Coming to a Theater Near You

Movie theaters in Mammoth and Bishop are going through renovations designed to improve seating and the overall quality of going to the movies. 

Bishop Twin Theatre will be closed during the month of September in an effort to  completely remodel the historic theatre.

In a conversation with the Sheet, theatre owner Holly Mullanix described the renovations, “Well right now it is bare bones, we have stripped the walls, flooring, everything.” 

They gutted the theatre and are changing almost every aspect of the inside, “New wall coverings, new screens, new sound system, new paint, new flooring … it will be a totally new experience.” 

The Twin Theatre is different than most theatres when it comes to seating. The theatre has been around since the 1920s where it originally showed plays. By the ‘30s, it was all film, and in the ‘80s the theatre was twinned. The entire time it kept its “historic sloped floor” said Mullanix.

Because of the unique setup, Mullanix purchased leather rockers for both of her theaters. Paired with a new screen and better surround sound, Mullanix said she has invested a lot into her historic theatre.

“What we really want is the best moviegoing experience possible.” said Mullanix. 

She described the community outreach that helped the project move along “On our demo days, we had an outpouring of local support, donations, and even volunteers who helped us move the materials.”

She said the theatre should be open the first week of October.

Minaret Cinemas is going through changes as well, but will remain open throughout the process, as Minaret Cinemas co-owner Damon Rubio explained. 

“We have started our renovations this month and they should be done by October.”

In a previous article which ran in The Sheet, Rubio said, “When you come off the mountain, there’s three things you want: you want pizza, you want beer, and you want entertainment. We’re going to provide all three.”

Rubio had the vision of his theater and it was only a matter of time before it came to fruition. 

“We just got approved to sell beer and wine and that should be done by the end of September. Part of acquiring that license meant we had to have a full food menu.” 

When asked if he was going to have pizza to accompany the beer, Rubio said they would have the food when the kitchen is fully renovated.

Minaret Cinemas is also purchasing reclining chairs for both of its theaters “The experience of watching a movie is going to be improved with our new recliners. Earlier this year we started selling tickets online, and the new chairs will allow someone to pick out their specific seat when purchasing through our website.” He even mentioned that tickets were a dollar cheaper online.  

The Cinema will also have new tiling and fresh paint. When asked about future projects, Rubio laughed and said, “Well, we are going to see if people like what we did, then we will start to think about the next step.”