Imperial Theatre stays closed until movie availability improves

The Imperial Theatre was just one of many nonessential public places required to close toward the beginning of the pandemic.
Even though Chase County has been moved into Phase 4 status, the theatre will still remain closed awhile longer.
It’s not because of the restrictions, however. Theatres are now allowed a 75% capacity, said Jo Leyland, city clerk/administrator.
“The movie industry is simply not releasing any new movies to theatres. Production on new movies was halted because of the pandemic, so there aren’t any movies to get right now,” Leyland said.
Theatres are struggling nationwide according to distribution companies, she said.
Filming movies is resuming, but it will be some time before they are available, she added.
The drive-in movies the city was providing at the Chase County fairgrounds was well-received by the community. But the city was losing money the whole time, Leyland said, so they will not be resuming it again.
“To even attempt to show older movies in the theatre would be difficult to access and not cost effective,” she said.
“We would have to consistently have 40 people attend the movie just to pay the movie cost, and that doesn’t include other costs. I feel bad about it,” she added.
For most of the history of Hollywood, the U.S. would see new blockbuster movies first while the rest of the world had to wait.
The coronavirus pandemic could reverse that model, according to entertainment reports.
After decades of getting Hollywood movies first, the U.S. could now get them last, reports said.
Movie studios can’t afford to sit on big-budget movies very long, which leaves them three options: wait until U.S. theatres are open again to release them, show them to the rest of the world first or make them available on streaming services in lieu of theatres.
“Warner Bros. postponed releasing its new blockbuster film ‘Tenet’ in theatres. But now they will probably release it overseas in August and possibly release it in the U.S. in September,” Leyland said.
This was also in line with information in Vulture magazine.
Leyland didn’t have a definite date the local theatre would reopen.
“Hopefully, we will be able to  start receiving movies again sometime in late fall,” she said.
Chateau Theatre
The Chateau Theatre in Wauneta is in the same boat, said Ashley Einspahr, Wauneta Chamber of Commerce treasurer and theatre committee member.
The theatre will remain closed for now, she said.
“We hope to open again the first of the year and/or when new movies become available,” Einspahr said.