You may have heard some buzz from Tinseltown in the past couple of days.
Or maybe you’ve seen a social media post.
Or maybe you’ve gotten caught in a discussion regarding the consequences of telling a bad joke.
No, we are not talking about actor Will Smith’s memorable slap of comedian Chris Rock during Sunday night’s Oscars telecast.
Folks in Highlands are more excited that movies are back at the Highlands Playhouse. With Saturday’s showings of “The Lost City,” Highlands took another step toward pre-COVID-19 normalcy and everyone in attendance got the opportunity to share a laugh.
During the early stages of the pandemic, movies were off limits all together as theaters closed and concern over large indoor public gatherings grew. Over time, theaters reopened but with capacity restrictions, social distancing measures, and other mandates in place.
Highlands went close to two years without seeing a film on the silver screen.
For those who may think a night at the movies is a luxury, and that going without was no big deal – the act of going to a theater to see a film has been part of the American way of life for roughly 125 years. For many people, it was an activity that was hard to give up.
Watching the playhouse sit dark and empty during the pandemic was also a sad sight for many. The Highlands Playhouse has been among the centers of social interaction for residents and visitors alike since 1938.
With movies and performances returning to the Playhouse and the Highlands Performing Arts Center the future of entertainment looks bright. Hopefully both venues will see bountiful attendance in 2022 on the heels of two difficult years.
While watching Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum fumble around a jungle in “The Lost City” may not be your cup of tea, we can all look forward to future film showings and agree that the return of movies is a welcome event.