After struggling financially for years, the Athena Grand on East State Street closed Jan. 5. The theater never fully recovered from COVID-19, leaving film buffs and movie-goers without another local theater.
Gabbie Weil, a sophomore studying journalism, used to go to the Athena Grand regularly in the months leading up to the theater’s closing, sometimes up to twice a week. Weil is going to miss talking with the workers at the theater with whom she became familiar.
However, Weil has high hopes for The Athena Cinema, located at 20 S. Court Street, as a replacement for her movie fix. Another option for moviegoers is Movies 10 & Fun Barn, located at 14333 U.S. Highway 33, Nelsonville, but it’s far for students, especially those without a car.
“I also think ... it offers different things and allows for people to make new memories separate from the Athena Grand,” Weil said.
Sawyer Filson, an Athens resident, also used to frequently visit the Athena Grand. He and his friends used to go to the Athena Grand every Friday and watch whatever movie looked best to them.
“We would diverge to the Athena on Court Street whenever they were playing something the Athena Grand didn’t carry,” Filson said. “(But) the prices and the atmosphere at the Athena Grand were better for us.”
Filson became friends with one of the managers at the Athena Grand, who introduced his friends and him to the rest of the staff.
“They’re all just really good people,” he said.
Weil and Filson expressed worry about the Athena Cinema raising its prices. The Athena Grand sold movie tickets for $5 a piece. Currently, the Athena Cinema sells tickets for $5 before 6:00 p.m. and $6.50 after 6:00 p.m.
The Athena Cinema is one of the oldest movie theaters in the country, first opening in 1915 and bought by the university in 2001. It is operated by the Chaddock + Marrow College of Fine Arts. Last fall, the Athena Cinema branched out its expertise by showing more mainstream blockbusters, instead of just independent films.
“I think it’s going to do good things for both students and for the business,” Weil said.
Julie Wiles, an assistant professor of instruction in the School of Film, used to go to both the Athena Grand and the Athena Cinema.
“The Athena Cinema has really great movies that they bring in, but the Athena Grand had more options and still some independent films that were also playing at the Athena Cinema,” Wiles said.
Wiles preferred to go to the Athena Grand more when it was open, so she hasn’t been to the Athena Cinema as much.
Weil, Filson and Wiles all remember how the crowds at the Athena Grand were always thin; there were many times when Wiles had a whole theater to herself. The sign of a starving theater made the remaining customers even more comfortable, but those frequent customers now have to find another way to entertain themselves.
“It’s just one less thing that we have to do (on the weekends),” Wiles said.
The Athena Cinema is a “nonprofit cultural institution” supported by the university and a natural secondary option for people who miss the Athena Grand. It primarily shows films made by students or other independent filmmakers. The Athena Cinema sells locally sourced concessions to support the local economy.
