XAVIER ZARAGOZA/The Daily Dispatch

The Douglas Cinema has been closed for about three weeks and it appears that it may not reopen at all.

The marquees are bare as well as the poster slots.

The answering machine at the Douglas Cinema assures the caller that the theatre is under renovation and it will be temporarily closed.

A closer look through the glass front doors and you'll see a bare concession stand, empty of soda dispensers, popcorn makers and candy.

What's most troubling is that there appears to be no remodeling of any sorts. There isn't a construction crew moving in and out of the theatre with paint buckets and carpet or even new seats and a sound system, which would obviously indicate a remodeling job.

Jim Yates, owner of the Douglas Cinema, could not be reached for comment.

It would be a shame if the cinema closed because one of the things that Douglas sorely needs is family entertainment. Yates always made a point of bringing in the mainstream films that could be enjoyed by both parents and their children.

Unfortunately for Yates, business at the cinema was uneven. At times a movie would bring in great business; at other times, a movie that was expected to pack them in, would only bring disappointment.

Douglas residents will have to wait and see if the Douglas Cinema is truly undergoing a remodeling job or if its closure signals the end of a popular and long established form of entertainment.

Restaurants can also be considered a form of entertainment and two popular restaurants have closed within the last month and a half.

The Red Barn was considered a lively family restaurant. On the weekends, the Red Barn generally had a full house. And one of the favorite dishes there was their steak sandwich. Yet it wasn't just about the meal. It was also about sharing dinner or lunch with someone over an extended conversation that made dining at the Red Barn so pleasurable.

The owners of The Red Barn could not be reached. The telephone service to the Red Barn has been disconnected.

The New China Buffet on 5th Street has also closed its doors. Although their phone service has not been disconnected, there is no answering machine that informs the caller about the New China Buffet's future.