BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN) - Movie theatres on Friday can begin showing films for the first time since March.
Governor Andrew Cuomo gave movie theatres outside of New York City the green light to reopen on Friday over the weekend. However, the theatres can only operate at 25 percent capacity and with no more than 50 people in front of each movie screen.
At North Park Theatre on Hertel Avenue in Buffalo, the 50-person limit means they can only truly operate at 8% capacity because they have 600 seats.
The theatre's program director, Ray Barker, said this is a financial concern of theirs and a major challenge.
"Our thought is to get open, to show state authorities that we can keep people safe and that we're playing by the rules," Barker said. "We hope those rules are gradually less over time. Because we have 600 seats, a 25 (percent) capacity is 150 seats....maybe in time that can be bumped up."
Patrons at the theatres must wear a mask when they arrive at the theatre. Barker said the concession stands will be open and that their customers will be allowed to take them off in order to drink or eat.
"Without concessions, I don't think we could possibly be open," Barker said.
The theatre also upgraded their ventilation system in order to keep their patrons safe.
"I think the early numbers are encouraging. I think if we can at least cover our costs, we can get into 2021 and then, of course, we hope the vaccine will start to be rolled out and we'll have a different environment and in our country. The next few months are going to be challenging, there's no doubt about that. We've lessened the ability to add revenue and added to our costs. That's always tough for small businesses."
The first movies to be shown at the theatre will be Halloween films Hocus Pocus and The Nightmare Before Christmas. Their first Hollywood blockbuster is Tenet, which was released in the United States last month and will be shown beginning next week. They will begin showing local films in November.