According to brick-and-mortar classic theater owners in the Philadelphia region, the death of going to the movies has been greatly exaggerated, writes Kevin Riordan for The Philadelphia Inquirer.
“Everybody’s always talking doom and gloom, but our attendance was up last year,” said Chris Collier, executive director of Renew Theaters in Doylestown.
Renew Theaters is a nonprofit that operates several local theaters, including the County Theater in Doylestown, the Ambler Theater, and the Hiway Theater in Jenkintown, as well as the Garden Theatre in Princeton, New Jersey.
Along with the pandemic, which significantly impacted the entire industry, another factor often seen as the death knell for movie theaters was the rise of online streaming platforms like Netflix.
“Streaming is its own thing, and it’s not going to stop,” added Collier. “What really matters is bringing people together and capturing the excitement of a classic moviegoing experience.”
In response the theaters have been attracting more viewers by offering a mix of classic films, film series, classes, as well as the current movies.
Collier added that it’s not just a matter of simply taking what Hollywood is giving them, but bringing more than that to the table.
Read more about classic movie theaters and why they continue to be in style in The Philadelphia Inquirer.
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