Patrons of the Regal Cinemas Spokane Valley 12 in Spokane, for example, entered the theater by an unprotected concrete walkway that, at times, became a virtual wind tunnel. Blowing rain, snow, or freezing temperatures often made these conditions more unpleasant. It also made the surface area slippery on occasion if snow stuck to the concrete surface or an icy surface formed before salt could be applied or the snow shoveled.
Theater management knew they had a problem keeping customers warm, especially during the winter months. To solve this problem, they contacted local Space-Ray dealer Tom Rissman of Space-Ray Northwest.