Fort Worth Arthouse Cinema Weathered Pandemic, But Can Theaters Survive Streaming?

Arlington TX

20 October, 2021

7:15 PM

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By Kristen Barton, Fort Worth Report October 20, 2021 After months of going dark, The Grand Berry Theater is open for patrons enjoying popcorn and a thought-provoking film again, but the ending is still being written for independent theaters in the United States. The Grand Berry was able to keep the doors open through grants, private screenings and those who care about the business continuing to invest in it. "Just to see that we created something that people are invested in, and people enjoy and have good experiences around has been really encouraging and just kind of the reminder that we needed that we're doing something right and that people enjoy having us here," theater owner Jimmy Sweeney said. "After basically being shut down in most capacities for such a long time, it's been really encouraging to see that community around." The COVID-19 pandemic closed movie theaters across the country and made independent theaters, already on rocky financial footing since the advent of streaming, even more of an endangered species. Because the arthouse cinema at 2712 Weisenberger St. could not have typical showings, Sweeney said, The Grand Berry found other ways to make it through the pandemic. To read the full article, click here. Fort Worth Report is a nonpartisan, nonprofit news organization that produces factual, in-depth journalism about city and county government, schools, healthcare, business, and arts and culture in Tarrant County. Always free to read; subscribe to newsletters, read coverage or support our newsroom at fortworthreport.org.