APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – A movie theater in Appleton is now offering vaccinated-only movie screenings. Marcus Theatres’ Valley Grand Cinema began giving people this option to make hesitant movie-goers feel a bit more comfortable to venture out.
As Kathy Peterson of Darboy was about to enter one of the vax-required screenings, FOX 11 asked her if having this available makes her feel safer.
“Oh, yes!” she said. “Definitely. Definitely.”
At the Valley Grand Cinema, select movies will only screen for those who are fully vaccinated against COVID.
Tuesday, the movie of choice was West Side Story.
“We’ve basically been wanting to test it, and we’re seeing some demand in the market for people who want to go to vax-only showings,” Marcus Corporation CEO Greg Marcus said. “It’s not for the whole theater; it’s not for everybody.”
At Marcus Theatres, you have your choice in seats, snacks, movies, and now the choice of whether you want to watch a movie surrounded by only those who are vaccinated.
“I think it’s a pretty good idea,” Oscar Martinez of New London said. “It gives people that peace of mind, they’re more protected, maybe more comfortable going into a show like this.”
The showings where vaccinations are required will have “Vax Required” next to the title of the movie. And to get into the auditorium playing these shows, guests will have to show proof of vaccination with their vaccination card or a photo of the card, along with a photo ID.
“We have an employee stationed outside the auditorium, checking vaccination cards before you go into the show, so that we are making sure that people are doing what they say they do,” Marcus said.
This week, Valley Grand Cinema will have vaccination-required shows for West Side Story, Spider-Man: No Way Home and Nightmare Alley. Regular screenings of those movies that don’t require vaccination will still be available.
The Fox Valley theater offering vax-required showings makes it the fourth Marcus Theatre in Wisconsin to have the option available to guests.
