New base theater opens

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Araceli Alarcon
  • 8th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
KUNSAN AIR BASE, South Korea --  The grand opening of the new base theater will take place here Feb. 1.

Construction of the base theater began in Dec. 2006 and was completed this January.
This project was part of a base wide upgrade that included construction of new dorms and a new billeting facility.

According to Paula Bradford, Army Air Force Exchange Service general manager, the new base theater provides a better atmosphere for Airmen and Soldiers to watch movies.

"It will provide a comfortable environment so people don't mind sitting for an hour to two hours during a movie." she said, "They can have that 'theater' experience something they didn't have in the old building."

Bradford said that during the "soft" showing Jan. 25, about 150 Airmen attended each showing and the outcome was very positive.

"I like the new seating arrangement," said Tech. Sgt. Eric Allec from the 8th Communications Squadron. "They're comfortable and spaced out nicely so you're not getting bumped by the person next to you."

Senior Airman Anthony Johnley from the 8th Communications Squadron shared similar comments about the comfort and quality of the new theater.

"The new theater has a better sound system and the picture (quality) is better too," he said. "The heating system was obviously working much better than the old one, which made watching the movie more enjoyable."

The theater has 500 seats and many accommodations to include handicap seating. It has a larger screen, a higher quality sound system a larger lobby entrance, and a new concession area, which will help provide better service to movie goers. Also individuals have the comfort of a new working heating and cooling system. Something the old building was lacking.

"The new facility gives Wolf Pack members more of a 'theater' feel," said Bradford "It's no longer a building that just shows movies."

The grand opening ceremony will be Feb. 1 at 4:30 p.m. Theater passes and T-shirt giveaways will be held from 4 to 5 p.m. Two different movies will be showing Feb. 1, at 6 p.m. and at 8 p.m.