Obama Inauguration to Get Theatrical Release
Over the past few years we’ve seen a lot of the movie theatre chains trying to find new ways to expand their business, whether it be sporting and pay-per-view events, or even video games on the big screen. This month, however, MSNBC and Screenvision are teaming up for something else entirely. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the inauguration ceremony and parade for President-elect Barack Obama will air in 27 theatres across the U.S. on January 20th between 11 am and 3:30 pm. Unfortunately it won’t be in high-definition, but they insist that the quality will still be high.
Will anyone actually attend such an event? Probably not, but hey, maybe a few people will want to share in the celebration with their fellow Americans. Besides, on a Tuesday afternoon in January, ANYTHING is worth a shot. The screening will be free, although theatres are obviously hoping to sell a few bags of popcorn at the same time. Tickets are being distributed through MSNBC.com. On a related note, there is also a documentary being released on DVD the same day called President Barack Obama: The Man and his Journey.
Comments (7)
Ugh. More hero worship. People should let the guy actually prove himself before going too crazy.
And, by the way, I don’t think any other entertainment has proven to be a good draw at theaters beside films. This won’t be any different.
Posted by Jon Rocks on January 13th, 2009They’re screening it at the Bloor Cinema in Toronto, as well, and lots of other non-theatre business are having inauguration screenings of one kind or another. I was hoping my boss would let us off work to watch it.
Posted by Liz on January 13th, 2009I’ll say this: it will be a lot better than actually being there. 6 billion people all trying to get a glimpse of one man 3 miles away, standing in the cold. Yeah, I’ll take the theater instead.
Though count me in for only watching the highlights on CNN.
Posted by Andrew James on January 13th, 2009i got this email at work yesterday:
The Shaw plans to broadcast the historic inauguration of President-Elect Barack Obama on Tuesday, January 20. The ceremony and events leading up to the inauguration will be presented live in HD from the Festival theatre stage on a 25’ screen. Doors will open at 9:30 am. The broadcast will begin at 10:00 and continue until 2:00.
We have invited the public to this free event. Light refreshments will be for sale.
Posted by megan on January 13th, 2009“People should let the guy actually prove himself before going too crazy.”
Your bias is showing. This is a historical moment and you don’t have to be a liberal to recognize it. People want to see it, and its more worthy of seeing than a princess getting married or what random douchebag wins a million dollars off Survivor.
It’s also not the funniest Obama inaug thing I’ve seen this week anyways, apparently theres a Spiderman Obama issue coming out tomorrow or something.
Posted by Goon on January 13th, 2009Wait … I’m lost. Can History judge a presidency before it’s started? If so then we should probably just move onto the next guy. Just skip to 2012.
Posted by Ian on January 15th, 2009nothing will beat this obama video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtbhUGkKgYo
Posted by Joel on January 15th, 2009Leave a Reply