Photo Credit: Courtesy of The Tivoli Theatre
Published April 2, 2021
The Tennessee Conservative Staff-
Chattanooga, TN – Starting next Friday, April 9th, the Tivoli Theatre will reopen its doors to an in-person audience for the first time since November.
The Tivoli Theatre, one of the biggest entertainment venues in Chattanooga, was forced to close their curtains during the first spike of Covid-19 cases in March of last year. This caused them to lose around four million dollars, in addition to giving some employees pay cuts.
In October, Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke announced that the Tivoli Theatre and similar venues would be allowed to reopen, as long as they follow specific guidelines.
The Tivoli spent its first weekend carefully following safety guidelines.
Everyone that entered had their temperatures taken, and people were expected to sit in certain taped off sections.
Each section, or pod, was designed to occupy just a few people and the overall seating capacity was reduced by around 80%.
In addition, patrons are asked to wear masks unless they are eating, drinking, or seated in their section.
They have also added marked pathways to limit foot traffic.
However, in late November, County Mayor Jim Coppinger once again tightened restrictions, extending mask mandates and the Tivoli chose to close its doors issuing the following statement:
“In coordination with Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke, the Tivoli Theatre Foundation will cease events in compliance with the newly amended executive order regarding City facilities effective immediately. The number one priority of the Tivoli Theatre Foundation has been to ensure the well-being of our staff, patrons and community, and we look forward to reopening when the City and the Foundation both agree that it’s safe and healthy to do so.”
Even though Coppinger has once again extended the mask mandate for Hamilton County, this time through April 28th, the Tivoli has decided to reopen their doors starting with a run of 14 films across 16 showings this month.
Friday, April 9 – Sunday, April 11
- Friday, April 9 – 7:00pm – A Star Is Born (2018)
- Saturday, April 10 – 3:00pm – Reservoir Dogs
- Saturday, April 10 – 7:00pm – Pulp Fiction
- Sunday, April 11 – 2:00pm – Coming to America
- Sunday, April 11 – 6:00pm – Coming to America
Friday, April 16 – Sunday, April 18
- Friday, April 16 – 7:00pm – Once Upon A Time In Hollywood
- Saturday, April 17 – 3:00pm – Frozen
- Saturday, April 17 – 7:00pm – Frozen
- Sunday, April 18 – 2:00pm – The Sandlot
- Sunday, April 18 – 6:00pm – The Natural
Special 4/20 Edition
- Tuesday, April 20 – 7:000pm – Dazed and Confused
Oscar Weekend – Friday, April 23 – Sunday, April 25
- Friday, April 23 – 7:00pm – Bohemian Rhapsody
- Saturday, April 24 – 3:00pm – Minari
- Saturday, April 24 – 7:00pm – Nomadland
- Sunday, April 25 – 2:00pm – Mank –
- Sunday, April 25 – 6:00pm – Citizen Kane
The Tivoli states that the health and safety of their patrons and staff is their number one priority and they will follow and expansive list of safety protocols as they did when they reopened for a short period of time late last year.
There has been no word yet as to when the Tivoli will again have live performances.
One could speculate about the possibility that they may be making plans for soon after the mask mandate expires at the end of April as Mayor Coppinger has promised to lift the mandate at that point.
