The Regal Cinema on 42nd and 8th Avenue in Manhattan remains closed during the coronavirus pandemic, so it has no film titles to flash on its marquee. Instead, someone at the theater has decided to use that prime real estate to send a message.
Swapping out “Chief Willoughby” with Governor Andrew Cuomo, the prominent sign changed on Friday to read “48 states have reopened theaters safely Why not New York, Governor Cuomo? #ReopenOurCinemasNY”
The message seen on this particular marquee is not likely to be at any corporate directive, but rather the activity of an individual key holder at this location. Just last week, Cineworld, the UK-based corporate parent of Regal, announced that it was closing all of its US and UK locations (leaving just a few open in Eastern Europe and the Middle East.)
The marquee of the legendary downtown art cinema Film Forum currently reads “The Only Thing We Have To Fear Is Fear Itself.”
Yahoo! Entertainment reports that Adam Aron, head of AMC Theaters, has requested that Cuomo follow California’s lead, and allow theaters to open on a county-by-county basis. The National Association of Theater Owners, who have initiated a set of guidelines called CinemaSafe, claim that theaters can be as safe or safer than malls, gyms, bowling allies, casinos, museums, and indoor dining, all of which have returned, with restrictions, to New York. They also note that “no known COVID infection has yet been traced to a theater despite their being open in most U.S. states and around the world.”
The New York Post reports that an advisor to Cuomo, Richard Azzopardi, responded to the marquee by saying “we understand some people are unhappy, but you know what? Better unhappy than sick or worse.”
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