Alamo Drafthouse has laid off approximately 70 workers from its Manhattan and Brooklyn locations. These cuts were implemented ahead of an expected strike at two of the company’s New York City venues.

Alamo Drafthouse declined to comment, but sources say these layoffs were part of the annual seasonal slowdown at the movies. The circuit, a favorite among cinephiles for its strict “no talking, no texting” policy, let go of an unspecified number of venue staff across the country’s 44 locations in January for the same reason. At the corporate level, 15 employees, or 9% of its workforce, were let go at that time as well.

Cinema chains usually staff up around the holidays, which is regularly the busiest time for moviegoing. But attendance tends to stall in the early, winter months of the year, so there aren’t enough hours to accommodate the extra staff, according to knowledgable individuals. They add that...