The iconic ArcLight and Pacific Theaters had not reopened on March 15 unlike their competitors.
Despite timid signs of cultural recovery, the United States continues to count the devastation of Covid-19 on its film industry. Last sad news for moviegoers: the three hundred cinemas of the ArcLight Cinemas and Pacific Theaters networks will definitively close their doors, after a year of paralysis of the sector due to the global pandemic. The news is all the more dramatic as it comes after theaters were authorized to reopen on March 15 in Los Angeles, with gauges at 25% until June 15.
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“After having closed our doors more than a year ago, today we must announce the difficult and sad news: Pacific will not reopen its ArcLight and Pacific Theaters theaters”, parent company of the two chains, Decurion Corp., said in a statement on April 12. She specifies that “It was not the desired result”, but that “Society has no viable solution”, before addressing a few words to employees and the public: “To all of the Pacific and ArcLight employees who have dedicated their professional lives to making our theaters the best places in the world to see movies: We appreciate your service and dedication to our customers. To our guests and members of the film industry who have made cinema such a magical experience over the years: our sincere thanks. It has been an honor and a pleasure to serve you. ”
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Gone are the days of some of the film industry’s biggest and most popular cinemas, including the iconic Cinerama Dome, which hosted the premieres of Melrose Place and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. Unlike their competitors, the group’s theaters had decided to wait until June 15 to reopen, in order to preserve their profitability. A calculation that is ultimately not very shrewd.
On social media, the announcement resulted in a string of grieved messages. Director Gina Prince-Bythewood expressed “her extreme sadness” when writer Matt Oswalt called for help: “Tarantino saved the New Beverly [salle de cinéma historique à Los Angeles, NDLR], hoping someone can save the ArcLight. ”
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