09/02/2026
"Story Time"
Since it's coming up on Labor Day, I thought I would share the Labor that we do to make sure you can come enjoy movies each week.
But first....the movies for this weekend...
Coyote vs. ACME
Thursday, September 3rd 6:20pm
Friday, September 4th 6pm & 8:30pm
Saturday, September 5th 2:30pm, 5pm & 7:30pm
Sunday, September 6th 2pm & 4:30pm
The Odyssey
Thursday, September 3rd 6pm
Friday, September 4th 7pm
Saturday, September 5th 2pm & 7pm
Sunday, September 6th 3pm
This is the final weekend for both of these movies! Next weekend will be the PREMIERE of Practical Magic 2 and for ONE WEEKEND ONLY Elijah Peel
There is a lot that goes into preparing for a showing...The first step is the movie itself. But even before that, we download the movie and trailers via a satellite that is installed on the roof. We go through the downloads weekly to add movie trailers for movies we think we may end up showing. We try to only show 3 trailers of movies we plan on playing. Occasionally, there are required trailers that come inbedded in the movie download. When this happens, we may end up showing trailers for movies we aren't here playing. The feature comes via satellite and it is loaded into the projector (this normally takes about as long as the movie). Once it's loaded, we then "build" the movie that you see. This includes adding the advertisements, safety information, upcoming trailers, and the movie itself. There are several cues that have to be added to make sure the lighting and volume all adjust accordingly. The movie is then scheduled in the projector and programed into the point of sale system to sell tickets. Barb and Corey normally handle these duties, but we do have several of our staff trained also.
Now, to the day to day of the movie theater...Thursday during the day Corey normally will go up and adjust the air or heat (although even in the winter, we rarely have to use the heat), start the slushy machine, and blow off the sidewalk. About a half hour before we open the doors, the staff arrives to do any cleaning, stocking supplies, popping the popcorn, and just making sure the building is "show ready". Then you come and the staff is busy helping with all your ticket and concession needs. On Thursday nights, the staff does basic clean up of the concessions area and restrooms and then leaves for the night while the manager "holds down the fort". Once the movie is over, the manager shuts down the projector (which takes 10 minutes) and cleans up any "big messes" in the theater. They turn out the lights, set the alarm, lock the doors, and head home.
On Friday and Saturday, it's very similar except between the first and second showing, the staff does more cleaning and stocking. They then have free time to either help with "projects" around the cinema, or to read, do homework, etc.
Sunday, looks a lot like Thursday except on Sunday after the last show starts we do a thourough cleaning of both the slushie and fountain pop machine this includes disassembly, cleaning, and reassembly.
When a run of a movie is over we have to change over the movie posters.
During the week we check supplies and order what we need. Pepsi delivers biweekly, so we have to plan ahead as we actually try to limit our orders to once a month. We've gotten pretty good at knowing what we need. Purchasing candy is a weekly task. Corey makes a popcorn supply run to Berne about once a month to stock up on popcorn, buttery topping, and flavored salts.
I hope this gives you a little look behind the scenes on what it takes to bring movies to Decatur.
Also thanks to our staff that keeps the place running! This past weekend we were on Hilton Head Island for a little R&R and the place ran great!
See you at the Cinema!
