MAGIC VALLEY — For the first time in its 100 year history, the Burley Theatre is closing down, but it wants the community to know the closure is only temporary.
After posting this Facebook post, moviegoers panicked, thinking the theatre was closing down for good.
"There's been a lot of people thinking we're closing for good, which we are not. There's just been a lot of negative things, and we want to reassure everybody that we're here, we've been here for 100 years, we have no desire to close, and we're not thinking about closing permanently," Bob Harris, owner of Burley Theatre, said.
They say the pandemic has hit the entertainment industry hard, the owners, who also own the Century Cinemas, had to shut both theatres down at the beginning of the pandemic for a month and a half.
"Just like for everybody, it's a tough thing right now, especially for the entertainment industry. We can't show movies until a film company has released them, and they haven't been making and releasing any new movies," Harris said.
The owners plan to reopen the theatre in late November with safety precautions in place. They plan to sell half the amount of tickets to allow for social distancing.
"I think theatres that are open are very well equipped to do social distancing. We make sure people keep six-feet within the auditorium. We do a massive amount of cleaning and disinfecting," Harris said.
They say the theatre is not only crucial for the community because it has been in the city for close to 100 years, but also because it provides an affordable option for families.
"It's a staple for the town, it would be hard not to see that theatre there, and I would hate to see it close and just be an empty building, so that's one thing we want to avoid," Harris said.
To support the Burley Theatre during the closure, the owners say moviegoers can support the Century Cinemas, which will remain open. For the first time in its 100 year history, the Burley Theatre is closing down, but it wants the community to know the closure is only temporary.
After posting this Facebook post, moviegoers panicked, thinking the theatre was closing down for good.
"There's been a lot of people thinking we're closing for good, which we are not. There's just been a lot of negative things, and we want to reassure everybody that we're here, we've been here for 100 years, we have no desire to close, and we're not thinking about closing permanently," Bob Harris, owner of Burley Theatre, said.
They say the pandemic has hit the entertainment industry hard, the owners, who also own the Century Cinemas, had to shut both theatres down at the beginning of the pandemic for a month and a half.
"Just like for everybody, it's a tough thing right now, especially for the entertainment industry. We can't show movies until a film company has released them, and they haven't been making and releasing any new movies," Harris said.
The owners plan to reopen the theatre in late November with safety precautions in place. They plan to sell half the amount of tickets to allow for social distancing.
"I think theatres that are open are very well equipped to do social distancing. We make sure people keep six-feet within the auditorium. We do a massive amount of cleaning and disinfecting," Harris said.
They say the theatre is not only crucial for the community because it has been in the city for close to 100 years, but also because it provides an affordable option for families.
"It's a staple for the town, it would be hard not to see that theatre there, and I would hate to see it close and just be an empty building, so that's one thing we want to avoid," Harris said.
To support the Burley Theatre during the closure, the owners say moviegoers can support the Century Cinemas, which will remain open.
