Wildey Theater

Let’s go back to the movies

By Scott Marion Hearst Newspapers

EDWARDSVILLE — Tuesday night movies are back in-person at The Wildey.

The series was canceled for more than a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Our last Tuesday movie was March 10, 2020,” said The Wildey Theatre manager, Al Canal, “although we have done a couple of movies since then with limited capacity.

“So many times during the pandemic, people have told me how much they miss the movies,” he said. “The first four will be a test to see how we’re going to do things.”

Tuesday movies’ tickets cost $3 per person, which is a $1 more from previous years, but still a bargain.

“The state had gone up to 25 percent capacity, which is 83 people for us, but with the move to the Bridge Phase (of the Restore Illinois plan), we can do 60 percent capacity, which doesn’t include vaccinated people,” Canal said.

“If you have enough people who show up vaccinated, you can have a full house, but I’m not ready to do that yet,” he said. “At least for the first two weeks, I’m limiting attendance to a little under 50 percent, which is 150 people. I’m not doing reserved seating, but the reduced capacity will make people a little more comfortable.”

For the first four weeks of movies, people who show their COVID-19 vaccination card will receive free admission.

“It’s a thank you to the community for getting vaccinated,” Canal said.

“For everyone -- if you’re not sitting in your seat, masks will still be required. That includes when you’re going to get some of our world-famous Wildey popcorn.” “An American in Paris” kicked off the Tuesday night movie series this week. The 1951 musical-comedy, inspired by the 1928 George Gershwin composition of the same name, stars Gene Kelly and Leslie Caron in her film debut.

The story of the film is interspersed with dance numbers choreographed by Kelly and set to Gershwin’s music.

The second movie, “42,” is May 25, which tells the story of Jackie Robinson, the first Black athlete to play in Major League Baseball during the modern era.

The 2013 film stars Chadwick Boseman as Robinson, also with Harrison Ford in a supporting role. The movie title references Robinson’s jersey number, which was retired across all MLB teams in 1997.

Boseman died of colon cancer at age 42 last August, about one year after his starring role in “Black Panther.”

“We’re doing a sports theme for the second week and Chadwick Boseman, who we lost way too soon, is an amazing actor who is excellent as Jackie Robinson,” Canal said. “It’s baseball season and the topic of the movie is not just baseball, but also about diversity.”

“The Wedding Singer” is June 1. The 1998 romantic comedy, starring Adam Sandler, Drew Barrymore and Christine Taylor, tells the story of a wedding singer who falls in love with a waitress.

“It’s wedding season and I like to mix up themes, so we’re going with ‘The Wedding Singer,’” Canal said.

“It’s a very funny movie, and it was one of the popular movies of its time.”

“North by Northwest,” the 1959 spy thriller produced and directed by Alfred Hitchcock, plays June 8, starring Cary Grant, Eva Marie Saint and James Mason.

It’s a tale of mistaken identity, with an innocent man pursued across the U.S. by agents of a mysterious organization trying to prevent him from blocking their smuggling plan.

“We’re going back to a classic with ‘North by Northwest’ and it’s one of the best Alfred Hitchcock films,” Canal said. “It features an amazing performance by Cary Grant in one of his best roles.”

As early as June 11, The Wildey expects to resume concerts with full capacity. The schedule for the remainder of the year features dozens of shows that have been postponed multiple times, with more shows to be added.

For a full schedule of upcoming movies and concerts or more information, visit http://www.wildeytheatre.com/ or call 618-307-1750.