Capitol Annex Theatre in North Battleford will re-open July 24. (Josh Ryan/battlefordsNOW staff)

By Angela Brown

Popcorn days

Movie theatre to re-open with special program supporting charities

Jul 23, 2020 | 5:10 PM

The Capitol Annex Theatre in North Battleford will be open again to movie lovers starting tomorrow.

The theatre on 101 Street will be open for shows as part of the province’s Re-Open Saskatchewan plan while following COVID-19 restrictions. The Capital Theatre on 100 Street however will remain closed for the time being.

“Right now there are no current new movies coming out [as] they are not being released by any of the production companies,” manager Ursula Swindler said. “Local businesses have stepped up to sponsor movies, which makes us able to open the doors. The customers will actually be able to come in for free by donation.”

Participating businesses will support various local charities with the proceeds.

“[Attendees] will be able to donate to a charity and be able to watch a movie for free,” Swindler said.

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The initiative will help the theatre, businesses, the community and local charities at the same time, she said.

“So it’s giving back; it’s really good,” Swindler said.

The movie program will run two days a week. The Gold Eagle Gas Bar is sponsoring the first movie – the 2012 film The Avengers, starting July 24. Other movies to follow include Labyrinth, Inside Out, Bohemian Rhapsody, and Slap Shot, so far. Some of the organizations sponsoring these films include the Great Canadian Oil Change, the North Battleford Part-Time Fire Fighters, Battlefords Pride, and the Battlefords North Stars.

Movies hosted by Battlefords Pride and the Battlefords North Stars are fundraisers for the organizations.

Full details of the schedule and times are available on the theatre’s website.

The theatre will allow up to a maximum of 30 per cent of normal capacity to comply with COVID-19 regulations. Households must maintain social distancing regulations.

“We’re very thankful the community is supporting us through all of this,” Swindler said. “I’m glad that people are going to be excited to come and watch some of the older [movies] again.”

Private theatre rentals are also available.

“That is helping us pay some of the bills while waiting for new movies to come out,” Swindler said.

Popcorn for sale

As an ongoing offer, the Capital Annex Theatre sells popcorn to groups having their own movie-night that continues during the pandemic.

“Lots of the local reserves around here have been doing their own drive-in movie night,” Swindler said, adding the theatre sells extra-large bags of popcorn for these events. “Right now we are making some for Thunderchild [First Nation]. So we have 12 bags going out for them. You just need to pre-order and we can make those up for you fresh.”

The theatre also sells take-out popcorn bags to families on Saturdays.

Swindler said the theatre has always sold popcorn to various groups and families upon request.

“I have sold these for weddings and different things like that,” she said. “If you have some family coming down, we can sell the popcorn.”

– With files from Josh Ryan

angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW