Mayan takes on 'quite an ordeal' to reopen big screen
DENVER – The Mayan Theatre will reopen its doors Friday, Jan. 15 after being closed for nearly two months due to COVID-19 spikes in Denver.
Rocky Mountain PBS spoke with Margot Gerber, VP of Marketing and Publicity for Landmark Theaters – which owns the Mayan – about the reopening process and precautions.
“It’s quite an ordeal to reopen a theater,” Gerber said. “We have to do everything under the strictest guidelines of the CDC, and also all the local ordinances for health and safety.”
First, the regional directors have to call back staff, and there’s no guarantee that staff will be available due to the length of time of layoff.
“Not everybody comes back, since there can be weeks and months between when people were able to work,” Gerber said.
Reopening processes include checking stock for expiration dates, maintaining equipment, and of course keeping sanitation up to code.
“The cleaning process involves using various fluids that are disinfectants that have been approved by the CDC to clean theaters to protect people from COVID,” Gerber said. “There’s a sprayer that is used to spray the seats and the air in the theater.”
The theater will be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected between each showing, with extra time left between movie show times.
The Mayan will operate at 25% capacity per theater, with seats and rows roped off to maintain adequate spacing for safety.
Masks are also required.
“We’re very much enforcing the rule that masks must be worn in the auditorium,” Gerber said. “For the foreseeable future these are the protocols that will be in place to keep our guests safe.”
The bottom line is the Mayan wants people to come enjoy the movies while having no fear of infection.
“Those that are interested in venturing out, we make it the safest possible experience,” Gerber said.
Showtimes can be found on the Mayan's website.
Landmark's other Metro Area theaters, including the Esquire, Chez Artiste, and Greenwood Village location, remain closed at this time.