Malco’s new Owensboro Cinema Grill is newer, bigger and better when it comes to seating, food choices and its new Malco Extreme Theatre (MXT), but according to one local resident, the new movie theater has improved upon other important aspects as well.
Daniel Gilbert loves going to the movies, and his being in a wheelchair hasn’t slowed down his trips to the theatre. However, Gilbert said, the former Malco theater presented some problems for him.
After years of sitting in what he describes as a much smaller wheelchair-accessible space in the former Malco theater, Gilbert eventually gave up on the idea of seeing movies at the Owensboro location.
“People would kick the back of my wheelchair during the movie,” he said. “It was just a smaller space and there was no wall between the wheelchair area and the rest of the seats.”
Gilbert was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy as a child, and has spent a large portion of his life in a wheelchair, he said.
Malco’s new theater provides not only more space for wheelchair access, but a wall was also installed to prevent wheelchairs from being kicked by other movie-goers. Gilbert saw his first movie at the new cinema on Friday, and said beforehand that he was intrigued by the theatre’s new setup.
“I’ve only seen pictures of the area, but I can already tell there’s a lot more room,” he told Owensboro Times before his first trip.
Aside from being kicked throughout the showings he attended, Gilbert also fell victim to a lack of reserved seating in the former theatre. While this is an issue for everyone who attends a crowded movie, Gilbert’s situation differed in that, oftentimes, the wheelchair-accessible area would be full before he got there.
“We were there to see Spiderman, and we ended up having to wait outside the theater until the next showing,” Gilbert said. “We just stopped going to Owensboro’s theatre after that.”
Although Owensboro’s Malco Cinema is closer to his home in nearby Philpot, Gilbert and his family started making the trip to Evansville to see movies.
Gilbert said Evansville’s theater boasted a much bigger space for wheelchair access than Owensboro’s former theater. Now, however, Gilbert hopes the new Malco will be a better fit for himself and other wheelchair-bound individuals.
“I think there’s a lot more awareness recently,” Gilbert said of businesses who build with disabilities in mind. “There’s a lot more disability advocates who are more active lately too. I think that’s a great thing, and I think the local community has brought a lot more visibility to the platform too.”
Even with the number of improvements, there’s still one thing Gilbert said he’d like to see modified.
“A lot of people in wheelchairs have companions who push them. A lot of the seating [in the wheelchair space] has only one cup-holder, so there’s no place for them to put their drink,” he said. “I can honestly see how that would get overlooked, but it’s just one of those things I’ve noticed.”
Malco Theatres Vice President & Director of Marketing Karen Melton said Owensboro’s newest theatre is equipped with the latest design to better serve those with disabilities.
“The Owensboro Cinema Grill represents the latest design in theaters to comply with ADA, which makes the theater-going experience enjoyable for all,” Melton said. “We continuously strive to not only meet, but also exceed, standards for all guests.”
