After Three-Year Absence, Reel Time Theater Reopens Better Than Ever at Camp Buehring

For more than three years, Soldiers at Camp Buehring had been without a movie theater. Keeping in mind the importance of relaxation to troops’ morale, the Kuwait Exchange team worked closely with command to build a bigger and better theater, which opened in September.

Camp Buehring’s Reel Time theater first opened in 2016 but was closed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Reel Time celebrated its grand reopening with a free showing of Amazon MGM Studios “A Million Miles Away” starring Michael Peña. Nearly 50 patrons attended the showing of the inspirational tale of Jose Hernandez’s journey from a farm worker to an engineer and astronaut.

The ribbon-cutting was led by Commander Lt. Col. Russell Isaacs, Command Sgt. Major Ruben Borja, Exchange General Manager Elizabeth Goodman-Bluhm and theater Manager Amer Raza. The command team presented the Exchange team with a Certificate of Achievement for getting the theater prepared for the Soldiers.

Improved seating and flooring at the newly reopened Reel Time Theater at Camp Buehring in Kuwait.

“We have worked hard to bring Reel Time back to our heroes in Kuwait,” Goodman-Bluhm said. “Command and the Exchange understand the value of recreation time for Soldiers on deployment and we wanted to do all we could to bring this comfort from home to them.”

Leading the ribbon-cutting on the Reel Time Theater reopening at Camp Buehring while the Exchange team watches are, from left, Command Sgt. Maj. Ruben Borja, Kuwait Exchange General Manager Elizabeth Goodman-Bluhm, Commander Lt. Col. Russell Isaacs and theater Manager Amer Raza.

Since its 2020 closure, major upgrades were needed in the theater. Repairs were needed to the flooring, seating and the film projector. The original design of the theater did not include a ticket area or snack bar. Part of the repair project included building a ticket area and snack stand for the patrons. Camp Buehring’s command team funded the project while the Exchange team coordinated with stakeholders to organize the repairs.

The Exchange team will continue to provide Soldiers at Camp Buehring access to popular first-run films at the same time they are being premiered stateside so they can watch all the same movies their friends and family back home are watching. Working closely with command, the Exchange remains dedicated to serving those who serve no matter where they are.