By ED SALVAS
The long wait to see a movie at the ShowRoom in Asbury Park is just about over. Nineteen months after closing in March 2020, the ShowRoom returns Oct. 29 with a pair of first-run features to welcome their patrons back, according to Manager Jeff Lundenberger.
“We’ll be showing “The French Dispatch” and “Velvet Underground” on two of the three screens” he said with two shows a day on the weekend. A third film, “Spencer” opens the following week, Nov. 5. “Spencer” is a story about the late Princess Diana of England and opens as the 25th anniversary of her death in a Paris car crash approaches.
Lundenberger calls “Velvet Underground” a good Asbury Park film. It’s a rock documentary about singer Lou Reed, who performed at the Paramount Theatre, and the iconic band Velvet Underground. “The French Dispatch” stars Bill Murray and brings to life a collection of stories from the final issue of an American magazine published in a fictional 20th century French town.
ShowRoom owner Daria Parr bought the theater from Mike Sodano and Nancy Sabino who were forced to close when everything was shut down by the pandemic. Parr said the effort to re-open has been challenging, but also exiting to have the ShowRoom open again.
“We’ve been testing equipment, getting the website up and making sure the online ticketing is ready,” she said.
Customers will be able to buy their tickets and select their seats on line and also order snacks in advance. The ShowRoom will feature several local brands at the snack bar, including Danny’s Cookies, Criterion Candy, the Twisted Tree Cafe and Booskerdoo Granola Bars which are called the “Kitchen Sink.”
Parr said because of the Covid 19 restrictions, movie goers will be required to wear masks in the theaters and show proof of vaccination or show proof of a recent negative test for the virus. Two of the ShowRoom’s three theaters will be the first to re-open, seating 66 and 25 people. The third theater upstairs seats 15 and will reopen later, according to Parr.
Parr and ShowRoom Manager Jeff Lundenberger are hoping the online Box Office will be open early next week ahead of the Fri., Oct 29 opening night. The web site is www.ShowRoomCinemas.com
