CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The City Council has unanimously voted to approve an ordinance amending city code to allow community theaters to open to their doors to the public before 12:30 p.m. on Sundays.
Councilperson Dajuan Little sponsored the proposal and said, “I came across this when I was reading through city code. … It seemed a little dated, so I’m looking to give back some of the control to the businesses.”
Theaters in Clarksville haven’t had the opportunity to open their doors before 12:30 p.m. on Sundays since 1963, when the provision in the City Code was first put into effect, according to City Communications Director Jimmy Settle.
‘I could see the possibility’
Roxy Artistic Director Emily Ruck said that while she doesn’t see the ordinance having an immediate impact on the Roxy’s Sunday hours, there could be potential in the future.
“Just recently at the start of Season 42, we began offering Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. for some of our productions to try and fill a gap we felt was underserved,” Rourke told Clarksville Now. “Looking towards the future and knowing we’re looking at ways to expand our offerings for younger audiences, families and educational purposes, I could see the possibility of being able to offer an even earlier matinee performance, say 11 a.m. or so.”
Rourke also said she could see the Roxy showing a classic movie in one of their film series for “those that either have little ones who wake up raring to go or who simply want to get an earlier start to enjoying their day.”
The ordinance doesn’t appear to have applied to movie theaters, as Regal Clarksville already has showings on Sundays prior to 12:30 p.m.
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