Camas movie house offering showtimes Wednesday through Sunday with COVID protocols
Moviegoers in Clark County have a place to see films on a big screen again at the Liberty Theatre in Downtown Camas. Grab some popcorn, drinks and candy. And don’t forget your masks.
“It’s nice to see the theatre lit up again and being able to open the doors to our customers,” said owner Rand Thornsley. “People are excited just to get out and say they saw a movie.”
Currently, the Liberty offers afternoon and evening showtimes every Wednesday through Sunday. Since seating is limited to 25 percent capacity during the state’s Phase 2 coronavirus guidelines, Thornsley recommends purchasing tickets online ahead of time at camasliberty.com.
General admission is $6.50, $5.50 for senior citizens and $5.00 for children 12 and younger.
There are up to 75 assigned seats available for each showing in the main theatre. Every other row and three seats on either side of each customer or group are closed off for social distancing. Granada Studio is open to a few small groups and fills quickly.
The Liberty was open for a limited time in the fall before being forced to close again for another few months. Thornsley is happy to see business gaining steam since reopening Feb. 19.
“We’re happy to be back,” he said. “When the theatre isn’t operating, you kind of lose your structure. We’ve been scrambling to get things back up and in order. I’d say operations right now are stable, but we could be forced to close again at any time.”
Which means it’s up to guests to keep following the safety protocols. People should arrive for their movies ahead of time, have their tickets printed out, enter the theatre and go directly to their seats. No lingering in the lobby. Guests will not be allowed to enter once the movie starts.
Masks are required by state law to be worn any time people are standing or moving throughout the theatre. Once seated, masks can be removed only when actively eating or drinking. Masks must be on while seated or going to the restroom. The Liberty Theatre sells disposable masks for $1 at the box office.
“If you can’t comply with the rules, stay home,” Thornsley said. “If we get a COVID case, we could get shut down again. It’s all about survival at this point. We’ve got to stay open.”
Modifications to the bathrooms and the building’s air filtering system were made during the first shutdown back in the spring and summer of 2020. Staff members clean and sanitize door handles, counter tops, faucets, kiosks and railings every 30 minutes. Showtimes are limited throughout the day so staff has ample time to sanitize seats, drink holders, rows and aisles between movies.
All Liberty Theatre employees are given temperature screenings before they start their shifts. Thornsley said he is hiring new staff members on a part-time basis. An online application is available at camasliberty.com.
Big screens in Clark County
The AMC Vancouver Mall 23 and AMC Mill Plain 8 cinemas are open at a 40 percent limited capacity. Tickets and showtimes are available at amctheatres.com. General admission is $11.50, $10 for senior citizens and $8.50 for children 12-and-younger.
Safety protocols are similar. Masks must be worn at all times, other than when actively eating or drinking. All transactions must be paid with a credit or debit card. Cash will not be accepted in most circumstances. The theatres sell disposable masks for $1.
Kiggins Theatre in Downtown Vancouver plans to reopen with a St. Patrick’s Day showing of The Quiet Man. It starts at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. Tickets are on sale for $10 at kigginstheatre.com.
Kiggins offers a selection of movies to watch virtually from home. Prices range from $7 to $12. The theatre also sells fresh popcorn on Fridays from 5 to 7 p.m.
The four Regal Cinemas locations in Vancouver have remained closed since October. A message on the Battle Ground Cinema website states the staff is waiting for a more viable selection of movies while also keeping an eye on the new variants of coronavirus. For more information, visit regmovies.com and battlegroundcinema.com.
