Leaders of the nonprofit YES Cinema, still struggling through COVID-19 restrictions, hope to get some money earmarked for independent theaters, concert venues and cultural institutions as part of a future COVID-19 relief package.
The two-screen venue has battled dipping movie attendance ever since it reopened July 3 after a mid-March closing amid a statewide shutdown. Smaller audiences sizes, including many fewer than 10 people, have been partly due to the venue playing mostly older films since Hollywood has delayed production and release dates on many of its new projects.
YES’ role at 328 Jackson St. in downtown Columbus stretches far beyond entertainment. Its operator, Lincoln-Central Neighborhood Family Center, uses proceeds from the facility to help fund a number of its programs helping some of the city’s most poverty-stricken residents with everything from job training to parenting skills.
But the venue has lost about $70,000 in total revenue in 2020 — in ticket sales, concessions, and also through on-screen advertising, which has become a strong revenue producer. One saving grace has been that building owner Cummins Inc. recently has not charged rent for YES in order to help it attempt to recover and remain open.
Randy Allman, the neighborhood center’s executive director, mentioned that the audiences that have attended have been appreciative of the safety measures and more.
"Everyone who has come has loved being here," he said, adding that ticket buyers have appreciated the extensive sanitizing, safely spaced seating and no-contact entry during each show.
Allman said that theater staff has been being paid from the center’s reserve funds. He added that the venue should be able to survive on that money until perhaps spring.
"It’s hard to say exactly how much longer we could go," Allman said. "But it’s probably going to be really tight. And we don’t want to have to use up all those reserves."
Private, group rentals, beginning at $99 for groups of 20 or fewer to watch classic Christmas films such as "Elf" and "A Christmas Story," have boosted finances with 41 such bookings since mid-November, according to Linda Allman, the events coordinator for YES.
"We do have something for everybody," she said.
Some of those bookings have been local firms using the outings as a company holiday celebration.
Others have been extended families, such as Bonnie Nolting, who brought in 18 relatives, including her grandchildren, to a private showing of "The Polar Express" on Sunday. Adults and children alike all wore matching pajamas to the showing.
"The grandkids thought it was the neatest thing," Nolting said. "I think more people should take advantage of it."
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”Now playing at YES” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
- Wonder Woman ’84: Diana Prince will have to muster all of her strength, wisdom and courage as she finds herself squaring off against Maxwell Lord and the Cheetah, a villainess who possesses superhuman strength and agility.
- News of the World: Tells the story of 71-year-old Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd and his unlikely ward, a 10-year-old girl rescued by the U.S. Army from Kiowa Indian capture.
[sc:pullout-text-end]
