Hello friends,
We want to let you know that Coyote Twin will be going dark again beginning Monday, November 2. The continual delay of new releases by the film studios, the cost of keeping movies on screen, and the uptick in COVID cases in our area have made this call for us. We'll be rounding out October with some spooky and kooky Halloween favorites plus a couple new releases (see vermilliontheaters.com for titles and showtimes), then transitioning back to weekend popcorn sale hours and private rentals as of November.
As opportunities arise for us to turn the projectors on and share a story on screen with you, we'll take them. In the meantime, we look forward to providing you the best popcorn in town, pretty cool private showing experiences, and whatever else we can think of!
Big Picture
As of the permanent closure of the AMC Classic 5 in Yankton this summer, the Coyote Twin is now the only movie theater in a 30-mile radius of Vermillion, which encompasses a tri-state area. As a nonprofit operation committed to accessible entertainment, 2019 was our most successful year on the books, and 2020 should’ve been an even bigger success. Instead, COVID has depleted our resources and prevented us from generating needed revenue—and we're not alone. The pandemic has been a devastating financial blow to cinemas across the country. 93% of movie theater companies had over 75% in losses in recent months. The Coyote Twin has experienced a 78% loss of revenue so far. If the status quo continues, 69% of small and mid-sized movie theater companies will be forced to file for bankruptcy or to close permanently.
How You Can Help
We want to be ready for a return to business when the film industry resumes regular movie releases. To help us succeed, please consider donating at vermculture.org/donate and/or contacting your congressmen to urge them to support #SaveYourCinema, which would include an extension of the Paycheck Protection Program and other relief for theaters like ours. We'll be releasing more details about the status of our beloved local movie house and ways you can support us in the coming weeks.
