Val Jensen, the founder of Ridgefield’s Prospector Theater has made two extremely difficult decisions and announced them today to her Prospects and to HamletHub.
Jensen will temporarily close the Ridgefield theater, located at 25 Prospect Street, beginning April 5. And, she has halted plans to open a second theater in Wilton.
“With no new content and the public health crisis, I made a safe and sparkly decision to close for a little while to wait this out,” said Jensen, who is committed to keeping Prospects working remotely and earning paychecks. “I have different sparkle projects for everybody to do, she said.
It was February 2020 that Jensen signed a 10-year lease on the Wilton property - just one month prior to the world as we know changed due to a global pandemic. “Movie theaters are going out of business, the capital expense of building doesn’t make sense. It’s not the right move for us anymore, not with the collapse of the theater industry,” said Jensen.
Wonder Woman - save the day? Jensen “wondered”
Wonder Woman’s debut on Christmas day spoke volumes for the future of theaters - at home and across the country. “I was like, Wonder Woman is going to save us, and then, it went to HBO max the same day it went to the theaters. We can’t compete - the day it comes out in the theaters, it streams - that’s what has killed all of the theaters. I recognize that this is so much bigger than just us.”
Jensen said that Disney’s decision to move Black Widow and Cruella to Disney Plus at the same time they come out in Theaters - was a final blow for movie theaters.
Innovation for changing times - a Prospector Theater streaming channel
Jensen says that she and her team have innovated by creating a streaming channel. “We have been able to pivot and we have created our own streaming channel,” said Jensen. With the Theater closed, Jensen and her team will create new educational content for the channel. “In our industry, we time-traveled ten years into the future technology-wise. While streaming was always our biggest competition, we always thought we had 10 more years - that’s how quickly things accelerated,” she said.
Community support
Jensen says she wants to send an “urgent” message. If people want to save their independent hometown theaters, when they reopen, these venues need your support! “We can't stay alive without community support. Take another look at the Prospector, recognize the treasure it is - right in the middle of Ridgefield. Come out and support us when we reopen!” Purchase tickets online now to be used when the Theater opens, or consider making a small donation. Click here.
Jensen remarked, “The movie industry as a whole has had an existential crisis due to the pandemic. By the end of the month 75% of independent theaters in this country will be out of business.” Don’t let that happen to Ridgefield’s nonprofit, independent theater!
Reopening - grander than the grand opening in 2014
Remember when the Prospector Theater first opened its doors? The grand opening took the town by storm! Watch out! When the Theater reopens, wear sunglasses, because the sparkle will glisten brighter than before. “I can’t wait until we reopen. I want to have a grand reopening party - I want to have a gigantic party! I want to wear a ballgown.
Thank you to Val for being a force for good. Ridgefield, please consider supporting the Theater now and when they re-open - discover the magic of watching a movie in Ridgefield's Prospector Theater!