Operated by Regal Saipan in San Jose, Hollywood Theaters is shutting down on April 30.
Photo by Emmanuel T. Erediano
KRISTINE Nuñez brought her 7-year-old daughter, Dandre, to Regal Saipan’s Hollywood Theaters to watch “A Minecraft Movie” on Tuesday because it might be the last time they can see a film on the big screen.
Nuñez said she felt sad to hear that the only movie theater on island is shutting down at the end of this month. She said her daughter planned to watch “How to Train Your Dragon” in June.
Bringing her child to the movie house is one of the ways Nuñez rewards her daughter whenever she gets high grades in school.
But now that Hollywood Theaters is closing, she said they’ll have to rely on livestreaming services to watch movies.
On Monday, Regal Saipan Assistant Manager Lizelle Galvan confirmed that the movie theater will remain open only until April 30.
Hollywood Theaters opened in September 1999. It shut down in April 2008 due to the bad economy and high power rates, but it reopened a month later after receiving “a positive reaction from the public.”
Love the experience
Another island resident, Doris Bermudes, said her grandchildren, her adult children, and even she herself likes going to Hollywood Theaters to watch movies.
She said she was glad that her grandchildren have already seen “A Minecraft Movie.”
“My grandchildren and children enjoy the movies that are being shown there,” she said, referring to Hollywood Theaters.
Rep. Thomas John Manglona said most people now have Netflix, but many still love the experience of going to the movie house.
Manglona said he is grateful to Regal Saipan for doing its best to remain open through all these challenging times.
He said Regal Saipan, like other businesses on island, “have been through all the storms.”
During the Covid-19 pandemic, he said it was hard for Regal Saipan to remain open. “And now we are in the digital age, and I think that is also a factor,” he added.
“I want to thank them. People still appreciate being there to watch a movie. I thank them for trying their best to make it through all these tough times, but I also understand that in business, if you are losing money, you have to do what you have to do,” Manglona said.
Also shutting down on April 30 is DFS Saipan, a pillar of the CNMI’s tourism-based economy for over 40 years.