On Monday, Silke and Bernd Schmitz, operators of the Capitol Theater, and their team were still busy with construction work. In the evening the New Orleans Jazz Band of Cologne played in the traditional cinema under the motto “Christmas Time in New Orleans”. Such concerts and other events could now be more frequent: From Thursday, December 9th, the daily film operation in the cinema with two halls will cease. So there should be more time for events that were previously mostly only possible on Mondays when no films were shown in the main hall.
“We close one door and then open another,” says Bernd Schmitz, explaining the new concept. So far, requests for cultural events, but also private parties, have had to be canceled due to the ongoing film program. Now one will be “much more flexible” in this regard.
In the Capitol Theater in Kerpen, guests are served at the seat
The Capitol Theater on Kölner Strasse, founded by Bernd Schmitz’s grandparents, has existed since 1950. Several generations associate the cinema with a special film enjoyment, as you can also sit down at a counter in the film room or be served comfortably at your seat in dim lighting. The cinema not only offered the latest blockbuster productions, but also, as a program cinema, also consistently offered sophisticated films, which were often discussed afterwards.
There is no shortage of awards. Almost every year there was the cinema program award of the Film- und Medienstiftung. As a cultural site, the cinema has also repeatedly been used for theater performances, concerts and festive events.
Cinema operator criticizes the lack of parking spaces in Kerpen
That should now be more, since the daily film business can no longer be run economically, says Schmitz. The main reasons for this are “the new Corona Protection Ordinance, the significantly increasing operating costs, the cancellation of current film releases and the massive drop in visitor numbers since November”. Streaming services for the home, but also the increase in wages for mini-jobbers planned for 2022, would make the framework conditions for the cinema even more difficult. In addition, there are hardly any free parking spaces on Kölner Straße during the day. That makes it difficult to offer children and family films in the cinema in the afternoons during the week.
Once a month there should also be a “film café” in the Capitol Theater with an Arthaus film. There will also be more school screenings and school cinema weeks. Movies can also be booked privately.
On Sunday, December 12th, at 3 pm there will be a children’s program with the films “Elise and the forgotten Christmas” and “Christmas in the magic owl forest”. The films “Respect” and “Contra” will be shown from 5.30 p.m. On Monday, December 13th, the young trumpeters will play as planned, before the last film screening of the year will take place on Tuesday, December 14th. “Die Feuerzangenbowle” with Heinz Rühmann will be shown. The right drink is also served.
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