Strothers Cinema announced Monday that they are taking action to do their part in combating the recent COVID-19 threat sweeping the nation and the world. The local movie theater announced it is ramping up additional cleaning and sanitizing of its facilities as well as encouraging both guests and staff to wash their hands as often as possible. They have also taken the unprecedented action of limiting the capacity of their auditoriums and have closed every other row to comply with social distancing that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has suggested.

“We take the health of our community very seriously”, said Steve Schoaps, co-owner of Strother Cinema. “That is why we are assessing the current situation on a daily basis and will take whatever action is necessary to protect our customers. After assessing the current situation in Seminole, we have chosen to remain open but are taking measures to do our best to protect guests while they are at the movies.”

In addition to the extra sanitizing, hand washing, reduction of capacity and focus on social distancing, Strother Cinema also provides foot openers in every restroom, so guests do not have to use door handles when exiting the restrooms.

“Since COVID-19 is so contagious, we are doing everything we can to stop the spread of this disease”, Schoaps said. “We will continue monitoring the situation in the Seminole area, Oklahoma and across the nation and will take whatever action is necessary to make sure we can provide a safe environment for our moviegoers.”

Schoaps stated that the changes they are making will stay in effect until the current crisis has subsided.

“We value our customers and our community, and we will do whatever it takes to protect them. We want everyone to take this threat very seriously and protect themselves at all times so we can get through this together. After all, we want to see everyone at the movies.”

Strothers Cinema is a locally owned and operated, fully digital, first run movie theatre located at 1110 E. Strother Avenue in Seminole.