Andy Atkinson / Mail Tribune A clean cinema awaits the opening of the Crater Lake Cinema in White City.

Ashland-based Coming Attractions Theaters, Inc. will open Crater Lake Theater on December 3

More than a year after Cinemark closed in White City, the film projector will spin up and the cores will reappear in the same theater under new ownership.

Ashland-based Coming Attractions Theaters, Inc. will open Crater Lake Cinema, 7501 Highway 62, in a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 11 a.m. on Friday, December 3.

“We are so grateful to the people who contacted us – our Facebook page is lit up. People are so excited, ”said Marek Murin, Director of Operations at Coming Attractions. “We will stay outside the theater while we do our work and people drive in, [asking] “When do you open?” “

During the interview process to hire employees, Murin heard people say, “I might not get the job, but I’m coming here to see a movie anyway!” “”

Raves – before the theater even opens, no less – are the sort of thing Coming Attractions officials love to hear after the pandemic hit the film industry hard, leading people to wonder if she would never heal completely.

“It was difficult because we weren’t working,” Murin said. “I have been in this business for almost 40 years and it is unique.”

After more than a year of a pandemic, when movie executives tried different approaches to keep their businesses afloat, the director of Coming Attractions said, everyone realized that “movie theaters are important and people always want to. live the cinema experience “.

Coming Attractions hopes to deliver just that to people in a renovated facility housing six theaters with a total of 800 seats.

Coming Attractions was left with an empty shell when it purchased the old Cinemark building in White City. So the Ashland-based company had to either buy new things or borrow some from current cinemas to make Crater Lake Cinemas what it is.

The speakers and their casings, projectors, screens, concession stands and registers are all new. The building received new paint and electrical wiring. A new marquee has also been installed.

“We have no control over the quality of the movie,” Murin said with a laugh, “but we want them to at least make sure they have a good time in the building.”

Crater Lake Cinema will have 15 employees and may hire a few more people.

“Our niche is the small theater… we are not in the big cities, we are not in competition with the big ones,” said Murin. “[White City] was available and it is in our backyard. It seemed obvious to us. “

Ashley Jensen, president of the Eagle Point Upper Rogue Chamber of Commerce, plans to attend the dedication ceremony on Friday. She praised the work of Coming Attractions and the idea of ​​a new theater in White City.

“It is very important to see businesses come back to life and support them,” she said. “This business is unique because it will bring people who have missed going to the movies, socializing, [and] having… a normal way of going out and having fun.

Crater Lake Cinema will begin by presenting seven films, including “Ghostbusters: Afterlife”, “No Time to Die” and “House of Gucci”.

For show times at the Crater Lake Theater, visit www.catheaters.com/ or call 541-500-0360.

Contact reporter Kevin Opsahl at 541-776-4476 or [email protected] Follow him on Twitter @KevJourno.