LAKEPORT — On Thursday Lakeport Cinema 5 opened its doors at 9 a.m. and invited residents of Lake County to the first of many free movies offered in the Free Admission Summer Kid”s Series. Approximately 600 people attended the first movie of the series, “How to Train Your Dragon,” released in 2010.
Because of the large number of movie-goers, the movie played on several screens. Many vehicles were parked in undesignated spots. Both the owner of the theater, Scott Lotter, and the theater General Manager, Justin Hamaker, were present to witness the turnout.
Hamaker said they were thrilled with the number of participants for the first free showing.
Management encourages attendees to arrive earlier for Thursday”s showing of Kung Fu Panda.
Though the shows are scheduled to begin at 10 a.m., the doors of the theater open at 9 a.m., at which time seating in the first auditorium begins.
Selections play when the majority of the auditorium is filled and another auditorium opens for additional seating. Hamaker also said in the following weeks the drive in parking lot will be open for vehicle overflow, as they anticipate a larger turnout in the weeks to follow.
The theater already has at least one sworn veteran. Sara Hanson, 30, of Kelseyville is a movie fan who also owns and operates Kids Country Preschool. She was accompanied by her 2-year-old daughter and her 5-month-old. She said she was bringing her children to the theater first to test the experience, but was so impressed she decided to bring her entire preschool class of 3- to 5- year-old children in the weeks to come.
In reference to a normal paid viewing ,Hanson said, “For a family of four, just the tickets and maybe a drink alone is $50.” The series gives families unable to afford a trip to the movies, the opportunity to experience it for free.
Theater management also reduced prices of its Kid”s Fun Pack by 20 percent. The fun packs include popcorn, child-size drink and a snack-size candy of either M&M”s or Skittles, depending on availability.
Theater management completed an update to digital viewing equipment in September, making it possible to offer free movies. Hamaker said, “We”ve wanted to do it for awhile, but now that we”re all digital it made it practical. We needed to be able to offer it to a lot of people to be able to run it on every screen. And when we were running 35 mm film, it wasn”t practical. The older movies also weren”t in very good condition and we didn”t have much of a selection with film. With digital, the studios are making more and more titles available.” All of showings feature both digital projection and 5.1 Dolby digital surround sound. Two of the auditoriums also offer viewers a 3D experience. None of the free admission movies will be shown in 3D.
That majority of movie-goers were there to spend quality time with their families. Nicole Allsup, 32, of Upper Lake came with her husband and three daughters, ages 8, 5 and 2. Allsup said, “I think it”s an amazing opportunity (free movies) and to not waste it. It will give me a chance to make memories with my children.”
Lakeport Cinema 5 management invites community members to attend the Thursday free showings.
