Columbia Cinema to open with Unhinged
By Tom Peterson
Columbia Cinema in The Dalles is going to show its first movie in five months on Friday, Aug. 21, according to theater owner Bruce Humphrey.
Unhinged starring Rusell Crowe will hit the screen at 3:30 p.m., he said, thanks to a smaller film company, Solstice Studios, which put the film out to test the waters.
Film producers are hedging their bets a bit by delaying releases as many theaters remain closed due to COVID-19.
The film follows a young woman, Caren Pistorius, who is harassed by a seemingly unstable stranger, Crowe, following a road rage incident.
The film will be playing in two theaters and has four showtimes, 3:30 p.m., 4:15 p.m., 6:30 p.m. and 7:15 p.m.
Humphrey asked that movie goers show up early as it will take more time to purchase a ticket, receive concessions and get seated.
“There will be a learning curve for us and our patrons,” he said. Theater goers are required to fill out contact tracing forms. At the concession stand, one attendant will take the money and others will fill orders. Masks will be required unless patrons are drinking or eating.
Every other row of theatre seats will be closed, and groups or singles will have a minimum of three seats between them to create greater safety.
In addition to Unhinged, Columbia Cinema will be showing two classic films, Despicable Me, 3:45 p.m. and 6:45 p.m., and Ghostbusters with Bill Murray, 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.. Entrance to those films is $5.
Humphrey said he was excited to find out on Monday that Unhinged was going to be available as over the last five months movie release dates keep getting pushed back.
“There is a still a lot of theaters closed throughout the nation, but we have to start somewhere,” he said, noting the opening made him nervous. On the other hand, he said he was a part of the National Association of Theatre Owners, and they needed to show that they were willing to make safety changes and project some films.
That, and “it’s hard to pay the bills after being closed for five months,” he said.
Columbia Cinema is at 2727 7th St., The Dalles.
