43
Salem movie theater will reopen with new seating, 3-D capability
By GUY D’ASTOLFO
SALEM
Salem Twin Cinemas will reopen next week with a host of improvements that will make it one of the most up-to-date theaters in the Mahoning Valley.
The two-screen theater in Salem Plaza on East State Street will open Nov. 14 with “Big Hero 6” and “Interstellar.”
An open house will take place Thursday from 3 to 6 p.m. The public will be able to walk through the theaters, which have been completely renovated, said Ashley Snyder, spokesperson for owners John (“Jock”) and Natalee Buta of Salem. Movies will not be screened during the open house.
The theater closed in December by then-owners Geoffrey and Kim Goll in the face of the high cost of digital conversion.
Hollywood studios abandoned film projection in January, forcing all theater owners to install digital projectors, which cost around $30,000 apiece.
In addition to new digital projectors, Salem Twin Cinemas also now has the capability of showing 3-D films.
Both auditoriums also got new seats, which are larger than the previous ones and have cup holders and rocker backs, said Snyder, who would not reveal the price of the renovation.
In the front row of each auditorium are eight recliner seats, which Snyder called the latest development in theaters.
“Some theaters are doing all recliners,” said Snyder. “It makes it more like home.”
Also in each auditorium are 20 seats that can vibrate to enhance the movie experience. “They have speakers built into them and they vibrate and shake during certain parts of movies,” said Snyder.
There are three spaces for wheelchairs in each auditorium, with nicer seating next to each for companions of the disabled.
The renovation also includes new carpeting and lighting, new and larger screens, and Surround Sound speakers in both auditoriums. The concession area has also been renovated, and a family handicapped-accessible bathroom has been built.
Another new amenity are the two private viewing rooms, which have been created out of the former projection rooms. Each has six seats and can be rented for $100 per movie, which includes unlimited popcorn and soda pop.
Each private room has a window through which viewers can watch the movie and Surround Sound speakers. “It’s perfect for a small party or for those who want more quiet, or those with small children,” said Snyder.
Outside, digital signage has been added, replacing the old sign that used lettering over a plastic back-lit sign.
“It’s not your average movie theater,” said Snyder, who expects Salem Twin Cinemas will attract customers from outside the area. Salem Twin Cinemas is the only first-run theater in Columbiana County.
The owners, Jock and Natalee Buta, are part of the family that owns Butech Bliss. The corporation, with a factory in Salem, designs and manufactures processing equipment for the steel industry. Jock is executive vice president.