Dedicated to the citizens of Mason County, Washington since 1886
Dedicated to the citizens of Mason County, Washington since 1886
It’s a tradition that has been put on pause just once, during the first year of the pandemic.
Shelton Cinemas’ Summer Movie Mondays returns June 26, starting with the musical comedy “Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile.”
Brittney Kick, head manager of Shelton Cinemas, recalled how the event got started in 2013 as “our gift to the community,” with prices to match.
“It’s a milestone for this program, but we hope we can continue it for many more years to come,” Kick said. “Regardless of the pandemic or the economy, everyone still deserves the chance to enjoy the magic of cinema, that can only be fully embraced in a movie theater.”
Admission to all shows has always been by cash donation only, and concessions are offered at a heavy discount, with hotdogs, popcorn and soda all available for $1 each, or for $2.50 if you order all three at once.
“All the monetary donations go exclusively back into keeping the Summer Movie Mondays program going for each year, covering necessary expenses such as film licensing, so we’re grateful to all those who are able to, and do, donate,” Kick said. “We’ve done this every year since 2013, except for 2020, when we were closed down for COVID.”
In return, Kick said the goal of the Shelton Cinemas was to provide “whole families, and even kids coming by themselves, a more affordable option than vacation trips, as well as a safe, comfortable place where they can escape the heat with our air conditioning.”
The movies are picked to be “child-friendly, but also able to keep adults entertained,” Kick said, also noting Shelton Cinemas offers different feature films each year, so audiences who return to year after year don’t feel like they’re sitting through reruns.
Kick estimated audience sizes have grown to as many as 150 attendees in the early weeks, to as few as 60 in the latter weeks of August, “when families are typically busy getting ready to go back to school.” She said the Shelton Cinemas will be keeping both of its auditoriums open throughout this year’s Summer Movie Mondays, “so people don’t feel mashed together.”
Kick said even though COVID is no longer officially a public health emergency, Shelton Cinemas is continuing to keep all their spaces clean and disinfected and ensuring plenty of extra seats, enough to accommodate as many as 300 attendees per show.
Doors open at the Shelton Cinemas at noon for this year’s Summer Movie Mondays, all of which kick off at 12:30 p.m. and are scheduled as follows, with admission first-come, first-served:
June 26: “Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile”
July 3: “Peter Rabbit”
July 10: “Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway”
July 17: “The Angry Birds Movie”
July 24: “The Angry Birds Movie 2”
July 31: “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs”
Aug. 7: “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2”
Aug. 14: “Hotel Transylvania”
Aug. 21: “Hotel Transylvania”
Aug. 28: “Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation”
Shelton-Mason County Journal & Belfair Herald
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