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Two iconic movie theaters in Traverse City will reopen on Friday.

A movie theater is seen closed due to the coronavirus pandemic on July 2, 2020, in Brea, Calif. The U.S. economy shrank at a record 32.9% rate in the second quarter as the pandemic cost tens of millions of jobs.
Jae C. Hong
/
AP
A movie theater is seen closed due to the coronavirus pandemic on July 2, 2020, in Brea, Calif. The U.S. economy shrank at a record 32.9% rate in the second quarter as the pandemic cost tens of millions of jobs.

Two iconic movie theaters in Traverse City will reopen on Friday.

The State and Bijou theaters will show films for the first time in over 20 months.

Filmmaker Michael Moore made the announcement Tuesday.

His Traverse City Film Festival operates the historic theaters.

In an email, Moore says the theaters will open up at about 25 percent capacity due to COVID-19 concerns.

Admission will be restricted to those with proof of a COVID-19 vaccination and a photo ID.

Patrons are required to wear masks inside the theaters at all times.

Moore also announced the theaters and festival have paid off half a million dollars in debt and are now debt free.

And that a new board and new staff have been hired which will reportedly be introduced in the coming weeks.

Dan Wanschura