available for the first week the theater is open however, show times and ticket prices will be listed on the website, www.frcmovies.com.
The theater is following COVID-safety protocols including seating at 50-percent capacity with 6-foot social distancing.
"People who come to the movies together can obviously sit together but we are blocking off every other row to maintain the social distance. There will also be an usher checking to make sure social distancing is happening," said Lazzarini.
The theater's staff will be wearing facemasks and customers will also be required to wear a facemask in the theater.
"If you don't have a facemask on, you can't come in. While you're sitting in your seat eating popcorn you can obviously take your mask off but coming and going, getting up to use the restroom or any other time you may be out of your seat, you have to be wearing your mask," said Lazzarini.
Lazzarini also said he was "worried people will behave badly" when it comes to facemask compliance, but he's hoping everyone will be cooperative and not abusive to the theater's staff.
There will be familiar faces among the staff as six of the theater's eight pre-COVID-lay off employees will be returning to work.
"You know people had to go about their lives this past year — make a living. It's nice though to have people back who can hit the ground running," said Lazzarini.
Lazzarini said while people have been driving through the theater's parking lot "every day, all day long" recently to see when the theater will reopen, he does have some "reservations" about opening again.
"'I've been in the business for 50 years and I know a lot of people who have already opened (movie theaters), and it isn't pretty. One guy's business is down 90 percent. Oroville could be different. People here seem anxious to have movies again so we'll see," said Lazzarini.
The theater owner did say he would not close back down this summer or fall but does have a contingency plan to operate under a more limited schedule if necessary.
Kyra Gottesman