Many cinemas in New York did not show films by Ronald Reagan, fans were outraged

This is no way to treat “the Gipper” – Ronald Reagan, the 40th President of the United States.

Several theaters in New York City and much of the metro area did not show the new film “Reagan” about the conservative icon and actor, in what Republicans say is an act of censorship by “liberal bias.”

The few theaters that showed the film had limited showings to once or twice a day.

“Ronald Reagan was one of the most successful presidents in history. They’re trying to censor his success,” said John McLaughlin, a Republican pollster who worked for a firm that conducted polls for Reagan in the 1980s.

He suspected that the limited distribution was due to liberal fears that the film about a popular Republican president – who won re-election in a landslide in 1984, winning 49 of 50 states – would benefit Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump.

“Absolutely it’s a liberal bias, a Democratic bias…It’s big tech companies, big media outlets that don’t want to do anything to help Donald Trump,” McLaughlin claimed.

The film stars Dennis Quaid as Reagan, Penelope Ann Miller as Nancy Reagan, Jon Voight as a KGB agent and Mena Suvari as Jane Wyman, Reagan’s first wife. The film first hit theaters just before Labor Day.

Quaid, who is a conservative, claimed there were attempts to “cancel” him during Reagan’s portrayal.

The actor spoke at a Donald Trump rally in California on Saturday.

State Conservative Party Chairman Gerard Kassar said he was surprised at how few theaters showed the film, particularly in his Brooklyn turf.

“It’s ironic that a film about Ronald Reagan has trouble getting into theaters,” he said, referring to Reagan’s time on the big screen before entering politics.

“It’s a presidential year. It’s a liberal bias. “This is an anti-conservative bias,” Kassar said.

Reagan was nicknamed “The Gipper” for his first major acting role, playing the seriously ill football player George Gipp in the 1940 film classic “Knute Rockne, All American.”

Gipp, bedridden and known as Gipper, challenged his college teammates to win a football game in his honor.

“Win one for the Gipper,” Reagan says in the film.

Controversy followed “Reagan” – directed by Sean McNamara – even before it hit theaters.

As the film neared release, producers became increasingly concerned about whether Facebook and Instagram would allow advertising for the film given the political theme.

Craig Shirley, a Reagan biographer and historical consultant on the film, said the biopic was well-received in the suburbs and rural areas but may have had its limitations in liberal-leaning enclaves like New York City.

“I assume there was some resistance — some woke resistance,” Shirley said.

U.S. Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), who represents Staten Island and Brooklyn, believes the policy limited the spread of “Reagan” in the Big Apple.

“Reagan was one of the best presidents this country has ever had, and his defeat by Jimmy Carter was not unlike today’s election campaign. The Reagan and Trump campaigns both focus on ensuring national security, public safety, a prosperous economy and affordability,” Malliotakis said.

“I’m sure many theaters in liberal New York haven’t shown the film because history repeats itself, and they’re hoping no one noticed that the Democrats have made a mess and it takes a Republican like Trump to take it over to eliminate.”

Mark Joseph, founder and CEO of MJM Entertainment Group, which produced “Reagan,” declined to comment.

The film’s distributor, ShowBiz Direct, said it is offering the Reagan biopic to theaters across the country, saying it is up to theaters whether to show it or not.

“We have made the image available to all parts of the country, regardless of the political persuasion of any individual market. In a free market environment, theaters have the option of whether or not to play a particular film. We can only appeal to their good business judgment based on their individual knowledge of their target audiences,” said Richie Fay, an executive at Showbiz Direct.

“Any issues surrounding screenings in a particular area lie more with the exhibitors in the New York market and surrounding areas than with the film’s distributor, which has asked all theaters to show the film in all marketplaces across the country.” ” Fay added.