The Segregated Past of Drive-In Movie Theaters (Guest Column)

Anthony D'Alessandro, Nancy Tartaglione In the wake of the China Film Administration announcing yesterday the reopening of cinemas on July 20, there’s been several questions as to what China is determining to be a low or high risk COVID-19 area.

Anthony D'Alessandro Editorial Director/Box Office EditorBREAKING: Those theaters in low risk areas in China “can resume business in an orderly manner” as early as Monday, July 20, the China Film Administration announced in a recent notice.There were rumblings in foreign distribution that China would start reopening on this date, however, sources weren’t so sure whether that meant simply that the Shanghai Film Festival would take place at this time (and thus, movie theaters would reopen).

Dade Hayes Finance EditorA federal judge has ruled that the state of New Jersey can keep movie theaters closed at the same time religious services or other indoor gatherings are allowed to proceed.The closely watched case offered a close-up look at one effort by beleaguered theaters to open their doors again after months of shutdowns due to COVID-19.In a terse ruling (read it HERE), U.S. District Court Judge Brian R.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media WriterA federal judge in New Jersey on Tuesday denied the theater industry’s request for a temporary restraining order that would force the state to allow theaters to reopen.Judge Brian R. Martinotti also set a schedule for litigating the industry’s request for an injunction on the matter, with a hearing expected on or before Aug.

including Los Angeles — whose infections continued to surge to close down movie theaters and dine-in services at restaurants.

Dave McNary Film ReporterCiting soaring coronavirus rates, Governor Gavin Newsom has ordered all movie theaters and bars to close immediately.The order, announced Monday, also covers wineries, family entertainment, zoos, museums and cardamoms.Newsom had announced on July 1 that there would be a three-week closure of dine-in restaurant service and movie theaters in Los Angeles County and 18 other counties. Nearly all indoor movie theaters in California have been closed since mid-March.

Tom Tapp Deputy Managing EditorThe day after California officials that the number of deaths related to coronavirus in the state had passed 7,000, Governor Gavin Newsom announced that there had been 8,358 new cases reported in the state.“We’re continuing to see hospitalizations rise and we continue to see an increase in the rate of positivity in the state.”“We are moving back into a ‘modification mode’ of our original stay-at-home order,” said Newsom.The governor announced that he is equiring all

Dade Hayes, Tom Grater Hong Kong Disneyland, which reopened June 18, is closing again temporarily due to the resurgence of COVID-19.Hong Kong cinemas also will be forced to close again starting Wednesday after a spike in local cases of the coronavirus led authorities to re-implement tighter lockdown measures.The government will close 12 types of businesses, including gyms, gaming centers and cinemas, and will limit group gatherings to just four people, down from 50.

coronavirus pandemic. The plan has been to remind consumers about what they missed about the theatrical experience by luring them back to cinemas with the promise of watching Christopher Nolan’s sci-fi adventure “Tenet” or Disney’s action epic “Mulan.”But that can’t happen if major markets such as New York City remain closed, and it’s become increasingly difficult for exhibitors to game out their next steps without having more clarity on when certain states will allow theaters to welcome back

Gene Maddaus Senior Media WriterA group of movie theater companies — including AMC, Cinemark and Regal — have filed a lawsuit against the governor of New Jersey, claiming a First Amendment right to reopen during the pandemic.The companies, led by the National Association of Theatre Owners, is challenging Gov.

Gerren Crochet We can save America’s soul, together.The killing of George Floyd hurt millions of people very deeply and personally – some of whom finally were waking to their unique privilege, and others who had spent years screaming into deaf ears of the silent majority. One reason that video was such a catalyst this time, as opposed to hundreds of other recent times, was because a modern-day lynching unfolded before our eyes in a familiar three-act structure.

Tom Tapp Deputy Managing EditorLos Angeles County Director of Public Health Barbara Ferrer announced on Tuesday that the county was modifying its health officer order to comply with the guidelines announced on Wednesday by California Governor Gavin Newsom.“L.A.

Dave McNary Film ReporterAmid surging COVID-19 transmission rates, California Governor Gavin Newsom has ordered the closure of dine-in restaurant service and movie theaters in Los Angeles County and 18 other counties for three weeks.Newsom announced the closures Wednesday, two days ahead of the Fourth of July weekend, and also said local officials should cancel fireworks shows, which are already prohibited in LA County.

NEW: @GavinNewsom announces 19 counties must cease indoor activities in the following industries for at least 3 weeks:Dine-in restaurants (take-out OK)Entertainment venuesMovie theatersZoos and museumsCardroomsImpacted counties: pic.twitter.com/FX2c3k9jLt— Scott Rodd (@SRodd_CPR) July 1, 2020Newsom made the decision to reopen much of the state’s economy in early June, but restrictions are tightening again as new cases are rapidly increasing in California and dozens of other states.

Cinemark on Tuesday announced plans to begin reopening its movie theaters on July 24 with a series of classic Hollywood movies.The nation’s third largest exhibitor based its plans on results from reopening five theaters in the Dallas area where the company is based.“Cinemark is pleased with the moviegoer response and key learnings from our initial five-theater test-and-learn phase in the Dallas area, and we look forward to welcoming movie fans back into our auditoriums across the country to

Los Angeles County health officials said Monday that there are "alarming increases" in positive COVID-19 cases and, as a result, the L.A. Mayor has ordered a "hard pause" on the reopening of businesses including movie theaters.

Tom Tapp Deputy Managing EditorJust one day after Texas and much of California again ordered the closure of bars and nightclubs, Arizona Governor Doug Ducey did the same. He also included waterparks, gyms and movie theaters.

Dave McNary Film ReporterReacting to a surge in COVID-19 cases, Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey has ordered all movie theaters closed for 30 days, along with bars, nightclubs, gyms and water parks.Ducey made the announcement during a news conference with the executive order going into effect at 8 p.m.

Jill Goldsmith New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has removed movie theaters, as well as malls and gyms, from the list of businesses that can reopen in Phase 4 of the state’s plan to study recent developments — mainly a surge in COVID-19 infections in other states.