“We were waffling so often already dead, the will again,” says Anja Wenz and laughs. The 53-year-old blonde woman who runs the third Generation of one of the oldest cinemas in Germany, that can be in a good mood nothing take. “Our light house has survived the Second world war, the spread of television sets and video stores and Multiplex cinemas and streaming services can say Corona, we just get even.”
Since the end of may, the small theater has opened right in the middle of Groß-Gerau after ten weeks. The hygiene rules are strict. When about 40 minutes before the film rises to the start of the dark brown curtain and the front glass door is opened, it is allowed to enter each and every guest with mouth-nose-mask. On a small stool, a form, in which the guests entering the name and address lies. Then pay your card and go in a one way system in their cinema room.
Here the guest is supported on the square
In the seventies, the parents of Anja Wenz built by the cinema: a large hall, they created two. The rights hall, which still bears the name of light house, is preserved in the original style of the Seventies. Here 107 with dark brown fabric-covered, cantilevered chair. In front of each chair series with small lamp-lit tables. Here the guest is served at the place. Food and drinks are served in glasses and porcelain plates. However, of the 107 seats, Anja Wenz is not allowed to occupy because of the hygiene rules is only 28. The second hall is called the cinebar bistro. With him, Wenz had 17 years ago, when she took over the cinema by their parents, a second pillar was created, as she says. She left the room converted to a Bar with a movie screen. There are 45 seats, currently only 13 are allowed to be occupied. “In front of Corona, there were lectures, training courses, information events, and quite often were celebrated birthdays.”
for months, the Sunday matinees, where a buffet Breakfast is offered and an art-house Film was shown were out of stock. Currently, there are ten more outstanding Matinee dates. “We show here, by the way, generally speaking, no killing eight movies or silly American teen comedies.” The fact Wenz attaches great importance to. You know your audience. Movies such as “honey in the head”, “the intouchables” or “The Boy must had been out in the fresh air” in Groß-Gerau Blockbuster.
“Economically, this is not”
However, with Corona the cinema’s closure came. “Thanks to our real love of regular customers, we can survive, hardly anyone demands the return of his money, and many others have also purchased vouchers and Mails built up.” The average age of visitors was 40 years, says Wenz. Hardly have been that the cinema re-opens, called guests, to reserve tickets for several movies. “No matter what’s going on, here we come”, they said on the answering machine. Other guests, however, have a fear of aerosols. “I understand absolutely,” says Wenz. She asserts, however, that the spacing rules and the cinema going during the day revealed.
Just Musical weeks. In the light of game house Greatest Showman runs “”. 14 guests for coming. The same singing and dancing Hugh Jackman on the screen, and a loud Stomp of the elephant is the small cinema a short tremble. In the cinebar bistro want to watch four people “Cats”. Wenz is in to Popcorn smelling the ticket booth, selling tickets and explained the rules of hygiene. In the cinema, two young women bring the guests freshly prepared Snacks and drinks at the courts. The Cinema is laughing. “Economically this is not absolute. But I’m happy about every guest.“
